Lake Minnewashta Preservation Association

The Tanadoona Volunteer Day had to be rescheduled due to rainy weather. The new date is Saturday, October 22nd. More details including registration info can be found on their website: Click Here

Here’s a recent message from Todd Hoffman, the City of Chanhassen’s Park and Recreation Director

To Members of the Chanhassen Community:

We value your contributions to the City of Chanhassen, and we’d like to specifically ask for your input on the future of the city’s parks and recreation. Chanhassen is in the process of developing its Parks and Recreation System Plan; a long-range (10-25 years) vision and guide for investment in parks, recreation, natural areas, and trails. To ensure our plan includes actions that meet present and future community needs, we need to hear from you! There will be multiple in-person and online opportunities to share your thoughts throughout this year-long process. We want to hear from YOU! Help us by taking our three surveys below to give us your input regarding issues, opportunities, desires, and values for the future of Chanhassen’s park and recreation system. For more information and to access the surveys, Click Here

Please Take Our Surveys Below:
General Parks and Recreation Questionnaire: Click here to take this survey

Recreation Center Questionnaire: Click here to take this survey

Senior Center Questionnaire: Click here to take this survey

Social Pinpoint Map
Use this interactive website to explore a map of the city’s parks and trails and to provide comments on specific locations in the city where there are missing facilities, trail gaps, or things you really like.

Social Pinpoint Map: Click here to access the Social Pinpoint map

Invasive weed treatments – Curly Leaf Pondweed and Eurasian Water Milfoil:
For many years, Lake Minnewashta has been infested with non-native, invasive weeds – Curly Leaf Pondweed (CLP) and Eurasian Water Milfoil (EWM). They affect the enjoyment of the lake by clogging propellers, affecting the water clarity and making our lake uninviting for fishing, skiing, tubing and swimming. With approval from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), we do our best to eliminate invasive weeds in the commonly-used areas of our lake, further out from shore than residents are allowed to treat. Our efforts in the last few years have been to treat the CLP early, since it grows and dies early in the season. This is followed by two doses of aquacide to treat the EWM, using the natural lake currents to spread the aquacide. Our results continue to be good with lower weed levels reported after treatment again this year.
In 2017, we will continue our efforts at attacking the Curly Leaf and Milfoil. However, we will not commit to treatment unless we have the money in hand before treatment. We currently do not.

Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Prevention: Over the years, the LMPA has spent thousands of dollars educating lake users on their personal responsibility to prevent the spread of AIS by not transporting weeds, mussels or even water from one lake to another. Still, statewide, over 25% of lake users fail to follow the laws. We are fortunate to have strong partners in Carver Park, the Carver County Commissioners and the Watershed District, all of whom are working to prevent new Invasive Species from entering the Lake. Our 100% inbound inspection has prevented many boats with zebra mussel infestation from launching.
Unfortunately, it was not 100% effective and we had a Zebra Mussel infestation at the Carver Park launch. And funding for that in 2017 may be curtailed as money that was spent at Carver Park may be split between other lakes and parks. What can you do?
• Make sure you or any visitors Clean, Drain and Dry watercraft before entering a lake.
• Hire Certified Lake Service Providers that are permitted by the DNR to work on water
• Educate your friends, neighbors and guest and have them launch their watercraft ONLY through the Regional Park to ensure they are not transporting invasive species.

Algae levels
You may have noticed more algae on the lake this year. The reason for that is the water that entered our lake from the increased rains this year brought a significant amount of nutrients from ground run-off into the lake.  This run-off increases algae growth in the lake. Run-off prevention with natural lakeshore buffers rather than lush lawns is key to minimizing that. Ask us how you can help.

Organic Runoff Reduction: Reducing the amount of leaves and other organics from entering the lake is getting increased focus. Did you know that just five bags of leaves and organic debris from streets and sidewalks can contain one pound of phosphorus? Over time, this can lead to the growth of hundreds of pounds of algae. We are working with the City of Chanhassen to improve our street sweeping efforts, particularly in spring and fall, to prevent this natural fertilizer from entering the water. In the meantime, homeowners can
– Remove debris from the street and especially around the storm drain grates.
– Point your lawnmower discharge chute away from the street and the lake.
– Maintain a 5-foot-wide native plant buffer strip in front of the shore to keep geese away.
– Pick up your dog’s poop and discard it in the trash.

E-Coli at Carver Park beach
While we had no influence on creating it or curing it, the Carver Park beach was closed for several weeks due to an e-Coli infestation. There never was a cause identified but fecal matter from geese, humans or water runoff was suspected. After the infestation, other areas of the lake were measured and found to be safe but only the park beach is routinely monitored.

Only two years ago, the LMPA and its members approved a plan to reserve funds for emergency use should a new invasive species enter our lake that needed money to eradicate it. In 2016, that emergency happened as Zebra Mussels were discovered in late August. As a result of having that Contingency Fund, we were able to rapidly respond to the eradication effort. Because of the timing of the infestation, had we delayed even a few weeks, the zebra mussel population might have grown and spread. As the water cooled, the effectiveness of the chemical treatment might have been diminished as the mussels went dormant for the winter. And the deep water launch at Access #1, that many boaters use to launch and remove their deep draft boats, would potentially remain closed, stranding these boats in the lake.

The LMPA spent over $15,000 of your donations to attack the zebra mussel invasion. I very much appreciate the donations from many of you, but only 32 families and neighborhood associations made a contribution in 2016. And those same people donate year after year while the rest of the lake users enjoy the benefits. We all need to chip in to help.

Future funding from the Watershed District and Carver County for prevention and response programs like this are likely to be reduced. The DNR has eliminated them. If multiple lakes experience a Zebra Mussel infestation in 2017, the money these entities can contribute will be reduced. All are looking to Lake Associations to provide funding for response treatments in the future.

Again, in 2016, we have less than half the contributors and funds that we’ve had in previous years. We are seriously short of our needs for 2017 and will need to decide whether we rebuild our Contingency Fund or provide invasive weed treatments in 2017. Given the funding cuts elsewhere, I will vote for the Contingency Fund.

If you care about Lake Minnewashta, please make a donation to the LMPA. It’s needed now more than ever.