Bloomington
Project Description:
Penn Lake is a shallow lake located in Bloomington. Penn lake’s water quality is poor, with average phosphorus levels higher than state standards for shallow lakes. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has designated Penn Lake as impaired under a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) threshold. In simple terms, this means the lake is unhealthy. Nine Mile Creek Watershed District and the City of Bloomington are working together to develop a plan to improve water quality conditions in the lake.
To inform this plan the District is conducting surveys on Penn Lake. These surveys will identify potential water quality improvement projects to help improve the overall health of Penn Lake.
Project Updates:
Past Studies:
In October 2024, the Watershed District completed its initial Penn Lake Water Quality Study.
- Penn Lake Water Quality Study Summary
Carp and Hybrid Goldfish/Carp -Penn Lake
In June 2025, The District started invasive carp and invasive goldfish removal from Penn Lake. These fish root around the bottom of the lake contributing to native vegetation loss and nutrient
release. They also can outcompete native fish populations leading to limited lake biodiversity.
When walking around the lake, you may have noticed poles sticking out of the lake. Those poles are apart of traps we use to bate and remove the invasive fish. If you are interested in volunteering to help with goldfish/carp removal, contact Jordan Wein at jwein@ninemilecreek.org
Outreach:
Visit the City of Bloomington’s Penn Lake Rehabilitation and Restoration webpage to:
- Share your Penn Lake story
- Review a Penn Lake Q&A and FAQ
- Register to get involved
- Read the Penn Lake Hydrology Report
- Read the Penn Lake Biotic Assessment Report
Resources:
Shallow Lakes Webinar
Learn more about shallow lakes and their functions and values. What does a shallow lake look like, and why are plants so important? What are the rules and regulations regarding shallow lakes? Joe Bischoff, a Senior Aquatic Ecologist and Certified Lake Manger with Barr Engineering Co, presented a webinar on April 12, 2022, to answer these questions and more.
View the full recording: Shallow Lakes Webinar Recording
Shallow Lakes: Minnesota’s Natural Heritage (PDF)
Questions?
Contact Jordan Wein, Water Resources Project Manager, at 952-800-8307 jwein@ninemilecreek.org