05-22-2019 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES CITY COUNCIL MAY 22, 2019 Brandon Barnes, Barr Engineering, explained that the watershed identifies flood prone areas throughout the district and looks for flood prone structures. He noted that there are a couple of flood prone areas in Little Canada, and there is an emergency response plan in place for a few structures on Lake Gervais that are prone to flooding. He stated that they started measuring the level of Twin Lake in 2018. He noted that historically Twin Lake has fluctuated between 866 feet to 870 feet. He explained that the lake is land locked so there is no outlet for the water until it reaches the overflow level of 877 feet. Water only exits by seeping into the ground or evaporation. Mr. Barnes reported that the lake was surveyed at 875 feet on May 21, 2019. He reviewed the water flow from various locations around Twin Lake into the lake, and overflow areas. He reported that he talked with the property owner to the south who had installed a check valve in a pipe, which has now been removed. Mr. Barnes explained that they have been working with the residents to try to pinpoint when the lake began to rise and discover why. He stated they are looking to determine if it is due to high rainfall or another cause. He explained that the lake level had been fairly consistent until 2013 when it began to rise rather rapidly. He stated that starting in 2013 there. has been higher levels of rainfall. He reviewed the annual rainfall amounts that are tracked by the Minnesota DNR and noted that a number of the last several years have been wetter than usual, with 2014-2016 being three of the 10 wettest years. Tina Carstens stated they will continue to monitor the lake level along with water quality. She stated that they will be working with St. Paul Water and Vadnais Heights. She explained there is a whole system of other lakes with high water levels that are contributing to the high level at Twin Lake, and they will be evaluating all of this. She noted that they have to be very careful about transferring the risk from one area to another. Joe Pralutsky, 231 Twin Lake Trail, asked why the nature flow of the lake was disrupted and it seems like it would be simple to correct that. He stated that many homes have their footings under water and that has never happened in 34 years. He noted that the lake used to have a natural outlet, but since the Unweave the Weave freeway reconstruction happened, it has changed and is 5 1/2 feet over its high water mark. He stated we should be able to let a foot of water out of the lake and save several homes. He noted they can't wait another three years to get more statistics. Terry Telega, 253 Twin Lake Trail, asked if the pumping station at the Five Star Mobile Home Park is still pumping water from their low spot and that VA