COPY NORTH Dakota | Environmental Quality Be Legendary” June 10, 2020 Mr. Brent Thielges Pearl Lake Township 6866 102" Ave. SE LaMoure, ND 58458 RE: Water Quality of Twin Lake and the potential harm to downstream waters when operating Emergency Surface Drain No. 5413 [Twin Lake] Dear Mr. Thielges: In response to Emergency Permitted Surface Drain No. 5413 the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality (department) collected water samples from Twin Lakes on June 4 (table below). The results show that the concentrations of sulfate in Twin Lakes are above the water quality criteria for the protection of aquatic life (750 mg/l) and above the James River criteria of 450 mg/l. The reported concentrations indicate a potential to violate state law if the emergency drain is operated without proper controls and monitoring. TWIN LAKES June 4, 2020 Water Quality Samples Paired with State Criterium for Sulfate Standard 1 = James River Standard 2= Aquatic Life Criteria Twin Lakes Stai ard 2 Sulfate Sulfate Tnits ‘South End 1110 750 mg/l Middle T110 750 mgt North End 1110 750 mgll Human induced drained water fom Twin Lakes must not cause an exceedance of the numeric water quality standards for the protection of aquatic life as found in N.D.A.C. § 33.1-16-02.1, Standards of Quality for Waters of the State (standards). The numeric standard for sulfate protecting aquatic life is 750 mg/l and 450 mg/l in the James River with an antidegradation policy of < 15% of the assimilative capacity. The standards do allow for an area to mix with the receiving waters. The mixing zone would need to be: (1) Identified prior to releases, (2) have a reasonable chance of complying with the standards, (3) have control(s) over drain volume, and (4) include monitoring to ensure compliance ‘18 East Dvide Avenue | Bismarck ND S8501-1087 | Fax 701-328-5200 | deqnagor Directors Office Division of Division of Division of Division of Division of Chemisty 7o1-328-5150 _ArQualty Municipal Facies Waste Management Water Quality 701-328-6140 yor-sze-si8s 701-328-521 701-328-5188 701-328-5210 2635 East Main Ave Biemar ND 88505Iti the permittees responsibility to meet compliance. It will not be a simple process based on the current water quality data, It is recommended that the permittee coordinate with department. If you have any questions, please call 701-328-5268 or email pwax@ind gov. Si iy Peter N. Wax Environmental Scientist Division of Water Quality xe: Kerry Ketterling, LaMoure County WRD (Chairman), LaMoure, ND John A. Paczkowski, SWC Matthew J. Lindsey