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5.1. SR 09-07-2010REQUEST FOR ACTION TO ITEM NUMBER Ci Council 5.1. AGENDA SECTION MEETING DATE PREPARED BY Administration September 7, 2010 Nicola Blake-Bradley, Environmental Technician ITEM DESCRIPTION REVIEWED By Lake Orono Drawdown to Reduce Curly Leaf Pondweed - Rebecca Haug, Environmental Public Hearing Administrator REVIEWED BY Lori ohnson, Ci Administrator ACTION REQUESTED Staff requests approval to move ahead with submitting a permit application to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to temporarily draw down Lake Orono by approximately 5' for control of the invasive aquatic plant Curly Leaf Pondweed as a result of the petition submitted by the Lake Orono Improvement Association. BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION Curly Leaf Pondweed (CLP) is an invasive plant which reproduces both sexually by seed (called turions) and asexually by plant division. The plant forms large mats at the surface of the water in shallow areas (up to 5', normally) which prohibits recreational vehicle movement. When CLP plants are broken apart (often by boat motors), each subsequent piece is able to produce a whole new plant. This, coupled with turion production, allows the invasive plant to exponentially expand and overtake beneficial native plants. When the invasive weed mats die back, their decomposition takes all the oxygen out of the water creating a hazardous environment for all aquatic life forms in the vicinity. In 2003, Lake Orono was drawn down, using a maintenance permit for the dam, for the same purpose with moderate success. Since then, volunteers have been hand pulling the CLP each year under an annual permit which the City has obtained. The CLP has continued to increase its area and distribution each year. The Lake Orono Improvement Association believes that a drawdown will set back the CLP to a level which may be controlled by hand once again. The DNR will determine when the lake may be drawn down and the length of time to be drawn down. The drawdown would be temporary with a slow draw down for turtle and other aquatic organism adjustments. Two weeks of freezing weather is required to ensure maximum turion control. After that period, the Lake would be allowed to return to an ordinary high water level. FINANCIAL IMPACT Staff intends to request the drawdown through the use of the maintenance permit once again to avoid the necessity for a public waters work permit. If a public waters work permit is not required by the DNR for this project, the only costs will have been associated with the public hearing notice and mailing. Otherwise, if a public waters work permit is required, the permit may cost $1,000. C:\Users\jmiller\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\OLKE8DB\Action Requested - drawdown.doc ATTACHMENTS None Action Motion by Second by Vote Follow Up C:\Users\jmiller\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\OLKE8DB\Action Requested - drawdown.doc -~r ~ v ~ ~ h~~~ r ~ ~ C.-.`R. t•-.Pi 9~. ~c'~'~ Sa~ I.. _. F~ ` f._e`r... k,~..~~ .,~.. _. ., ~.- .. v~'ir~f..4 .-,,. Lake Orono Draw Down Request for Curly-Leaf Pondweed Control City of Elk River Public Hearing September 7, 2010 Copyright ©2010 -Lake Orono Improvement Association, Inc. { Curl -Leaf Pondweed Summar =~='~ y y ~~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~re~~~~~raf ~~r~t-~trnt~ • What is Curly-Leaf Pondweed? - Curly-Leaf is a submersed aquatic plant that is not native to North America. It generally grows in 3-10 feet of water. Curly- Leaf tolerates low water clarity and will readily invade disturbed areas. • Why is Curly-Leaf Pondweed a problem? - In spring, Curly-Leaf pondweed will form dense mats that interferes with boating and other recreation on lakes. - Curly-Leaf also causes ecological problems because it will displace native aquatic plants. This has an unfavorable impact on wildlife in and around the lake. In addition, an increase in phosphorus and undesirable algal blooms will occur. • Action is required to control this problem - Several excursions have been launched to pull these invasive weeds from the Lake by hand. While we made some progress, the prevalence of this weed was too widespread to make a meaningful impact with this method. - Chemical control is not permitted by the DNR on Lake Orono because of the downstream river affects. - A Lake draw down is the best option to control this problem ,r. ~~. .~,.,,~ 3 • 4 '.Y, ;, fj' . .~' a r ~ '• ~ ~~~ ~. . Curly-Leaf pondweed infestation in Minnesota Very similar to Eurasian Water Milfoil, uncontrolled Curly-Leaf Pondweed can be devastating to a ~~ Lake Curl -Leaf Pondweed Summar ~?~~ y v ~ ~3 ~~ ~~~~f~~~<~t~c~~ • A team consisting of the Sherburne County Soil and Water Conservation District, City of Elk River Environmental staff and the Lake Orono Improvement Association has concluded that the best Curly-Leaf Pondweed control resolution is a managed lake draw down in the fall to allow a hard freeze kill of this invasive weed. • The water elevation adjustments would be done during the timeframe of mid- to late October in a gradual manner when average daytime temperatures are still 50 - 55 degrees Fahrenheit. The water level is lowered enough to expose the Curly-Leaf Pondweed. The water level would remain down until a hard freeze occurs. • This technique will allow us to achieve the environmental objective of Invasive Curly-Leaf Pondweed reduction while accounting for desired species survival, most notably, the threatened Blanding Turtles. Lake Orono 2010 Plan ~.fye ~r~~~~tir~>~~r><Ir . .~. r _ r _ ~. r _ _ ,~, ~ ~~ i~ 1 - . 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LOIA will contribute $900 in additional funds `~`No Permit~Fee Required* ~n'~ Existing'Cify of EIk River Lake Draw Down °Perm~t from the DNR ~/Vill~ge. Re-lJsec - Curl -Leaf Pondweed Control - z~-~~~ y ~~. Lake Orono Draw Down Process ~~~~~-~~~~~~ ,~~~~r<-r~-t#i The Lake Drawdown Process: • 75% of Lake Property Owners need to sign a Petition asking the City of Elk River to apply for a Temporary Lake Drawdown Permit from the MN DNR. (by law, the City must apply for the permi~_. - Petition signing is complete Petetion Tracking Petetion Form Spreadsheet • The City of Elk River is required to hold a Public Hearing on the Issue. • A request is made to the City Council for approval to complete and submit a permit application to the MN DNR. • The MN DNR will process the application. Preliminary discussions with them indicate that they will approve the permit as long as proper provisions are made for wildlife survival, most notably, the Blanding Turtles. The planned draw down technique does accommodate for desired species. • The Elk River Municipal Utilities can then start the gradual drawdown process -assuming the weather conditions are adequate (daytime temperatures of 50-55 degrees F) .The water level is lowered enough to expose the Curly-Leaf Pondweed. Keep Lake Orono a Valuable Economic.and Environmental Resource"': k 2010 Curly-Leaf Pondweed Control Schedule ~_~~{; ~~.~~~~ May - LOIA Survey for Curly-Leaf by LOWQC • Communicate results with the DNR, City of Elk River and Sherburne SWCD June -July -August - Mechanical CLPW removal (hand-pulling) done by early July - Determine if there should be a drawdown - If drawdown is deemed necessary, present petitions to Council for approval to call a Public Hearing Late August -Early September - Public Hearing held We Are Here September - Proceed with permit application submission to DNR Late October - Early November - Drawdown start. DNR may determine how long it needs to be down ~ ,, Back up Charts September 2010 Copyright ©2009 -Lake Orono Improvement Association, Inc. ~, rono Ma ~~ L ke O ~~~~ ~~~~~~ a p trr~e-c~~r~~~~~~t :~ ~:~~ t~~t~~t~ ^ ^ ~..,. O ortu n sties ~_~~ ~~~~1 2 10 Lake 0 pp t~~~~-~~~rrt~t Rs~r~~~~~~t~r • Impaired Water Quality - The most public of issues - Fecal Coliform & Phosphorus are the main offenders - Working to identify largest contributors - Investigating a water aeration system for the Beach area • We want to reduce the number or eliminate Beach postings • Invasive Aquatic Vegetation Issue (Curly-LeafPondweed) - A problem that requires intervention - Looking for help to aggressively address this issue • The longer we wait, the more expensive (environmentally and economically) - LOIA supports the lake draw down control technique - Along term plan is needed • Dredging Strategy - 10 years have passed since the Dredging - Studies are needed to determine best path forward • Cost and environmental impact avoidance ortu n ities ~" 1 La ke O t_ak{~ ~~~~ 20 0 pp r~s~t~c~i~tt~~ • Conservation Activities - Annual stocking of game fish will continue - 2009 and 2010 will be suspended due to planned lake draw down in the fall of 2010 to support CLP control • Lake Management Plan - Addresses Long term lake viability - A comprehensive plan that includes: • Impaired Water Quality • Invasive Aquatic Vegetation Control • Waterway Navigation Preservation • Erosion • Conservation - Describes the Partnerships between the City, County, State & Community LtBe' ~#.~ v.ouK~ 1'th.t~! hike C)r€tnf~ i Sl~rtuorxc {'a~z~n~g. Mimiessxar ~'. - Seeking grant funds to update this living document