Lake Minnewashta Preservation Association

Initiatives to be funded without increase in tax levy

On Thursday, December 13, 2012, the MCWD Board of Managers approved enhanced Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) prevention and management measures for 2013.  The 2013 program will be funded though savings from other District projects instead of a previously-considered property tax increase.  This will be the fourth year that the District has not increased its property tax levy.

“The Minnehaha Creek Watershed District remains committed to providing high quality natural resource management and being good environmental and fiscal stewards. After receiving considerable input from residents and other stakeholders and considering the need for quick action, the District is moving forward with a carefully-developed, community-driven plan to further protect lakes and streams in the District from AIS,” said MCWD Board President Jim Calkins.

The MCWD’s enhanced AIS prevention and management plan for 2013 includes

• increased grant funding to local governments for watercraft inspections;
• two roaming inspectors to serve other publicly-accessible lakes that don’t have an ongoing inspector presence;
• grant funding for boat cleaning stations in the District;
• expansion of the District’s zebra mussel monitoring program to all major lakes within the District and creation of a volunteer monitoring program to help spot new infestations;
• enhanced education and outreach efforts.

Another component of this plan is in response to local interest to sustain recreational access to lakes and streams. It’s a self-certification program for boaters who, upon completion of a training course on inspecting and cleaning their boats, would receive a sticker or pass that may expedite them through the inspection process.

The MCWD’s enhanced 2013 AIS prevention and management plan was adopted after receiving public comment and significant input from the District’s AIS Task Force – a coalition of community leaders, including business owners, angler groups, parks officials, and lake associations – and a Technical Advisory Committee that includes the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, county and park district staff, and University of Minnesota staff.

Members attending:
Steve Gunther
Scott Lacek
Steve Aldritt
Helen Gunther
Rick and Judy Berland

Call to order, 7:10

• Reviewed and approved Minutes from last meeting

Discussion items;

• Income Statement/Financial Report reviewed and discussed.
• Jim Ginther is our new Treasurer

Lake Stewardship Report

• Our Zebra Mussel road show is slowing down as our interns are done and headed back to school and families.  A great job to all who participated. A submission of hours for final payment will be submitted by Scott Lacek.

Coalition of Lakes update

• Currently have a logo designed for letter head as well as approved by-laws, making a entity within the community.
• Sent out letters to let it be known we are a Coalition of 8 local lakes within the Minnehaha Creek watershed district. Letters were sent to Governor Dayton, Senators, representatives, county commissioners and others.
• Have presented to the AIS task force a “pilot” plan for developing a station for decontamination and inspection, a single site to handle access from 5 launches yet to be determined.  Have requested and received funding from the MCWD for the pilot project.
• Also consideration for the water runoff project will get discussion in late fall.

Membership communication/neighborhood project

• Discussed by the team leaders of Rick and Judy Berland. The Captains outreach project needs another boost.  Interns may help in a door to door campaign, this still will be determined.  Looking at total neighborhoods we currently have 19 and only 13 Captains.
• Decision is to set up a meeting for week of Oct 8^th to go over status with the captains.
• Communication – the updates are on the website

Fall picnic – Helen Gunther will work on setting up a meeting to determine a place and a date.

Other matters:

• Future Board meetings will be held April thru October on the 3^rd Tuesday of the month.
• Should we develop a Logo?

Next meeting Oct. 16th @   7:00 at the Gunther’s house, 3628 Hickory Road
M/S/A to adjourn
Adjourn 8:30 pm

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.

Let’s keep leaves out of our streets and storm drains to prevent polluting run off in our lakes and creeks.

With RAIN predicted this Saturday morning, please rake leaves from your curb, sidewalk & street today or Friday to protect our creeks, rivers and lakes!

Please tell us how many bags you collected at http://freshwater.org/WorkForWater/report.php

Tell them that you heard about the Work for Water Neighborhood Challenge from the Alliance for Sustainability.