The Lake Minnewashta Preservation Association (LMPA) held its 2025 Annual Meeting to review progress in protecting, preserving, and enhancing the quality of Lake Minnewashta. Over fifty residents attended the meeting which included an open forum on a wide variety of topics.
LMPA president Steve Gunther opened the meeting, welcoming first-time attendees and recognizing the dedicated volunteers who make the organization effective.
our 2025 board of directors
- Kevin Zahler – Master water steward, AIS lead, shoreline buffer coordinator and Highway 5 expansion and chloride monitoring lead and so much more
- Scot Lacek, vice president who works on permitting for invasive weed treatment, DNR funding, rock hazard mapping and responsible for an exciting new automated education system at the Regional Park
- Anne Ripple – our treasurer
- Helen Gunther – secretary and annual meeting planner
- Doug Tanner – who contributed in a wide variety of topics
- LJ Ripple – youth board member who is completing his final season with us
- Dan Laun – who is retiring from the board but has provided great insights
- Nancy Simpson, from the Pleasant Acres association,
- Becca Fink from Campfire Minnesota who has recently left the organization
and a shout out to some special non board members
- Rick Zweig – our long time water quality and elevation monitor along with Kevin Zahler. Rick has retired from service with us and we offer him our deepest thanks for a job well done
- The July 4th event organizers and t-shirt committee
- Gary Bhwojani, who kept our fireworks show going again in 2025!
- Our neighborhood captains who are a conduit of info!
2025 Has Been A Year Of Positives For Lake Minnewashta.
- We’ve experienced very good water clarity…our lake continues to be rated as an “A” lake by the MET Council
- We’ve used your donations to treat many acres of invasive weeds.
- Invasive Eurasian milfoil was nearly undetectable
- A 5 Year Plan to eradicate Curly Leaf Pondweed was approved
- Estimate $30k/year for 5 years
- Scheduling a DNR required “turion” survey this fall as the first step
- We’ve enjoyed Carver County’s support for incoming watercraft inspections for AIS at the Regional Park
- We know of no new invasive species introduced into the lake
- Proactive actions taken to address Highway 5 expansion issues
- We project lower chloride runoff due to gutters and runoff ponds
- We’re piloting a new automated, vehicle-activated audio training system stressing Clean-Drain-Dry at the Regional Park…developed by Scot Lacek
- We’ve continued our partnership with Carver County and Chanhassen to provide expertise and grants to Minnewashta watershed owners to build shoreline buffers and rain gardens
- These reduce runoff into the lake which improves water clarity.
- We drove Carver County sheriff to place markers on rock hazards to reduce boat damage
- We’ve had great financial support from you and built a large war chest
- We’ve had cooperative use of the lake from most parties
- We’ve experienced the help of wonderful volunteers… neighborhood captains, the July 4th organizers and skiers, our zebra mussel, water clarity and lake level monitors, and our board members
But on the downside
- We suffered a period with Slow/No Wake declaration due to high water levels for the second year.
- City Council was asked by a citizen’s group to raise the trigger level to the 100 year flood mark which the LMPA board does not support
- Minnewashta is only classified as a C+ lake by MN DNR
- We should be much higher to protect the water way into the future.
- Minnewashta is considered an impaired lake for aquatic life
- Curly Leaf pondweed (an early riser) was prolific and native weed growth is increasing as the water clarity improves.
- We continue to see zebra mussels but there is no immediate solution
- The expansion of Highway 5 will increase traffic noise despite our efforts
- We continue to field complaints about a small number of boaters not practicing safe and responsible boating
- Not observing Slow No wake, large wakes close to shore or other lake users, loud music, no lights, riding on transoms and towers, etc.
- No meaningful enforcement except on July 4th
- Further degradation of the lake is possible due to shoreline erosion
- Boating regulations must be improved and enforced to preserve safety, shoreline protection and water quality
- Our Bylaws need to be updated
For 2026, the LMPA board will focus on
- Keep focused on AIS prevention and reduction
- 100% incoming watercraft inspections and Clean-Drain-Dry education
- Implement a wide scale, multi-year weed treatment to 100% eradicate curly leaf pondweed
- Investigate actions on non-invasive vegetation
- Implement the automated, vehicle-activated audio training system stressing Clean-Drain-Dry at the Regional Park and other launches
- Work with the city to reduce the Slow-No Wake frequency and duration
- While protecting the lake from shoreline damage and water quality degradation
- Continue to educate people on improving water quality by reducing run off into the lake
- Shoreline buffering and rain gardens…Grant money is available
- Grow the Adopt A Drain program
- Don’t let leaves run off into the lake
- Stay on top of the U of M’s St. Anthony Falls Laboratory wave impact study and their final conclusions and recommendations (2026)
- Monitor the efforts of MAISRC in developing genetic modifications of zebra mussels to eradicate them and implement when ready
- Continue partnering with local and state organizations to grow the collective voice of lake associations statewide
- Continue to drive better boater etiquette – share the lake
- Expand and deploy our Boating Recreational Use Guidelines
- with help from Minnesota Inboard and other area lake associations
- Update our Bylaws
- Fill the openings on our board and neighborhood captain’s rosters
Do your part to help us keep Lake Minnewashta beautiful!
Improve The Water Quality & Prevent The Spread Of Invasive Species
- Use a Permitted Lake Service Provider when working on your shore
- Don’t move a mussel from infested lakes via watercraft, toys or lifts
- Clean, Drain and Dry your boat before and after launching
- Plant a shoreline buffer strip and/or rain garden using our available design resources and grant money to help
- Keep debris out of the streets & drains, especially leaves – Adopt a Drain
- Inspect your docks, lifts and boats for signs of Zebra Mussels, when removed in the fall
Practice Good Boating Etiquette
Know the rules and follow them – share the lake!
Join us!
- Volunteer to be a board member, a neighborhood captain or join a committee
Keep Connected To The LMPA
- Register your email address by sending a note to info@lakeminnewashta.org
- Get your neighbors to sign up as well
Donate To The LMPA when needed
- Make a tax-deductible donation
- Payment options include Zelle, Venmo, check or PayPal
- Apply for employer Matching Funds
Acknowledgement and Thanks!
- Our hosts, Camp Fire Minnesota
- Our event planner…Helen Gunther
- Our donors
- Our board of directors, our neighborhood captains and all of our lake wide volunteers
