HomeMy WebLinkAboutArrowhead_Lake_Summaryhybrid sunsh
History of Arrowhead Lake
1960s1930s 2022
Arrowhead Lake
Watershed District: Nine Mile Creek Public water ID: 27004500
2015
Arrowhead Lake Association incorporated
after decades of informal organization.
How You Can Help
Steps that you can take to
help Arrowhead Lake include:
Lake Management
Aquatic Plants
Water quality data is available from the Nine Mile Creek
Watershed District for 2014, 2019, and 2020.
Summer-average highs and lows of water quality
parameters over those years are provided above.
The available data shows Arrowhead Lake generally fails
to meet the state’s goals for water quality within shallow
lakes. Elevated total phosphorus levels promote algal
growth, which reduces water clarity.
Water LevelsWater Quality
bluegill sunsh
Fish population:
Lowest recorded
water level:
871.3 ft
(February 18, 1981)
Highest recorded
water level:
878.6 ft
(July 24, 1987)
Denotes current Arrowhead Lake drainage area;
historical drainage areas may have varied
1960
Lakeshore owners
install a well to
augment lake levels.
1978
The rst permit for
chemical treatment of
submerged aquatic
vegetation and algae in
Arrowhead Lake is
issued by the DNR.
1992
DNR issues a permit for
mechanical harvesting of
aquatic plants, an activity
that continues until 1998.
1994
Residents stock the
lake with 400 bluegill
sunsh and 600
largemouth bass.
1995
A DNR sheries survey
nds bullhead, green sunsh,
and fathead minnows in the
lake—all species tolerant of
low oxygen conditions
(hypoxic). No sh from the
previous year’s stocking
efforts were recaptured,
indicating high mortality.
1996
Pump for
lake-level-augmen
tation well fails
and is replaced.
1994
An aerator, a tool to increase
the amount of dissolved
oxygen in a lake, is installed and
operated year-round, with a
goal of managing algae blooms
and preventing winter sh kill.
1998
The DNR issues a ood-control
permit for Arrowhead Lake.
1994
The DNR issues a permit
for excavating a channel to
connect the small basin at
the southeast end of the
lake to provide access for
mechanical harvesting of
submerged aquatic plants.
Chemicals continue to be
used to control algae.
Mechanical harvesting is abandoned
and chemical control of submerged
aquatic plants and algae resumes.
1997, 2002, 2008, 2019
Arrowhead Lake pumped for
ood control.
2006
Water quality study conducted by
NMCWD indicates watershed
runoff as the largest source of
phosphorus to the lake, based on
one year of monitoring data.
~ 2013
Lake-level-management
well inoperable; no
longer used to control
lake water levels.
2020, 2021
NMCWD monitors algal levels within the lake
and observes high-levels of blue-green algae.
Blue-green algae can produce toxins that may
irritate the skin or be harmful if ingested or
inhaled. NMCWD and the City issue public alerts
to stay out of the water until conditions improve.
2017-2022
The City of Edina
conducts aquatic plant
surveys. All surveys
show invasive curly-leaf
pondweed in the lake.
2017
A report for the NMCWD
shows poor water quality.
2021-2022
A sheries survey suggests that stocking
efforts were successful and that oxygen
levels have increased. Follow-up surveys in
the spring of 2022 will assess the status of
the shery following the 2021 winter.
2006 water quality study, updated by
the NMCWD, identies potential
management activities to improve the
lake's overall health.
2021-2022
The City of Edina begins
work on a lake-level
management plan for
Arrowhead Lake
2016
Residents stock the lake with
1,000 bluegill ngerlings and
1,000 yearlings, 430 largemouth
bass ngerlings, and 90 yearlings.
2017
The City of Edina begins annual treatments for
curly-leaf pondweed. Eliminating curly-leaf pondweed
improves the native aquatic plant community and
reduces the phosphorus released into the water
when it dies and decays in mid-summer.
Arrowhead Lake is a shallow lake located in southwest Edina. The lake is land-locked, with no surface outlet.
The lake’s watershed extends north of Highway 62 and is bordered on the west side by Highway 169 and
generally bordered on the east and south side by Indian Hills Road
Arrowhead Lake has no public boat launch.
Non-motorized boats only.
fathead minnow
large mouth
bass21 acres
(surface area)
1.0 miles
(shoreline)
Amenities:
Algae Level
(Chlorophyll-a)
Water ClarityTotal Phosphorous
Levels
20 g/L
60 g/L
Recent water quality data
80
65
38
18
1.0
Meters
Lake depth
Mixed land use (single-family, medium-density residential, institutional).
Portions of Highways 62 and 169 are tributary to the lake.
179 acres
(watershed
drainage area)
ftMin ftMin
6 6
7 7
5
5
3 3 3
4.8 ft Avg
9 ftMax
62
169
Learn more about these strategies at ninemilecreek.org
Diverse aquatic vegetation is critical to the health of
Edina lakes—providing food and shelter for sh and
waterfowl and improving water quality. Aquatic plant
data from Nine Mile Creek Watershed District indicates
the Arrowhead Lake plant community has few and
poor-quality species. Invasive plant species within the lake
are shown above.
Eurasian watermilfoil is a rooted, submerged aquatic
plant, and purple loosestrife is a colorful, perennial
wetland plant. Both species outcompete native plants,
and neither provides suitable shelter, food, or nesting
habitat for native animals.
White water lilies within the lake are not invasive and
provide valuable aquatic habitat.
State goalHighestLowest
NMCWD = Nine Mile Creek Watershed District
Curly-leaf pondweed
Purple
loosestrife
Eurasian
watermilol
1964-2002, 2012-2022
Water level data is from the Minnesota Department of
Natural Resources and Nine Mile Creek Watershed District
Other species present:
primarily green sunsh, black bullhead
1.0 Meters
0.5 Meters
Interactive ood map
Water resources library
Find more information
from the City of Edina:
Installing rain gardens
and planting
shoreline buffers
Cleaning up grass
clippings and leaves
Participating in the
adopt-a-drain program
(mn.adoptadrain.org)
Redirecting gutter
downspouts towards
vegetated areas
Minimizing use of
fertilizer on lawns