3/22/18 BEAA Board Meeting

by Adam Moore

BALD EAGLE AREA ASSOCATION ANNUAL MEETING SUMMARY-

APPROVED BY BOARD

3/22/18,  7– 9 PM at Otter Lake Elementary School

 

Current President, Gary Krejcarek, opened the meeting and introduced Matt Kocien, of the Rice Creek Watershed District (RCWD), as our first speaker.  Board members in attendance included Gary Krejcarek, Rick Donovan, Mike Doran, Bart Crockett, Antonette Alexander, Jim Ascheman and Carole Moore.

 

Matt Kocien (mkocian@ricecreek.org) 763-398-3075, RCWD Summary:

  1. Alum Project. The lake was treated with alum in 2014 and 2016.  Our treatment was the largest project in MN to date (the most amount of alum used in one treatment).  The alum blocks phosphorous and improves water quality and clarity. The phosphorous in the lake declined 86-99% after 2 treatments.  One pound of phosphorous can generate 300-500 pounds of algae. The intent is to repeat the alum treatment every 5 years.  Part of the funding/debt for this is being repaid through a property tax assessment.
  2. Oneka Ridge Golf Course. A storm water pond was added to capture and recycle dirty water.

This reduces the phosphorous flowing into Bald Eagle Lake.  A fringe benefit is that the Golf Course is using less ground water for irrigation. 

  1. Stormwater, rain gardens, shoreline restorations. There have been various projects completed to intercept dirty water and stabilize shorelines from erosion.
  2. Water Quality. Volunteers use Secchi disks to measure water clarity.  Phosphorous and chlorophyll A are also being monitored.  There are state standards for phosphorous and chlorophyll A.  Bald Eagle Lake now meets or exceeds those standards.
  3. BEAA goals as reported to RCWD. The board defined the following goals for the lake:
    1. See your feet at the end of your dock (approx. 5’ of water) – Goal has been met.
    2. Meet MN state standards for phosphorous content – Goal has been met.
    3. Meet RCWD standards for phosphorous content (which is higher than the state standard).

The goal has been met.

  1. Aquatic Plants. The DNR and Steve McComas (Blue Water Science) are involved in native and invasive plant surveys and studies.  There are more native plants since the alum treatments, including native milfoil, pondweed and coontail.  The native plants help stabilize the sediment, store phosphorous during the summer, provide fish habitat and food for invertebrates that eat algae. Measurements show the quality of the plants has improved since the alum treatment.
    1. Curly Leaf Pondweed is invasive and has been being treated since 1997. In 2017, 29 acres were treated using a contractor and guidance for harvesting from Blue Water Science plant studies.  Some of the property tax assessment funds help finance this project.

 

Beth Carreno, (b.carreno@ricecreek.org) 763-398-3073 ,

RCWD Communications and Outreach Coordinator Summary:

 

  1. Shoreline Restorations. With the help of Master Water Stewards Gary Krejcarek and Mike Harmon, a new rain garden has been established on West Street and West Bald Eagle Blvd.  This was financed by the RCWD, the Ramsey County Conservation District and White Bear Township. 9000 square feet of road drains into that rain garden.  It will reduce sediment entry by 400 lbs and reduce phosphorous loading.  It will be made handicapped accessible, the picnic table will be returned and access for kayaks or canoes will be established. Long term maintenance will be provided via the Water Stewards and local schools.
  2. South Bald Eagle Lake Subwatershed Urban Stormwater Retrofit Analysis. SAFL Baffles will be installed this summer at St. Anthony Ave and West Bald Eagle Blvd and Park Ave and East Bald Eagle Blvd. SAFL (St. Anthony Fall Laboratory) Baffles are giant drums put underground to reduce phosphorous from entering the lake.  This project will also include shoreline stabilization in those areas. This process doesn’t change the volume of water entering the lake, it simply cleans it up on the way through. When the project is complete, the only evidence of the SAFL Baffles will be manhole covers.  These tanks will be vacuumed out once or twice a year, as needed.
  3. Water Quality Grants. The RCWD offers some grants for establishing rain gardens, stabilizing shorelines, etc. This year, they can grant up to 75% of the cost of the project up to $7500. The RCWD would make site visits free of charge and offer guidance and suggestions for developing these water quality improvements. 
    1. For General Questions – Contact Samantha Berger, RCWD
    2. For specific questions or grant applications – Ramsey Co– contact Brian Olsen, RCWD
    3. For specific questions or grant applications – Washington Co– contact Bryann Pynn of the Washington County Conservation District.
  4. Mini Grants of up to $500. These grants are available for the purpose of “planting for clean water” such as using native plants, buffer strips, rain barrels, etc.  These grants are available on a first come, first served basis.  In 2018, a total of $10,000 is available for residents in the Rice Creek Watershed District.
  5. DNR Permits needed. For questions about whether or not your desired project requires a DNR permit, visit their website, contact them or also review information on the RCWD website.

 

Steve McComas, Blue Water Science Summary:

  1. Curly Leaf Pondweed. This weed is a perennial, but acts like an annual. It starts growing in March and April.  It needs to be treated early to prevent it from sending out runners for new growth. Blue Water Science takes 100 samples around the lake to determine the best areas to be treated every year.  Sediment consistency can also be used to predict where curly leaf will proliferate.

It’s treated with a contact herbicide.  It’s very specific to curlyweed because nothing else is growing at the time the treatment is applied.  The lake is re-tested in June after treatment has occurred. The goal is to have it die back by the 4th of July.  This die back does produce some algae growth at that time. Native plants generally die in October and do not produce algae.  Heavy snow pack and a late ice out reduce curly leaf pondweed. 

  1. We have “northern/native” milfoil and Eurasian milfoil. These two types have now cross bred in Bald Eagle Lake, producing a “hybrid”. This hybrid acts more like Eurasian milfoil.  The lake will be checked in July for both types of milfoil. 2-4-D is used for Eurasian milfoil treatment.
  2. Flowering Rush.This is a non-native species.  We have a small amount in the lake and it is currently being manually removed by the RCWD.
  3. Starry Stonewort. This is a “macro-algae”.  It looks similar to Chara, but can kill a lake.  It’s treated with copper based algaecides such as copper sulfate. Nothing yet in our lake.
  4. Zebra Mussels. None have yet been observed in Bald Eagle Lake, but we can expect they will infiltrate in the future.
  5. Rusty Crayfish. These are in Leech and Lake Vermillion. They eat plants and can reduce fish habitat and lake quality.
  6. Spiny Water Flea.This is in Mille Lacs Lake. It is not yet in any metro lake.  It eats zooplankton so can affect fish populations.
  7. High weed growth July 2017. Last summer, residents on the southern shores had a huge problem with weeds washing up on shore.  Basically the weeds break off if the stems get weak from growing quite tall or from higher water temperatures.  Boats then more readily chop them up and they also just break off from wave/wind action. This contributed to last summer’s shoreline mess.

 

Gary Krejcarek (BEAA outgoing Board President). Boat inspections for Aquatic Invasive Species.

Inspections used to be funded by the DNR, but they no longer do so.  The State of MN is giving counties money for boat inspections.  Through the Ramsey County Conservation District, we will be hiring Water Guard for inspection purposes.  The BEAA is contributing an additional $5000 in 2018 for inspections, particularly important during fishing tournaments.

 

Mike Doran – (BEAA Treasurer).  Zebra Mussels.  Kathy Fleming has been volunteering as the point person for our Zebra Mussel monitoring, along with Jim Ascheman. Kathy was not able to attend, but Mike stated she may be seeking volunteers to periodically check the shoreline rocks near the boat launch for zebra mussels.

 

Rob Dodd (rob.dodd@state.mn.us) 651-259-5816 – DNR Aquatic Plant Management Specialist

  1. Individual property owners treating dockside/shoreline weeds.  The requirements for permits depend on many factors including the following:
    1. Mechanical vs. Chemical Control
    2. Submerged weeds
    3. Floating weeds
    4. Channel to open water
    5. Weed free areas around dock
    6. Lakeshore frontage

There are many circumstances, factors, rules and regulations regarding treating weeds.  You can contact the DNR or do research on their website.  There are too many regulations for BEAA to adequately provide any specific guidance regarding weed treatments or the permitting required.

 

Rick Donovan (BEAA outgoing Board Member).  Board Business.  The Annual BEAA fundraising dinner is Thursday, April 19th, 6 pm at Dellwood Country Club.  There will be a silent auction again, with some exciting new items including a V dock, Jet Ski, Diamonds, etc.  We still need more donations, so please think about how you can help. Athletic tickets, time shares, or specialty dinners are all examples of needed items.  If you have any questions about donations, contact Mike Doran (mpdoran@comcast.net). 

 

The Board presented the approved budget for 2018. 

 

The BEAA has joined the MN Rivers and Lakes Association.

 

The BEAA’s by-laws include mandated dues collections.  This was stopped in 2011.  In the past it was often a flat fee or sometimes a fee based on lake frontage.  The board will be rolling out the dues collection plans this spring via e-mail and postal service mail.  We need to collect dues to pay for the weed treatments, zebra mussel inspections and emergency contingencies for any invasive species control.

 

The Board is to hold elections for staggered terms.  The terms have been defined as follows.  Rick Donovan and Gary Krejcarek’s terms expire this year.   All Board members listed below were elected by those present.

 

Terms expiring 2019:  Adam Moore, Jim Ascheman, Mike Doran

Terms expiring 2020:  Bart Crockett, Carole Moore, Antonette Alexander

Back to Meeting Minutes