HomeMy WebLinkAbout#08 - Lake Association Lake GrantSTAFF REPORT
DATE: January 2, 2019
CONSENT
AGENDA ITEM: Lake Elmo Lake Association Grant Request
SUBMITTED BY: Kristina Handt, City Administrator
BACKGROUND:
Included in the 2018 budget were funds for matching grants to the recreational lakes for water
quality improvements like treating invasive species. This funding represents a 50% match, up to
the maximum amount of $5,000 per lake. A match is required by the Lake Associations and any
grant amounts received would not be included as part of the Lake Association match amounts.
ISSUE BEFORE COUNCIL:
Does Council approve the grant request from the Lake Elmo Lake Association?
PROPOSAL:
The Lake Elmo Lake Association has requested a grant for the work done to monitor Eurasian
Milfoil. The harvesting was not able to occur in 2018 due to equipment failure. While the request
from the association is for the full cost of $2,314.94, staff is only recommending a grant of
$1,157.47. Again, this is intended to be a matching grant; not replace the funding providing by the
lake associations.
FISCAL IMPACT:
$1,157.47 from the budgeted $15,000 ($6,223.10 remaining after Lake Jane and Lake Olson and
Demontreville grant approvals).
OPTIONS:
1) Approve $1,157.47 for Lake Elmo Lake Association for monitoring services related to
Eurasian Milfoil
2) Approve a different amount for Lake Elmo Lake Association activities
3) Do not approve any funding for Lake Elmo Lake Association
RECOMMENDATION:
If removed from the consent agenda:
“Motion to approve the Lake Elmo Lake Association grant request of $1,157.47.”
ATTACHMENTS:
• Lake Elmo Lake Association request
Lake Elmo Lake Association
P.O Box 78
Lake Elmo, MN 55042
L AKE E LMO L AKE
A SSOCIATION F UNDING
R EQUEST
December 5, 2018
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LAKE ELMO LAKE ASSOCIATION
FUNDING REQUEST
December 5, 2018
Lake Elmo Lake Association (LELA) has been actively monitoring and mitigating Lake Elmo
for Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) for the past three years. To date LELA has received three
county grants and has successfully removed approximately 12 acres of Eurasian Water
Milfoil from many areas of the lake. Removing the weeds by harvesting has had an added
benefit to the lake by removing more than 70,000 pounds of Biomass that if chemically
treated would be left in the bottom of the lake. LELA has been successful harvesting milfoil
and removing the plant material from the lake which reduces unnecessary nutrients that
promote AIS plant growth. LELA also monitors the lake for clarity and water quality as well
as weed growth and location on a regular basis. (Approx. every two weeks). Lake monitoring
is a required part of the project and also advises our weed mitigation plans and DNR permit
requirements. A second requirement for the county grant is to conduct plant survey at the
beginning and conclusion of the harvest. This work is contracted out to a consultant and the
reports have shown continuous milfoil reduction. Although LELA continued to monitor the
lake, purchase insurance, performed the plant survey our contractor’s harvesting equipment
broke down and we were unable to secure another harvesting contract despite numerous
attempts. Even though LELA was not able to get weed harvesting done this year the work
that was done benefits the citizens of Lake Elmo through the continuous lake monitoring and
plant survey. This work is necessary to keep LELA in good position to obtain future grants.
We are requesting reimbursement of LELA work to manage aquatic invasive species.
The below outlines the expenses to date and our request for available city matching funds:
LELA Monitoring and Mitigation Activities and Expenses
LELA Activities LELA
Contributio
n
Washington
County
Contribution
Total Lake Elmo
Project
Request For
City Match of
LELA’s
Expenses
LELA Weed
Mitigation and Lake
Monitoring
$2314.94 $0 2314.94 $2314.94
Detail
Blue Water Science $1400.00
Insurance Coverage $914.94
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