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Home My WebLink About07/31/2008 Environmental Board MinutesENVIRONMENTAL BOARD MEETING JULY 31, 2008 CITY OF LINO LAKES APPROVED MINUTES DATE : July 31, 2008 TIME STARTED : 6:00 P.M. TIME ENDED : 8:20 P.M. MEMBERS PRESENT : Mary Jo O’Dea, Barbara Bor, Paula Andrzejewski, Pamela Hartley and Peter Brown MEMBERS ABSENT : Martha DeHaven and Kimberly Brouillet STAFF PRESENT : Environmental Coordinator Marty Asleson 1. CALL TO ORDER Ms. O’Dea called the meeting to order at 6:02 p.m. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES May 28, 2008 Ms. O’Dea had the following changes to the minutes. Page 4, 8th paragraph, delete: questioned the concept of and add: asked for an explanation regarding the process of. Page 4, ninth paragraph delete. Page 5, change Ms. O’Dea questioned to Ms. O’Dea asked. Mr. Brown made a motion to approve the May 28, 2008 minutes with changes. Ms. Bor seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously. 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Ms. Hartley made a motion to approve agenda. Ms. Andrzejewski seconded the motion to approve the agenda. Motion carried unanimously 4. OPEN MIKE Open mike closed at 6:04 p.m. 5. ACTION ITEMS A. Recommendation to participate with Rice Creek Watershed District and Reshanau Lake Association in Water Quality Efforts. Mr. Asleson presented his staff report to the Environmental Board members. 1 DRAFT MINUTES ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD MEETING JULY 31, 2008 Mr. Matt Kocian from Rice Creek Watershed District (RCWD) presented a PowerPoint presentation to the Environmental Board members on Reshanau Lake Water Quality, Curlyleaf Pondweed and Future Lake Goals. Reshanau Lake is considered impaired by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). An impaired waterbody does not meet basic water quality standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Reshanau Lake is not alone, there are 1,475 listed impaired waters in Minnesota. Within RCWD and Lino Lakes there are many water quality impairments. There are different types of impaired lakes. The primary nutrient that causes impairment is phosphorus. Phosphorus fuels algae growth, causing lakes to turn green. According to Mr. Kocian the phosphorus in our lakes exceeds standards by the MPCA. There are many sources of phosphorus both external and internal. The main Curlyleaf Pondweed non-native submerged aquatic plant is a product of excessive phosphorous loading. Curlyleaf Pondweed’s life cycle starts with sprouts in late October. The sprouts survive under the ice during the winter months. The sprouts rapidly grow soon after ice-out with dense growth by late spring and death/decomposition by mid- summer. Decomposing plant matter releases phosphorus. Control Options for Curlyleaf Pondweed include mechanical (cutting) which is very expensive and does not remove all of the plant and herbicidal treatments that have been done the past three years. This year will be the fourth year. Ms. Hartley questioned if the entire lake was treated. Mr. Kocian stated the entire off shore portion of the lake was treated. In 2005 RCDW treated 50.5 acres and the following years they treated 282 acres. The Curlyleaf Pondweed seedbank are turions and remain in the sediment and continues to grow in spite of treatment. It will take more than five years for herbicide treatment of this lake to rid it of Curlyleaf Pondweed. The cost of treatment is roughly $35,814. The herbicide is dripped, not sprayed out into the air. Herbicide treatment has been very effective. There has been no Curleyleaf Pondweed growth at Site 1, Site 2 and Site 3 after treatment. Goals for Reshanau Lake Management: Continue herbicide applications at least through 2008 2 DRAFT MINUTES ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD MEETING JULY 31, 2008 Continue pre and post-herbicide plan surveys Consider introducing (planting) native aquatic vegetation Hurdles for Reshanau Lake Management: -Rough fish: feeding/spawning activities kill native aquatic vegetation -Re-suspend bottom sediment and phosphorus -Turbidity (poor water quality) -Native aquatic vegetation cannot grow in turbid water -Cost of herbicide treatment - $35,814 for 08 -Cost expected to increase in coming years Impairments to our lakes have resulted in the need to have a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) study done for each lake. These studies are underway. Ms. O’Dea questioned if there has been an association formed of lake homeowners, a taxing district or a lake improvement district. Mr. Kocian stated there was a lake improvement district but, there was a setback and at the current time they are working with a steering committee or a group that represents homeowners. Mr. Brown stated that water quality is an issue and has definitely been a problem. He stated most homeowners pay a few hundred dollars a year to help with the Curleyleaf Pondweed problem. Mr. Asleson stated the City has been contacted and asked to contribute/participate in the restoration efforts. The City owns 1800’ of lakeshore on this lake. Ms. Bor had concerns about water quality such as how the lake compares with other lakes in terms of needs and if it is decided what type of lake this will be such as recreational or quiet. Those who want a recreational lake don’t want lily pads, etc. She questioned how the phosphorus is reduced without interfering with the intent of homeowners as to how they wish to use the lake. Mr. Kocian is working with two lakes, Bald Eagle and Reshanau. Both groups came to RCWD a few years ago regarding excessive growth of Curleyleaf Pondweed and degraded water quality conditions. RCWD’s first efforts in supporting water quality improvements were to help fund the projects. Curleyleaf Pondweed is an issue in most shallow lakes. Mr. Asleson stated the point is that there are impaired waters and the City has a responsibility to reduce pollutant loading in our lakes. Mr. Brown stated that the initial treatments improved the lake tremendously. 3 DRAFT MINUTES ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD MEETING JULY 31, 2008 Ms. O’Dea stated the board can make a recommendation to participate and donate funds based on the requirement to water quality. The board could not enter into an agreement or partnership as there was no actual agreement or partners. Ms. Hartley stated her concerns regarding leaky septic systems and questioned if there is a way of confirming that septic systems are not failing and therefore are not contributing to the problem. Ms. Andrzejewski made a motion to recommend a contribution of $5,000 from Surface Water Management funds to Lake Reshenau restoration. Mr. Brown seconded the recommendation. Recommendation carried unanimously 6. DISCUSSION ITEMS A. Recycling/Mike Larson of JR’s Advanced Recyclers Mr. Asleson stated there is a need to increase tonnage goals in the city. Mr. Mike Larson from J.R.’s Appliance Recycling is present to talk to the board. Mr. Larson stated Mr. Asleson would like additional opportunities to increase the City’s residential recycling tonnage. Mr. Larson stated J.R.’s would collect appliances once a month with their employees and their trucks. There would be a charge to residents of $10 per appliance, $15 for air conditioners and $15 for TV’s. He stated computer monitors and all other electronics would be free. He stated they would be happy to have recycle days as often as we would like. He suggested starting off slow to justify their time, etc. Maybe quarterly. It was discussed as how to advertise for this event. It was decided that advertising would be on the City’s website and local papers. Mr. Brown made a motion to proceed with fall recycling of appliances from J.R.’s. Ms. Bor seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously. B. Blue Heron Days Parade – Garbage Pick Up Members discussed who would be available to participate in garbage pick at the end of the Blue Heron Days parade. OTHER: Ms. O’Dea stated she would like to add FEMA Flood Plain changes to the next Environmental Board meeting agenda. 7. ADJOURN It was noted that the next meeting of the Environmental Board will be on August 27, 2008. 4 DRAFT MINUTES ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD MEETING JULY 31, 2008 There being no further business, Ms. Bor moved to adjourn at 8:20 p.m. Ms. Andrzejewski seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously. Transcribed by: Lisa Hogstad Community Development Secretary 5 DRAFT MINUTES