4.8. SR 09-21-1998'ity of
iver
Western Lobe
ITEM 4.8.
MEMORANDUM
TO: CITY COUNCIL
FROM: STEPHEN ROHLF, BUILDING AND
ZONING ADMINISTRATOR
DATE: SEPTEMBER 21, 1998 '~
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON LAKE ORONO
PROJECT PROGRESS
Sediment is currently being removed from the western lobe of Lake Orono (# 1 on the
attached map). As you know, the bulk of the material to be removed (90,000 CY) will
come from this area. The City Engineer updated the Council last week regarding the
need to use back-hoes to windrow the material in this lobe that was high in organic
matter. This windrowing is nearly completed and as of 9/15/98, 19,500 CY of sediment
has been removed. By the Council meeting on the 21st, over 30,000CY will have been
removed.
Additional Disposal Sites
One difficulty that has arisen, is that the western lobe contains more sediment high in
organic matter than is desirable. Because of future development potential, the original
disposal sites require the majority of the material disposed on them to be inorganic. Staff
gained additional approvals from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), the
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and the United States Army Corps
of Engineers (USACE) to dispose of 6,000 CY in the plat of Riverplace, 2,000 CY in
West Business Park, and 1,000 CY in the plat of Guardian Angels West (see attached
map). The sediment brought to these disposal sites will be some of the material that is
high in organic matter and will be used as top soil.
Alternate Lake Access/Boy Scout Island Area
Another problem with the project is the difficulty associated with removing the high
organic material from the east end of the western lobe. Material from this end was
proposed to be bulldozed to the west and inlake haul roads. Ground water levels did not
drop as much as projected when the lake was drained. Consequently, this area did not dry
out enough to support the bulldozers. Since building haul roads across the entire western
lobe to access this area would be costly and a certain amount of sandy material would be
lost doing so, staff was prompted to consider an alternate access point into the lake. The
Elk River Bowl has graciously consented to allow the material from the east end of the
13065 Orono Parkway * P.O. Box 490 · Elk River, MN 55330 * TDD & Phone: (612) 441-7420 * Fax: (612) 441-7425
western lobe and the sand bar adjacent to Boy Scout Island (3,500 CY) to be trucked
across their parking lot (alternative access labeled #2 on the attached map). Additional
approvals were needed from the DNR and USACE for this alternate access. It is
anticipated that material from this area will start to be removed in about two weeks.
Sediment from the lake is currently being deposited on the Wapiti and Bickman disposal
sites. The access road to the Hartman disposal site has been completed and it is
anticipated that material will start to be delivered to this area within the week. The
disposal of 6,000 CY at Riverplace has been completed. Material that goes to West
Business Park and Guardian Angels West will come from the Boy Scout Island area.
Orono Cemetery Area
The removal of 13,500 CY of sediment adjacent to Orono Cemetery (#3 on the attached
map) should began toward the end of this week. A different crew will be used in this area
than the one doing the western lobe. The erosion correction on Cemetery Point will
precede the removal of the sediment from the lake in this area. Stripping of topsoil has
began on Orono Cemetery disposal site, but very little has been found. This is especially
a concern for establishing vegetation on the erosion control area.
Islandview Area
The Islandview excavation will be the last area done (#4 on the attached map). This will
be the hardest area to work. At least a portion of the material removed from this area will
be used by a property owner adjacent to the lake for general fill. The remainder is
proposed to be trucked to the Tim Smith disposal site. The lake access to this site is
adjacent to a city storm sewer. Riprap will be required to stabilize the shoreline disturbed
by this access.
Removal of Additional Sediment
Staff has petitioned the MPCA, DNR, and USACE and gained approval for the removal
of up to an additional 20,000 CY from the lake. It is extremely unlikely that this
additional amount can be achieved. Additional disposal areas will be needed, although
Riverplace, West Business Center and Guardian Angels West already add an additional
capacity for the disposal of 9,000 CY. Further, the right material is needed, i. e. sand, for
the disposal areas already approved. Lastly, budget may limit any extra sediment
removed. If the obstacles mentioned can be overcome, the additional material removed
will come from the western end of the western lobe, creating more area for future
sediment to deposit where the river first runs into the lake (#5 on the attached map).
Optional Area
Finally, it is unlikely that the work in the optional area (identify as #6 on the attached
map) can be achieved. The idea was to knock the tops off of the high points in this area
for boating safety and leave the material in the lake. MPCA did not approve this concept,
but they will allow the city to excavate these high spots, if the material is removed from
the lake. Staff is not sure if a bulldozer can access this area without building a road let
alone trucks to haul the sediment. The cost of building a haul road to the area and finding
suitable material to construct it will probably make this option prohibitive.
Lake Clean-up
Laurie Mezera-Kerr in cooperation with the Street Department will be conducting a Lake
Clean-up Day on Saturday, September 19,1998. Lake shore owners were notified that
tires, rubbish, scrap metal, and brush can be disposed of for free at the Public Works
Garage. Staff will inform the Council of the results of this effort at your meeting.
Additionally, the Elk River Rotary Club has put in an effort to remove debris from the
lake. The Street Department also plans to remove items from the middle of the lake prior
to the water level being restored.
Lake History_ Display
Starting in October, artifacts collected from the lake since it has been drained, a pictorial
and written history of the lake, and an account of lake facts that lead to the current lake
project will be on display at the Elk River Public Library. This is another effort being
coordinated by Laurie Mezera-Kerr.
Conclusion
Staff is optimistic that the Lake Orono Project will: be completed on schedule (by the end
of October), accomplish the results planned, keep within staff's estimated cost, and
possibility result in the removal of slightly more material than was planned. I look
forward to discussing this project further with the Council at Monday night's meeting.
LAKE ORONO
WAPITI
SMITH
RIVERPLACE
BICKMAN
#5
Sr~TI'~RED
4
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-IARTMAN
X
2
3
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GUARDIAN
ANGELS WEST
I
I
BUSINESS PARK
OPEN, WATER 0.~',
EHEI~NT VEC4~TATION E.V.
FLOATIN~ LEAF ~GETATION F~,
LEGEND
BRIOGE
UNITED STATES HIGHWAY
COUNTY ROlO
SECTION LINE
SECTION NUNBER
#2
#6
7
SC,~T'rF..'tED
3
I
3
4 3
4 4
4
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7 7
3 3
5.5
7
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$
8
#3
ORONO
32 33
4
4 3
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5.5 8
6
7
q
q
32 33
NOTES
GAGE LOCATED AT THE OUTLET
28
33
338 e