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HomeMy WebLinkAbout#13 Washington County AIS grantMAYOR AND COUNCIL COMMUNICATION DATE: 2/2/16 REGULAR ITEM #: 13 MOTION AGENDA ITEM: Aquatic invasive Species Grant support SUBMITTED BY: Clark Schroeder THROUGH: Clark Schroeder REVIEWED BY: Clark Schroeder SUGGESTED ORDER OF BUSINESS: - Introduction of Item .................................................................................................... Staff - Report/Presentation .................................................................................................... Staff - Questions from Council to Staff ............................................................ Mayor Facilitates - Public Input, if Appropriate ................................................................... Mayor Facilitates - Call for Motion .............................................................................. Mayor & City Council - Discussion ..................................................................................... Mayor & City Council - Action on Motion .................................................................................. Mayor Facilitates PUBLIC POLICY STATEMENT Policy statement of support for Washington county grants for aquatic invasive species. SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUESTED: The administrator recommends that the city council support the recommended treatment methods proposed in the grant applications for aquatic invasive species (AIS) in the City of Lake Elmo. BACKGROUND AND STAFF REPORT: Washington County has received proposals (attached) for Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) grant funds from the Lake Demontreville and Olson Lake Association, and the Lake Elmo Lake Association. Washington County welcomes Lake Elmo’s review of these proposals, and humbly requests that the City provide the County with any comments or feedback on the proposals by February 3, 2016. All AIS grant requests that meet the requirements of the Request for Proposals issued on December 14, 2015 will be shared with the Washington County Board of Commissioners in a workshop on February 16, 2016. Grant agreements will be finalized between that date and early to mid-March, when formal Board action will be taken to approve projects and grant funding. RECOMMENDATION: Motion: “The City of Lake Elmo supports the Aquatic Invasive Species grants for Lake Demontreville and Olson Lake Association, and the Lake Elmo Lake Association for the 2016 grant period” ATTACHMENT(S): Lake Demontreville Olson Association_2016 grant proposal for Washington County AIS funding Lake Elmo Lake Association_Washington County Grant Application - January 2016 Letter of support 3800 Laverne Avenue North • Lake Elmo • Minnesota 55042 Phone: (651) 747-3900 • Fax: (651) 747-3901 • www.lakeelmo.org To: Colin Kelly Senior Planner Washington County From: City of Lake Elmo Date: February 2, 2016 The City Council of Lake Elmo do hereby fully support the suggested treatments for Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) in the grant applications from the Lake Demontreville and Olson Lake Association, and the Lake Elmo Lake Association. These Washington County grants and the proposed treatments by the above named lake associations are an important part of keeping AIS from spreading to other Washington County lakes in addition to maintaining lake health and recreation options for the proposed lakes. The City of Lake Elmo encourages Washington County to approve these grants and move forward with these important projects. On behalf of the whole Lake Elmo City Council. Mayor Pearson _________________________________ 1 Proposal for Washington County AIS Grant funding of Lake Demontreville & Lake Olson EWM management project January 13, 2016 The Lake Demontreville & Olson Association is pleased to submit the following proposal for a Washington County AIS Grant. This proposal requests a $ 18,750 grant award to reduce Eurasian Water Milfoil (EWM) in Lake Demontreville and Olson using herbicide treatments applied by a licensed contractor in accordance with DNR regulations. This is the second year of a multi-year program recommended by the Minnesota DNR. Their recommended approach is to manage the impact of EWM infestation by identifying and then treating the highest density EWM areas of each lake up to the maximum annual DNR limit. Our 2015 project was partially funded by the Washington County AIS grant awarded last year through the Valley Branch Watershed District. Our Association is applying directly for this grant as the VBWD will not be coordinating the 2016 program. We thank you for the funding Washington County AIS provided to us in 2015. Now, your consideration of this 2016 grant proposal to continue our EWM management program will be gratefully appreciated. If you have any questions or require additional information during the evaluation of this request, please let me know. Thanks for your support Roger Johnson, President Lake Demontreville Olson Association 8048 Hill Trail North, Lake Elmo, MN 55042 Email: rocan1@comcast.net Tele: 651-777-7766 Cell: 651-402-8541 2 Table of Contents: Introduction to Lake Demontreville and Lake Olson 3 Profile 4 Project support team 5 Project Description 8 Project Goals 8 Scope of work and Timeline 8 Implementation Plan, Deliverables, and performance measurements 9 Budget 9 Outreach/Collaborations 10 Evidence Supporting Approach 10 Prior Washington County Work and conflicts of interest 10 3 Introduction to Lake Demontreville and Lake Olson: Lake Demontreville and Olson are very popular east metro Bass fishing lakes which have special DNR “Catch and Release” restrictions. The lakes are also popular for all types of motorized and non-motorized boating activities. Lake Demontreville is a 157 acre lake and Lake Olson has 89 surface acres. A navigable channel connects their waters. Nearly 90% of their combined 246 acres are “littoral” (under15 ft deep). Eurasian Water Milfoil (EWM) typically prospers in 1-15 ft water… so EWM is prevalent in mid-lake as well as near shore. Both lakes are typically less than 1000ft wide. Their shorelines are fully developed with homes on every lot with the exception of the east shore of Demontreville which is occupied by the Jesuit Reatreat, Carmelite Convent, and Carmelite Hermitage. The public access for these lakes is on Demontreville Road with easy access to highway 36. The access parking lot is often filled to capacity. There are 21 parking spots with overflow parking available in Oakdale. According to DNR and City of Lake Elmo studies, the number of launches per hour at the Demontreville boat ramp and the boat density per surface acre on these lakes is typically more than twice that of the other lakes within the City of Lake Elmo. 4 Profile: The Lake Demontreville & Olson Association (LDO) is a voluntary organization of shoreline property owners. Its' chartered purpose is to preserve, protect, and improve the water and shoreline health of Lake Demontreville and Lake Olson which are linked via a navigable channel. The Association originated in 1985 and has sponsored weed and algae control programs since 1991. From 1991 till present, the Association has managed annual shoreline/dockside chemical treatments for reducing Curly Leaf Pondweed infestations and periodic Lake-wide Algae reduction programs whenever Secchi Disc water clarity readings deteriorated below one meter. The Association’s focus expanded to Eurasian Water Milfoil (EWM) when it was first discovered near the Lake Demontreville public landing in 2005. With cooperation from the Minnesota DNR, the LDO association orchestrated a treatment of the public landing bay in 2009. That treatment was successful in reducing EWM for a few subsequent years. Then, in 2012 the EWM began to migrate through Lake Demontreville and in 2014 it moved into Lake Olson. By the spring of 2015 EWM was prevalent throughout both lakes. In 2015, the Association partnered with the Valley Branch Watershed District (VBWD) on an aggressive multi-lake treatment program which slowed migration and provided excellent seasonal relief to the infestation in Lake Demontreville and Lake Olson. Unfortunately, many EWM plants re-grew through the season and by last fall were at or near the surface across both lakes. Left unchecked, EWM is projected to be even more invasive during the summer of 2016. It will eventually form mats and entirely cover these small shallow lakes, making them unsuitable for swimming, fishing, or any watercraft activities (motorized or un-motorized). For that reason, LDO Association is seeking Washington County support for a 2016 treatment program similar to the Lake Demontreville and Lake Olson portion of the 2015 project managed by the VBWD. This project will be completed in compliance with all applicable MN DNR rules and regulations. 5 Project Team: The Lake Demontreville & Olson Association will lead this 2016 project. The team which may provide support to complete the 2016 EWM reduction project for Lake Demontreville and Lake Olson includes the following entities. Lake Demontreville Olson Association (LDO)… 8048 Hill Trail North, Lake Elmo, MN 55042 Tele: 651-777-7766 Email: rocan1@comcast.net Contact: Roger Johnson The Lake Demontreville & Olson Association (LDO) is a voluntary organization of shoreline property owners. Its' chartered purpose is to preserve, protect, and improve the water and shoreline health of Lake Demontreville and Lake Olson which are linked via a navigable channel. The Association originated in 1985 and has sponsored weed and algae control programs since 1991. From 1991 till present, the Association has managed annual shoreline/dockside chemical treatments for reducing Curly Leaf Pondweed infestations and periodic Lake-wide Algae reduction programs whenever Secchi Disc water clarity readings deteriorated below one meter. LDO member/volunteers have coordinated all DNR permitting, chemical spraying by qualified contractors, lake temperature, clarity, and water analysis sampling for its’ treatment programs every year since 1991. Association member/volunteers will also lead and provide these services for the proposed 2016 project. Valley Branch Watershed District… P.O. Box 838, Lake Elmo, 55042 Tele: 952-832-2622 Website: VBWD.org Contact: David Bucheck The VBWD is a special purpose unit of local government that manages water resources within an approximately 70 square mile watershed located on the eastern edge of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area, in Washington and Ramsey counties. Since its inception, the VBWD has spent over four decades implementing projects, studies, programs, and education to address flooding, water quality, groundwater, and ecological issues within its jurisdiction. A goal of the VBWD is to improve and protect water resources; to that end, the VBWD seeks to manage AIS in its water bodies. The district provides technical support to state agencies, cities, townships, lake associations, and others seeking to manage AIS within the VBWD’s jurisdiction. Technical support provided from 2012 to 2015 included conducting point-intercept plant surveys, preparing lake vegetation management plans, completing AIS management permit applications, designing herbicide treatment programs, providing presentations for public meetings, coordinating with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and conducting other technical analyses. The VBWD was the lead for the 2015 multi-lake AIS project which was partially funded by last years’ Washington County AIS grant program 6 Barr Engineering Company… 4700 77th St W, Edina, MN Tele: (952) 832-2600 Website: barr.com Contacts: John Hanson or Meg Rattei Barr Engineering Co. provides engineering and environmental consulting services to clients across the Midwest, throughout the Americas, and around the world. Today, Barr has more than 750 employees located in Minnesota, North Dakota, Missouri, Michigan, and in Alberta, Canada. Working together, their engineers, scientists, and support specialists help clients develop, manage, and restore natural resources. Barr has prepared aquatic plant management plans for more than 20 lakes and has implemented AIS management projects on seven lakes. These projects have reduced invasive species to low levels and protected native plants from harm. As a subcontractor to VBWD, Barr Engineering coordinated the 2015 multi-lake AIS project which was partially funded by last years’ Washington County AIS grant program. PLM Lake & Land Management Corp… PO box 328, Brainerd, MN 56401 Tele: (218) 568-5379 Website: plmcorp.net Contact: Paul Selter For over 30 years, PLM Lake & Land Management Corp has been protecting properties from the aesthetic and economic damage caused by invasive plant species. PLM is one of the largest aquatic herbicide and algaecide application companies in the U.S. Their state-of-the-art equipment uses GPS and computer processors to distribute precise rates of herbicide application regardless of boat speed or direction. PLM regularly performs herbicide applications on AIS-infested lakes and was the applicator which completed the successful 2015 project on Lake Demontreville and Lake Olson. Lake Improvement Consulting LLC… 13787 40th Street North, Stillwater, Mn 55082 Tele: 952-944-2565 Website: lakeimprovementconsulting.com Contact: Paul Kaari Lake Improvement Consulting has provided annual shoreline and algae reduction treatment services to Lake Demontreville and Lake Olson more than a decade. They also were the applicator for the 2009 EWM treatment of the public landing bay of Lake Demontreville. Lake Improvement Consulting also provides lake vegetation management services to many other lakes and ponds in Washington County and throughout the state. Their new state of the art computer/GPS system assures precise herbicide placement to optimize treatment results. 7 Lake Restoration Inc… 12425 Ironwood Circle, Rogers, Minnesota 55374 Tele: (763) 428-9777 Website: lakerestoration.com Contact: Chad Hadler Lake Restoration has managed aquatic vegetation in lakes and ponds since 1977. Their application technique uses a microprocessor for uniform application of the product. After the appropriate application rate is entered into the microprocessor, the valves adjust the flow of aquatic herbicide being applied based on the speed of the application boat. Adjustable height submerged trailing hoses are used for aquatic herbicide application placement within the biomass of the target plant species. GPS-enabled application equipment accurately places the aquatic herbicide within the approved treatment location. Lake Restoration performed the 2011 and 2013 applications on Long Lake. Endangered Resources Services, LLC… 572 North Day Road, St Croix Falls, WI 54024 Tele: (715) 483-2847 Contact: Matthew Berg saintcroixdfly@gmail.com Since 2002, Endangered Resources Services has provided biological surveys including baseline data, long- term monitoring, and habitat restoration projects. They specialize in conducting point-intercept plant surveys on lakes and rivers for clients such as the National Park Service, Department of Natural Resources, private engineering firms, and lake associations. Specialty areas also include aquatic and emergent plants, freshwater mussels, dragonflies, and breeding songbirds. Endangered Resources Services completed annual point-intercept surveys on Long Lake, Lake DeMontreville, Lake Olson, Lake Jane, and Lake Elmo during 2012 through 2015. Freshwater Scientific Services, LLC… 18029 83rd Ave N, Maple Grove, MN 55311 Tele: (651) 336-8696 Contact: James Johnson Freshwater Scientific Services has been in the business of aquatic plant monitoring & management planning since 2003. They have vast experience in evaluation of lake-wide, early season herbicide treatments for controlling invasive species in Minnesota lakes. And, they have evaluated the effects of repeated, early season, herbicide treatments on the native macrophyte assemblages. Blue Water Science, LLC… 550 Snelling Ave, St. Paul, MN 55116 Tele: 651-690-9602 Contact: Steve McComas Blue Water Science, has been working on lakes and streams for over 30 years and specializes in lake management and lake restoration projects with an emphasis on innovative approaches for lake protection and improvement. They have conducted hundreds of aquatic plant management surveys throughout the Midwest. 8 Project description: 2016 Lake Demontreville & Lake Olson EWM management project. The proposed project is to reduce EWM density in Lake Demontreville and Lake Olson using herbicide treatments applied by a licensed contractor in accordance with DNR regulations. This is the second year of a multi-year program recommended by the Minnesota DNR. The approach is to manage the impact of EWM by identifying and then treating the highest density EWM areas of each lake up to the maximum allowable DNR limit. Project Goals: The long term goal of this project is to reduce the EWM infestation of Lake Demontreville and Lake Olson. The 2016 goal is to knock down the EWM plants in the spring and to reduce the formation of EWM surface mats throughout the summer months. Accomplishment of this goal means less EWM plant fragmentation which reduces spread of the plant within the lake, less downstream migration, and fewer transfer of EWM to other lakes via contaminated boats and trailers. Scope of work and timeline: May –June 2016…timing is dependent on ice out date and water temperatures 1. Complete a spring EWM delineation survey to identify high density EWM areas for treatment. 2. Work with DNR Aquatic Invasive Species specialists to define appropriate EWM treatment areas. 3. Gain approval for DNR Aquatic Invasive Species permit to apply proper herbicide dosage to target EWM growth areas. 4. Contract with licensed applicator to treat permitted areas in accordance with DNR regulations. 5. Monitor lake water temperature gradient to determine optimum timing of treatments. 6. Coordinate timely application of DNR approved herbicide by the licensed applicator/contractor. 7. Collect water samples and coordinate lab analysis of herbicide concentrations 1 and 3 days after treatment if such is required by DNR permit. July 2016 8. Complete a post treatment assessment of EWM plant kill/survival 30 days after treatment. 9 Implementation plan, Deliverables, and Performance Measurements: 1. Spring EWM delineation with GPS mapping of highest density EWM areas completed by LDO volunteers or contractor. 2. Approved DNR Aquatic Invasive Species permit for target treatment area. 3. Treatment report issued by licensed applicator/contractor after herbicide application. 4. Post treatment 30 day assessment report completed by LDO volunteers or contractor. Budget: Spring EWM delineation study $ 1,500 DNR Aquatic Invasive Species permit fee $ 0 Licensed applicator treatment and reporting expense* $ 15,000 Water sample analysis $ 750 Post treatment assessment study $ 1,500 ___________________________________________________________________________________ Total project $ 18,750 * Herbicide treatment cost is dependent upon depth and diversity of treatment areas. The cost is not finalized till a DNR permit is issued with the treatment area defined. The above $15,000 estimate is based on last falls’ assessment of high density EWM locations and the expectation of related treatment area/depth. Project costs not funded by this Washington County grant will be paid by the Lake Demontreville & Olson Association, with possible additional funding assistance from the DNR, VBWD, and/or City of Lake Elmo. 10 Outreach/Collaborations: LDO has established a great relationship with the DNR and VBWD. We have worked together to plot a course for appropriate and careful AIS management of the EWM infestation of Lake Demontreville and Lake Olson. The treatment plan presented in this grant request is the second year of the agreed upon program. Results from this year will be reviewed and used in our further efforts to control EWM in our lakes and others throughout the state. LDO is an active participate on the VBWD Citizen Advisory Committee on invasive species. Representatives from all five Washington County lakes within the Valley Branch Watershed serve on the committee. The committee meets regularly to collaborate regarding invasive species issues, including management of current AIS infestations and prevention of additional AIS infestations. LDO members have also participated in the Washington County Conservation District AIS meetings to share experiences with lake associations throughout the county. Evidence Supporting Approach: The herbicide approach we are employing to manage the EWM infestation of Lake Demontreville and Lake Olson is the most aggressive allowed by the MN DNR. As mentioned earlier, we are in the second year of this long range program…the final outcome of which will not be apparent for several more years. Prior Washington County Work and potential conflicts: This is the second year of a multi-year EWM reduction program recommended by the Minnesota DNR. The approach is to manage the impact of EWM by identifying and then treating the highest density EWM areas of each lake up to the maximum annual DNR limit. The first year was partially funded by the 2015 Washington County AIS grant awarded last year through the Valley Branch Watershed District. Our Association is applying directly for this 2016 grant as the VBWD will not be coordinating this years’ program. No conflicts of interest are known to exist between Washington County, our association and/or any of our supporting team.