I'm a Water Quality Technician I for the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District, in Deephaven, MN. The watershed district is located west of the Twin Cities and governs over the waterbodies that flow into Lake Minnetonka and Minnehaha Creek. I assist in development in lake management plans and monitor over 50 lakes within the watershed district for physical and chemical parameters. I also facilitate meetings with local lake associations, and work with the public on water quality concerns. Currently, I'm assisting in two projects: collecting water quality data for modeling nutrient dynamics throughout Lake Minnetonka and mapping the contour lines of all the accessible lakes within the district. During the winter, Minnehaha Creek is sampled for chloride impairment and the water quality report is published for the public. Although the job can be stressful and very busy, I can't complain about being on the lakes three out of the five days a week.
