VLAWMO Annual Financial Report 2018 (2)

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2018 ANNUAL REPO' THE YEAR IN REVIEW: 2016 activities, projects, and improvements » » IN THIS SECTION What problems does the watershed face? Project Updates In the Community Education Programs Cost Share Programs Community Blue City Engagement Outreach Volunteer Activities Be part of the solution! Water Monitoring Lambert Creek Maintenance What problems does the watershed face? IMPAIRED LAKES: Several lakes in the watershed are on the State Impaired List for high nutrients. These include Wilkinson, Goose, West Vadnais, and Gilfillan Lakes, as well as Lambert Creek. Lambert Creek has the additional impairment of high E. coli bacteria levels. Our studies show that the E. coli is coming from canine and avian sources. Improving these waterbodies requires cooperation between cities, land owners, businesses, and the watershed organization. Each home, park, and property connects to a waterbody through stormwater runoff and is part of the puzzle. SEDIMENTATION: Erosion and sedimentation is a natural process that can be accelerated with human activity. Bare soil, degraded slopes, and poorly protected drainage routes are common sources of excess sediment. Small amounts of sediment accumulate in stormwater runoff to create a big issue for lakes and streams. Sediment clogs wetlands, culverts, and drainage ditches, suffocates aquatic plants that stabilize lake beds, and carries excess nutrients with it. 8 Vadnais Lake Area Water Management Organization RISING CHLORIDE LEVELS: Road salt has a permanent impact on fresh water,with no economical way to remove it once it's in the water. When it washed into lakes and wetlands, the chlorides in salt interrupt the natural nutrient cycling that fish depend on. While some water bodies flush salt downstream to another watershed, some lakes in VLAWMO are accumulating salt. All of VLAWMO's Lakes are currently below state standards, but VLAWMO is monitoring this closely to track changes and guide management. DEGRADED WETLANDS Many shorelines on lakes and ponds contain turf grass up to the water's edge. This causes problems for water quality and degrades nature's ability to protect water resources. Sometimes wetlands are altered or filled in illegally. Even small infringements on wetland boundaries contribute to a state-wide struggle in preventing the gradual loss and degradation of wetlands and groundwater recharge. See page 17 for how to be part of the solution.