The Polk County Land and Water Resources Department is continuing a comprehensive study of Lotus Lake. Phases 3 and 4 for Lotus Lake coordinate with similar projects for Horse Lake (LPL-1117/1118-07). These phases utilize various public education elements, including results-sharing, newsletter mailings, presentations, and report publication and will provide management recommendations. Phase 3 project activities include: water quality monitoring (mid-lake, inflow, outflow, and turnover); tributary flow monitoring; groundwater monitoring; algal community assessment and toxin analyses; zooplankton community assessment; macrophyte mapping; macroinvertebrate assessment; and coarse woody habitat inventory. Phase 4 project activities include: paleolimnological core collection and full-core analysis. Land use history will be compared with trophic reconstructions inferred from the sediment core to determine the impact and timing of watershed disturbances on water quality. This information will assist with determination of stable ecosystem state and development of water quality goals. The final deliverables for this project will be a compilation of results from the various studies and a comprehensive report with management recommendations.