Ann Lewandowski, University of Minnesota, 612-624- 6765

When excess algae and low oxygen are a problem in lakes, the common culprit in Minnesota is excess phosphorus. Where that phosphorus comes from – and the most effective strategy for reducing it – varies from one watershed to the next. Since it is impractical to measure phosphorus runoff from every corner of a watershed, planners turn to models to estimate where it’s coming from and how much reduction could be achieved from each source.

In Minnesota, a model for analyzing phosphorus (and other water quality issues) is the Minnesota Watershed Treatment Model (MWTM). A similar model has been used for many years in Maryland and other states, but a version for Minnesota was developed recently and is now available for field testing. The MWTM, which can be useful for educating stakeholders, estimates and compares the relative phosphorus contribution from various sources. It is free and is based on Microsoft Excel so no specialized computer expertise or software is required.

Four training sessions for the MWTM are scheduled for June across central Minnesota: St. Cloud area (June 6), Alexandria (June 7), Park Rapids (June 21), and Brainerd (June 22). All sessions are from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Workshops are free, but class size is limited so please pre-register. To register, contact Ann Lewandowski (612-624-6765, alewand@umn.edu).