April 21st – Join Us for a Minnehaha Creek Watershed District Presentation!
Decontamination Service Available at Lake Waconia for Watercraft Infested with Aquatic Invasive Species
A decontamination unit to combat aquatic invasive species (AIS) is available at Lake Waconia’s Northeast public access.
Those who have been turned away from a public accesses because an aquatic invasive species (AIS) was found in their watercraft can use this decontamination unit to clean their boat or equipment. It’s a voluntary process but according to state law, watercraft found with AIS must be decontaminated before launching. The decontamination process depends on the type of AIS found and the type of boat. It generally involves spraying the watercraft with hot water to remove attached AIS, and possibly flushing the outside and inside of the boat.
The unit will be available during the 2016 season Mondays through Thursdays from 4:00pm to 7:00pm and Fridays through Sundays from 6:00am to 7:00pm.
Visit this page for a VIDEO on how decontamination units work.
Please Keep Leaves and Fall Debris Out of the Streets to Help Prevent Algae Problems in the Lake
The LMPA has improving water quality/clarity as part of it’s mission while still attending to invasive species control. Lake quality and clarity have degraded one the past few years. The good news is it’s not too late to turn that trend around. Water quality in Lake Minnewashta can still be improved!
Keeping streets and other impervious surfaces clean is one of the most cost effective ways to reduce the nutrients that run off into the lake. Fortunately, Terry Jeffrey (Chanhassen Water Resources Coordinator) is leading Chanhassen’s effort toward the same goal. Chanhassen is already sweeping the streets more often (you may have noticed this last fall.). The city is researching and hopes to buy a more appropriate machine and to clean the streets every three weeks, which has been shown in recent studies to be the most efficient frequency. Chanhassen hopes to continue its current sweeping regimen for this year and to have the improved capability starting next year.
Meanwhile (SURPRISE SURPRISE), there are easy things you can do to help.
First, keep debris out of the street to start with. No matter how effective the city cleanup is, it can only get some of the nutrients. Keeping them out altogether gets 100%. The most important thing you can do in the Fall is to keep leaves and fall debris out of the street. Five bags of leaves, clippings and other organic debris can create 100 pounds of algae.
During the warmer season, if you cut your grass with a side discharge, point it away from the lake or street when you are near either one so the clippings enrich your grass instead of the lake.
If there is debris on your storm grate, pick it up. If everyone does this it can help.
Canada geese are a huge nutrient source. There favorite food is Kentucky blue grass right to the edge of the water. If you can, plant a 5 foot or wider buffer strip. that can keep them away (Both the city of Chanhassen and the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District may have grants that help you do this). Even buffers that do not stretch across your entire beach line can be effective; if the geese don’t have a clear sight line where predators may be, they may not come up.
Finally, be careful with your dog’s droppings. Remember that there is no Poop Fairy so you are responsible to pick up their droppings and dispose of them in the trash..
Let’s get together and make this happen!
There is NO Poop Fairy! Please Clean up After Your Pet.
UNTIL YOU CAN TRAIN YOUR DOG TO DO THIS,
IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO PROPERLY DISPOSE OF PET WASTE
Upon request, we are once again asking all residents to be considerate of their neighbors when walking dogs throughout the community. Residents are responsible for removing any solid waste their pets leave behind, and disposing of it properly.
Cleaning up after your dog may not be the most inviting activity, but it will help prevent water pollution.
When it rains, your pet’s “business” is washed down into the street and storm drain and into Lake Minnewashta and other waterways. This contaminates our rivers, lakes and streams with unhealthy levels of bacteria making them unsafe for recreation.
For pet owners, there are several options to keeping your pet’s waste from being washed into rivers, lakes, and streams. The most common options for pet owners include carrying a plastic grocery bag or one designed for pet waste pickup (found in pet stores).
Tossing the bags with your pet’s waste into the bushes or storm drains has the same effect, so please make sure the bags are properly disposed of in a trash container.
Thursday November 12th is “Give to the Max Day” . Please Donate!
Thursday November 12th is “Give to the Max Day” and its a great time to give to the LMPA if you haven’t already Or even if you have! Follow this link to Give to the Max Minnesota.
You have the ability to break your donation down into weekly, monthly, quarterly or annual payments.
The Lake Minnewashta Preservation Association is a 501(c)3 organization and all donations are tax deductible.
Christmas Lake Loses its Battle Against Zebra Mussels
http://www.mprnews.org/story/2015/10/23/zebra-mussels
Despite extraordinary and expensive measures to treat Zebra Mussels found in Christmas Lake, they have reappeared this fall. As a result, the Department of Natural Resources has ended all efforts to eliminate them. Preventing zebra mussels from entering lakes and waterways in the first is place is the only current hope. Read more in the MPR News story by clicking on the link above.