Lake Minnewashta Preservation Association

Attached are the August 21, 2012 LMPA Board Meeting Minutes that were reviewed and approved at the September18th, 2012 board meeting.

August 21 2012 LMPA Board Meeting Minutes

In response to considerable public input, the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD) Board of Managers amended the District’s preliminary 2013 budget to include an additional $250,000 for enhanced stop-gap measures to prevent the spread of Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) in 2013. The amendment was approved at the MCWD Board meeting on Thursday, August 23 and is contingent on final Board approval by December.

The extra funds will allow the District’s AIS Task Force to continue working on a long-term AIS management plan and supports a stronger 2013 stop gap plan pending final approval later this year. The MCWD’s current stop-gap measures include cost-share funding for inspectors, educational materials and public awareness activities.

The residents and stakeholders in the District have been vocal in their desire to prevent the spread of AIS. One local group presented an aggressive, $2.4 million AIS management proposal for 2013 at a recent Board workshop meeting. No action was taken on the proposal. However, the Board recognized the concerns that without adequate funding in 2013, AIS could spread to un-infested water bodies in the District.

“The public interest in protecting our lakes and streams from AIS was heard loud and clear at that meeting and in the days following,” said MCWD Board President James Calkins. “The District is committed to doing whatever it can to both prevent the spread of AIS and preserve access to these precious resources for all to enjoy.”

The 2013 recommended levy is $7,992,006. For a median value home in Hennepin County ($247,900) the levy equates to approximately $3/month. The MCWD’s original budget represented a zero percent property tax levy increase and would have been the fourth year in which the Board maintained a flat District’s levy. The additional $250,000 to protect waterbodies from AIS will increase the levy by approximately three percent.

Deephaven, Minn. – The Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD) is now accepting applications for the Cynthia Krieg Watershed Stewardship Fund, a $100,000 grant fund that helps local communities, schools, civic groups, non-profit groups and others to pay for projects that provide, protect or promote clean water.

Projects must be within the boundaries of the District and result in improved water quality. They can focus on either improving public awareness of clean water issues (education grants) or using new and innovative ways of managing water quality (innovation grants). Examples of eligible activities include: developing educational sites, restoring or establishing vegetated buffer zones, hosting workshops, publications and outreach, community clean-ups, native habitat restoration, leadership programs, and innovative demonstration projects that protect clean water. Projects are limited to $25,000 in grant funds.

Application materials and descriptions of past projects are available on our website. Mandatory pre-proposals are due September 26. Staff will provide feedback on pre-proposals to give your project the best chance at receiving a grant.

For additional information, contact MCWD Education Manager Leslie Yetka at lyetka@minnehahacreek.org or 952-641-4524.

MCWD established the fund in 2000 in memory of Cynthia Krieg, whose life exemplified dedication to community service and natural resource protection.

Contact:

Leslie Yetka, MCWD Education Manager
952-641-4524; lyetka@minnehahacreek.org

Telly Mamayek, MCWD Communications Director
952-641-4508; tmamayek@minnehahacreek.org

Minnehaha Creek Watershed District               

The Minnehaha Creek Watershed District covers approximately 181 square miles, including Minnehaha Creek, Lake Minnetonka, the Minneapolis Chain of Lakes and Minnehaha Falls. The District is charged by state law to protect, improve and manage water resources. It does so through scientific research and monitoring, public education, cost share grant programs, permitting and collaborative efforts with the 27 cities, two townships and two counties (Hennepin and Carver) that are in the District. For more information, visit www.minnehahacreek.org.