Round Lake

Round Lake

Round Lake, a 120-acre lake located southwest of the TCAAP site across the intersection of Highway 96 and Highway 10, was contaminated by stormwater runoff from TCAAP. The contaminants, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and heavy metals, are contained in the lake's sediment.

The lake and its surrounding shoreline are owned by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), which has maintained a high water level in Round Lake since the mid-1980's to reduce the risk of human or animal exposure to lake sediments. The U.S. Army, the USFWS, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency are currently investigating options to remediate contamination in Round Lake.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has drafted a Conceptual Management Plan (PDF) for Round Lake which provides a framework for future management of the lake as a component of the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. The Conceptual Management Plan will remain in draft form until a remedy is selected to address the heavy metals and PCB contamination in Round Lake's sediment. For further information on the Plan, please contact Gerry Shimek, Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, at 952-858-0705.