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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-06 CITY OF LAKE~IILZE • PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY TTEE / NATURAL RESOURCES COMA~TZEE COMBINED MEETING - MARCH 6, 1990 7:00 PM Meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM by Natural Resources Co~unittee Chair, Richard Rose. Natural Resources Coirnnittee members present: Rose, Pond, Nicholson, Frost, and Burke. Absent: DeBuhr Parks and Recreation Coaranittee members present: Lpvelace, Larson, Grenz, Messinger, Lulf and Illa. Absent: Raymond Also present were Mayor Duane Zaun, Councilmember Lynette Mulvihill, City Ac~ninistrator Bob Erickson, Park Director Steve Michaud, Community Development Director Jim Robinette, other staff membersand members of the coxrumanity. Mayor Zaun notified several corrmi.ttee members of their reappointments to the Natural Resources and Parks & Recreation Committees and expressed his appreciation to the conunittees for their contributions. Jim Robinette stated the purpose of the meeting was to present information to the p~zblic concerning five lakes in Lakeville Marion, Orchard, Lee, Kingsley and Valley. He began his presentation with an explanation of the Water Management Organizations (~!O) which the City of Lakeville is involved in. 'These organizations were created to set up master plans for the watershed districts and to monitor runoff as it pertains to surface • water quality. I~keville is a member of three different water management organizations, the largest which is the Vermillion Watershed District, one of the largest in the state, the Blackdog WMO and the Credit River WMO. These t~iO's include various neighboring cities and are concerned with various bodies of water within the city of Lakeville. Lake Marion can be described as "fickle" or unstable, due to its. fluctuating depth. It is classified as a recreational use lake by the DNR, covers 489 acres and has an ordinary maximum depth of 21 feet. The depth impacts water quality considerably and at this time it is designated a high quality lake. When County Road 64 was built, the natural outlet of the lake was cut off. The ordinary high water mark is determined by the vegetation around the shoreline. There are no springs in Lake Marion known of by the DNR, therefore the lake gets most of its water from area runoff. The water level measuring device which was installed to take the readings is now out of the water on dry land. The IxIR will survey the lake and reinstall the device so readings can continue. According to the lake's historical records, the high and low water levels vary by 17 feet. The DNR will not allow a well to be drilled to put water back into the lake as they consider it an improper use of the ground water. In the fall of 1984, due to flooding problems around the lake, the water outlet was installed along County Road 64. People are now asking if the lake is being ruined by the drought? Hydrologists say there are no long term detrimental effects and in some ways a drought can be helpful. One of • the benefits of law water is that the nutrients are used up by the plants, which causes less grasses to grow in the lake. Winter kill is a problem with lau water levels; when the oxygen is depleted, the fish die. Parks & Recreation/Natural Resources Committee meeting • March 6, 1990 Page -2- The aeration system installed by the DNR and the Park Dept. will help to prevent this situation. In the late 1970's the city signed an agreement with the USGS to conduct testing of the water quality on area lakes. Several .agencies, including the Metro Council, have also done testing on Lake Marion and adjoining wetlands. The storm sewer plan was designed so that water runs its natural course and is not just piped away. An early spring and early fall street sweeping, before the rainy season, helps to keep the runoff clean. At this time, Jim Robinette introduced Peter Willenbring of Orr-Schelen- Mayeron & Associates, Inc., who stmm~arized data which had been gathered on the five area lakes. The first. lake discussed was Lake Marion. The three bays of Lake Marion act somewhat independently in respec,-t to water quality. In addition to the USGS study, the Minnesota PCA has gathered a data base. which will allow for the study of trends in future years. The studies focus on how the water quality affects the recreational usability of the lake. Typical water quality fluctuates from year to year. Monitoring must take place over at least two to three years for the data to be accurately analyzed. Mr. Willenbring discussed high phosphorus content, an indicator of poor water quality, chlorophyll a, and other nutrients in the water. He stated fertile soils around a body of water will coincide with poorer water • quality of the lakes, since nutrients from the soil will be deposited along with runoff. Other causes of nutrients in the lake are fertilizers, decomposing trees, leaves and grasses, and other organic material. People need to be aware of these causes of high nutrient levels. On the other hand, if lawns are not fertilized, the root systems are not able to prevent the soils from washing into the storm waters. Some ways the water can be improved would be to develop a water quality monitoring system from the watershed districts, better manage the area surrounding the lake with ponding areas and use vegetation in the runoff areas to filter out and cause sedimentation. Orchard Lake was then discussed. The water elevation of Orchard Lake does not fluctuate as much as Lake Marion. In answer to Steve Michaud's question about life expectancy of lakes, Mr. Willenbring stated it would be hundreds of years. Jim Robinette asked whether the lake is deteriorating, and if so, at what rate. Mr. Willenbring stated the exhibit of variations of water quality are normal and they should be continued to be monitored. It is not possible to draw a conclusion with the information and data available. Other indicators such as the fish population should also be monitored. Bob Erickson asked about lake level correlation with annual rainfall and what can be expected with normal rainfalls in the next few years. It was stated that rainfall history has not been compared to lake level history, • but this could be done in order to predict future lake levels. Crystal Lake has been monitored by the Metropolitan Council for two years and has a fairly law phosphorus level. Bob Erickson emphasized that monitoring of the lakes should begin since the data must be collected over Parks & Recreation/Natural Resources Committee meeting March 6, 1990 Page -3- an extensive period of time in order to be meaningfi~l. For example, it is not known what the long term effect will be from roadway runoff which contains such waste as oils, salt, etc. It was agreed that a stronger lake homeo~mers association and better education of the public would have the most beneficial impact on the water quality. Tom Burke stated that testing continues to be done, but more needs to be done with the results of the tests and the conclusions. Orchard Lake has an acceptable level of phosphorus and is a ire consistently high quality lake. The maximum depth is 10 meters and it has been a good fishing lake. The watershed around Orchard could be monitored as well as periodic monitoring of the lake water. Whitehouse asked about using chemicals to kill the weeds in the lake, such as Burnsville did to Crystal Lake. Mr. Willenbring stated that algaecides have been used and are not Dawn to have harmful residuals, however Copper Sulfate applications have been discontirnzed due to residue which has been found to remain on the bottom of the lake. Lee Lake has poor water quality, with high phosphorus and very limited transparency. The lake is within the watershed of Crystal Lake and would ultimately drain into Crystal with adequate rainfall. • Kingsley Lake is a small shallow lake with a high phosphorus content. Limited water quality information is available concerning Kingsley, making any conclusions impossible. Valley Lake is a man made lake which receives its water primarily from stormwater runoff. There is no water quality history available on this lake. It is recc~rnnended that this water be monitored and tested to maintain a safe swimming area for the residents. Mr. Willenbring stm~narized the results of the lake water quality study and heard conmients from the audience. Staff thanked him for his time and his presentation. A separate meeting of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee was held immediately following the presentation. 90.22 Motion was made by Messinger, seconded by Larson, to approve the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee minutes of February 21, 1990. There was no discussion. Motion passed. Committee received a letter from the sponsors of the Pan-O-Prog Mountain Bike Race requesting permission to use Ritter Farm Park for the event on July 8, 1990, from 7:30 AM to 1:30 PM. The group will have their own • insurance policy on the event. The conunittee discussed last year's event and the fact that no complaints or problems were encountered by holding the race at Ritter Farm Park. Parks & Recreation/Natural Resources Committee meeting • March 6, 1990 Page -4- It was also stated that if the potential for park damage is present at the time of the race due to rain and wet trails, the race can be cancelled at the discretion of the Park Director. 90.23 It was moved by Illa, seconded by Lovelace, to recommexid to City Council. that the sponsors of the Mountain Bike Race be permitted to hold the race in Ritter Farm Park on July 8, 1990, weather permitting, and with the requirement of the group insurance policy. Motion passed. The Planning Connnission had asked the Parks and Recreation Cor~mtittee, on page 7 of their February 15, 1990 minutes, to review the trail plan between Airlake and the Brad Johnson PUD, and on into the downtown area. This will be placed on the agenda for the March 21st meeting so it can be studied in more depth. The Parks and Recreation Committee will also look at the feasibility of routes and connections to the school property from Airlake. Larry Lulf reported that he had attended the city council meeting on March 5th. Same items of interest to the Parks and Rec. Committee which were discussed at the meeting included the approval of the park rental fees and policy resolution, the reinstatement of three conanittee members and the discussion of the upgrade of Highway 50. This highway upgrade project is • planned for 1991-92 and will include an extension of the planned trail onto Jaguar Avenue to the railroad tracks in order to pick up the bike trail route at that point. Corrnnittee was pleased with this new development. 90.24 Since there was no further business, it was moved by Messinger, seconded by Lovelace, to adjourn. Motion passed. Respectfully, `7°~ Kevin Illa, Chairman ATTEST: Pat Messinger, Secretary Jr •