WQ – Streams – Loads – Phosphorus

This data layer indicates the average annual Stream Load (tons/year) of Phosphorus in watersheds throughout the state. It was developed at the Natural Resources Research Institute using data from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s Watershed Pollutant Load Monitoring Network (WPLMN). The WPLMN program began in 2007 and uses water quality and flow data to calculate nutrient and sediment loads and concentrations from 199 major and sub-watersheds across the state. These data can be used for watershed modeling, determining pollutant source contributions, tracking water quality trends, and assessing water quality restoration efforts. Phosphorus often limits the growth of algae and plants in lakes and streams. Elevated levels of phosphorus can lead to undesirable levels of algal and aquatic plant growth.