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Environmental Board <br />April 30, 2025 <br />Page 2 <br /> <br />6. ACTION ITEMS <br />A.Birchwood Acres Pond Treatment Proposal <br />City staff has received feedback from concerned residents regarding the aesthetic <br />quality of storm pond RLA-010-B located in Birchwood Acres Park. This pond treats <br />stormwater runoff from nearly 70 properties located primarily on Hawthorn Road and <br />Lonesome Pine Trail in the Park Grove development. <br /> <br />The main concerns include the vegetation that covers the surface of the pond and odor. <br />The vegetation present on this pond is primarily duckweed, which provides water <br />purification by incorporating nutrients. It is also an important food source for wildlife. <br />The odor is primarily due to decomposition of plants and algae. <br /> <br />Residents have expressed interest in treating this pond, citing the aesthetic quality of <br />two ponds on private land nearby that receive treatments with algaecide and herbicide. <br />These are storm pond RLA-013-A, located south of the Red Hawk Trail cul-de-sac, and an <br />unnamed pond located directly north of Birchwood Acres Park ballfield. <br /> <br />Residents have petitioned 100% of the adjacent private property of the pond and <br />agreed to share in the cost of treatments privately. There would be no cost to the city <br />for the residents to privately treat the pond. <br /> <br />Ms. Nelson had questions about whether this would be an acceptable treatment with <br />Mr. Hoffman’s professional experience. Mr. Hoffman stated that this treatment has <br />worked previously, but Lake Management has stated that no other city owned pond has <br />been treated by them before. <br /> <br />Ms. Nelson had questions about the legality of the pond treatment and whether the City <br />would be held liable for any issues. Mr. Hoffman stated that the City attorney would <br />draft a document regarding this treatment and would have to be approved through the <br />City Council. <br />Ms. Larkin asked what would happen if treatment needed to stop and what the impact <br />to the pond would be. Mr. Hoffman stated that there would be no negative impact to <br />the pond. <br /> <br />Mr. Schwartz asked how this would impact our MS4 permit, and how often we would be <br />monitoring the water quality. Mr. Hoffman stated that the City would be liable, the City <br />attorney would have to review the contract. <br /> <br /> <br />