Lake Minnewashta Preservation Association

To the members of the Lake Minnewashta Preservation Association

I’m pleased to submit my report for our AIS Awareness Program we initiated this summer.  The specific achievements are contained below, including pictures of DNR approved deliverables.  Overall, we were very successful in completing the program in its entirety and under the budget we anticipated.

We enlisted 3 college interns from the University of Minnesota to greatly assist with the tactics of this program.  It would have been difficult to achieve our results without their focused and dedicated help.  Soliciting University of Minnesota college students for our internship was key for our program success.  They provided the ‘feet on the street’ that allowed us to devote the time to develop the material for the program that we wouldn’t have been able to achieve with just a volunteer staff.

All of our board members were active in supporting the multiple efforts, particularly the AIS Road shows.  They also provided ideas, guidance, and the many hours to support the various aspects of our program. They considered this program key to our ability to keep zebra mussels out of our lake this summer.  It was a point of discussion on our monthly board meetings throughout the summer.

Our AIS Road show elicited phenomenal response from the public.   When we engaged them or they engaged us, we were able to directly educate them and get their feedback.  There was naivety on the part of the public.  For instance, one citizen asked us if the mussels were related the virus fatalities that occurred on a nearby lake.  Some were very unaware of the threat of invasive species and were surprise to hear of the damage they can cause to an ecosystem.  Some frequent lake goers had criticisms of the inconsistent DNR inspection procedure followed on certain lakes, although they never mentioned Lake Minnewashta inspectors.

We did not have a means of measuring the effectiveness of our newsletters or e-blasts, but based on the discussions among board members, they were well crafted to spread the AIS message.

In summary, we expended considerable funds and time preparing the infrastructure for communication and materials for our AIS Road show this year.  We would like to continue this activity in 2013 for the benefit of the community, and given the re-usability of the material we have developed as well as the efficiencies we have achieved in the process, would cost considerably less in a second year.  We hope the DNR will consider the funds well spent, particularly with our face-to-face interactions with the community, and will allow us to continue the AIS Road show with public funding.   As any political campaign can attest, nothing beats face-to-face communication vis-a- vis written collateral to get the public’s attention.

Sincerely,

Scot Lacek

LMPA, V.P. and AIS Grant Program Director

2012 AIS Awareness Project Final Report

On February 26^th 2013, Marty Walsh, Carver County Parks Director, appeared before the Carver County Board of commissioners with an update on the Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) program. He pointed out the previous work session held with the Board and the request for additional information. He explained grants have been applied for and the delegation agreement has been signed to conduct inspections. Walsh highlighted inspection programs other organizations have been doing. He reviewed two options for inspections, the levels of services to be provided, proposed funding sources and advantages and disadvantages for each option

Walsh stated the Park Commission and staff were recommending Option B. He indicated this would maximize funding and provide a higher level of service. He stated the program would hire 20 temporary inspectors and significantly add to the work they do. He added expectations will be high and scheduling can be difficult. Walsh indicated their next step would be to report back to the Board when funding is secured and to define the inspection programs.

Maluchnik moved, Workman seconded, to approve the 2013 County AIS program and authorize County staff to implement Option B as the program of choice.The Board voiced their support for the 2013 program, the success of last year’s program, the need to raise this issue with their legislators, the need to continue education and the need to find a long term solution. On vote taken on above motion, all voted aye.

David Hemze, County Administrator, inquired if the Board was interested in directing staff to pursue centralized Christmas Lake inspections at Lake Minnewashta. He stated there would be numerous levels of government they would need to deal with and they may need to start adding resources for assistance. He stated it would be good for staff to know if they were interested in doing a pilot program. Hemze indicated the City of Shorewood Administrator contacted him and was working on a program. He questioned if the Board was interested in looking at centralized inspections broadly or as a pilot program. Walsh stated he was doubtful they could produce an agreement among the different agencies by the fishing opener. The Board recognized this may take some time.

Maluchnik moved, Workman seconded, to direct staff to pursue alternative solutions to centralized Christmas Lake inspections at Lake Minnewashta. Motion carried unanimously.

Hemze clarified this did not mean that the program will happen but asks staff to move as quickly as possible to come up with alternative solutions with other governments. He stated once viable alternatives are determined, they could move into the agreement phase.

After 16 meetings, the MCWD’s AIS Task Force has completed a draft of the District’s Long Term AIS Management Plan which, once finalized, will become part of the MCWD’s 10-year comprehensive plan. The task force’s members include a variety of stakeholders, including residents, business owners, anglers, park officials and lake associations.

The purpose statement of the plan reads: “The purpose of the AIS Management Plan is to guide the MCWD in the  management of aquatic invasive species and, through education and awareness, prevention measures, and applied research, work with state and local partners to protect the District’s water resources from this environmental threat.”

The MCWD Board of Managers will begin its review of the plan in March and, after deciding whether revisions should be made, submit it to the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR).  Public comment will follow BWSR’s review as a proper amendment of the District’s Comprehensive Water Resources Management Plan.

note: Lake Minnewashta Preservation Association was represented on the Task Force by Steve Gunther, president of the LMPA

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.