01/30/2002 Env Bd Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Agenda Item 6A Environmental Board Meeting Date: January 30, 2002 Topic: Ordinance Proposal /Peltier Lake Use Regulation Background: The Peltier Lake Island is classified as the second largest nesting site for the Great Blue Heron. The island is also a nesting area for the Great White Egret. Records of these birds nesting habits in Lino Lakes have been maintained since 1945. Before 1979 there were two other sites in Lino Lakes that the birds used for nesting. One was on the East Side of Rice Lake and the other was in the Lamprey Pass area. From 1979 to 1991, the birds from these two sites appeared to have migrated to the Peltier Lake nesting site. The theory is that the birds moved away from development in the areas. The first record of colonies on Peltier was recorded in 1989. The records indicate the decline in population of the Rice Lake and Lamprey sites, and in increase in the population of the Peltier site. In 1999, there were 625 recorded nests on Peltier Island. At that time, the Peltier colony became the second biggest colony in the state. The Pigs Eye colony was the largest. There are only five or six nesting colonies in the Metropolitan Area. In 1996 there were 1100 recorded nests on the island. In 1998, a storm reduced the number of nests to 500. The birds were nesting at the end of May 2000. After June 14, the birds were gone. A number of issues may have caused the disappearance of the Blue Herons. Last year was a budget wildfire year. The DNR was practicing aerial water pick- ups on Peltier during the nesting time. Highway construction began on Interstate Highway 35W. The Highway project occurred within % mile from the nesting birds. Aerial photographs show about 60 nesting Egrets on April 16, 2000. The birds left sometime after this. The Blue Heron numbers also went down. In 1998, a permit was issued for private water ski slalom coarse. It is not known if the permit for this coarse was issued in 1997, or weather skiing was occurring at that time. The coarse was set up on the North side of the island. The birds nest on the North side of the island. Research indicates the need for at least a 300 -meter nesting and buffer zone for the Great Blue Heron, and that the birds tend to abandon nests with larger disturbances within 500 meters Butler. 1992. A task force of stakeholders met on January 23, 2002 to discuss action that might be taken to protect the Great Blue Heron Rookery on Peltier Island. One of the suggestions is to immediately communicate with the DNR fire fighters, and the Minnesota Department of Transportation concerning Heron sensitivity issues. Discussions with the skiing group will also occur. It is thought that if a "handshake agreement" can be reached with the skiers to not use the area