Lake Minnewashta Preservation Association

JEFF HOLMQUIST – CCLN

A major upgrade to Highway 5 between Victoria and Chanhassen will get underway next year, disrupting traffic flow along the stretch for the better part of two years.

A contractor will be selected on Dec. 16 and will lead the expansion of Highway 5 to four lanes from just east of Highway 41 into downtown Victoria, a three-and-a-half-mile section of the highway. It will be a divided roadway with curb and gutter installed. Currently that stretch is a two-lane, rural roadway with shoulders and ditches.

According to Eric Johnson, Transportation Division leader with consultant Bolton & Menk, Inc., the daily traffic count along that stretch exceeds 20,000 vehicles.

“Generally, the tipping point for a two-lane is something like 15,000 to 18,000 cars a day, and then it’s over capacity,” Johnson reported. “We have backups every day during peak hours.”

Today, during the evening rush hour, it takes motorists an average of 24 minutes to travel from Interstate 494 to Victoria, according to Johnson.

“When we’re done with Highway 5, that trip will take 18 minutes,” Johnson said. “So, we’re going to have a 25% reduction in travel time on that trip, because there will no longer be a bottleneck from Highway 41 going west.”

He admitted that a new bottleneck will develop in downtown Victoria, but that issue will be corrected with planned projects in the future.

“We’re actively pursuing funding for this downtown segment to finish the vision,” Johnson said.

Among the extra features along Highway 5 are a roundabout at Commercial Avenue in Victoria; a new 78^th Street pedestrian bridge; a new signal at Minnewashta Parkway; an upgrade for the Highway 41 intersection; and a pier-supported roadway through the Lake Minnewashta area wetlands.

To ensure the stability of Highway 5 through the Lake Minnewashta area, Johnson said the plan is to install hundreds of piers into the soil below. The original plan was to construct an 1,800-foot bridge through that area, but that idea proved too expensive.

Additional upgrades on adjacent roadways and trails are also part of the overall 2026-27 project — part of the master Arboretum Area Transportation Plan which seeks to address capacity issues in the growing southwest Twin Cities metro area.

Among those upgrades are a new intersection at Rolling Acres Road; Rolling Acres Road and Tamarack Trail roundabout; Rolling Acres Road improvements; and a new Rolling Acres Road and Interlaken roundabout.

Because Rolling Acres Road is the shortest access between Highway 5 and Highway 7, Johnson said the county road is heavily traveled.

“Over 85% of the people on that road are speeding,” he noted. “And the crash rate on that road is three times the state average for what we would expect. There’s a lack of turn lanes, there’s a lack of shoulders, there’s a lack of sight distance. When we are done, we’re trying to lower the speeds by design.”

Additionally, new pedestrian underpasses at Madelyn Creek Trail and Tamarack Trail will provide easier access to the trail system in the area.

“We’re adding a lot of missing trail links,” Johnson said. “We’re completing the network of trails — the Lake Minnetonka Regional Trail, the Highway 5 Regional Trail, and all the trails in Chaska. I think it’s a big leap forward in connecting the non-motorized users in this area.”

In addition, the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum is constructing a new entrance off of Highway 5 toward downtown Victoria.

Total cost of the Highway 5 project is expected to be about $122 million, according to Johnson. About $100 million is being paid for through various federal and state funding sources.

“We’ve secured eight federal and four state grants,” he said. “That’s quite amazing. We’ve minimized the actual cost to the local partners greatly.”

KEEPING TRAFFIC FLOWING

As construction kicks off next spring, Highway 5 will remain open to traffic at all times but will be limited to one lane in each direction at the Highway 41 intersection.

“That will cause some issues,” Johnson said, “but it will remain open.”

For all of 2026, crews will focus on getting the adjacent north/south portions of the overall project completed. Signed detours will guide motorists along the north/south routes.

All of the roadways will open back up for the 2026-27 winter season. Then, in the spring of 2027, Highway 5 will close to traffic as the expansion begins in earnest.

“Highway 5 — from the Arboretum entrance all the way to downtown Victoria — will be closed all summer in 2027,” he noted. Officials hope to have the roadwork in Victoria completed by the Fourth of July holiday. The remainder of Highway 5 is scheduled to be completed by Labor Day in 2027.

“There will be some cleanup work that spills into 2028, but two years from now, traffic should be fully functional on the new system,” Johnson said.

Carver County is planning to hold a public open house sometime in March 2026 to discuss the construction plans and expected detour routes with area residents. Follow the project website for more information.

TRANSPORTATION PLANNING

Carver County approved a transportation sales tax in 2017 to help fund needed projects as the population totals rose throughout the southwest metro area.

In 2019, Bolton & Menk, Inc. was competitively selected to work with the county on the Arboretum Area Transportation Plan, with a focus on Highway 5. The eventual plan was completed in 2021, identifying 20 major transportation projects along the corridor that should be completed over a 20-year period.

“We identified the system needs for the county to be able to serve all the growing demands in Chanhassen, Chaska, Victoria and beyond,” Johnson said.

Once the study was finished, Bolton & Menk helped the county and local partners identify competitive funding sources and deliver about $175 million in revenue to accomplish the planned projects.

“I think Carver County has been a leader in some of the locally led projects,” Johnson said. “Everyone’s doing a part.”

December 1, 2025

Written by Joel Benson, Carver County Local News

The Chanhassen City Council has decided to move forward with a request to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to raise Lake Minnewashta’s Slow-No Wake (SNW) elevation — the water level at which strict boating restrictions apply — from 945.0’ to 945.5’.

The motion passed by a 5-0 vote at the council’s Nov. 10 meeting. After DNR approval, which requires a 120-day review period, the council will be able to adopt the modification to city code at a future meeting, before next summer’s boating season.

City Council’s action follows a Citizen Action Request received this year requesting to raise Lake Minnewashta’s SNW elevation to 945.9’, which is the lake’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) 100-year floodplain elevation. The FEMA 100-year floodplain of a lake maps the areas of that lake with a 1% annual chance of flooding, i.e. the floodplain expected to occur once in 100 years.

FEMA 100-year floodplains are not standard determinants of lakes’ SNW elevations, which are determined, according to a Chanhassen city staff report, “through analysis of site-specific conditions for each lake or water body, including shoreline characteristics, adjacent land use, vegetation, water level history, and the relationship to nearby infrastructure.”

Public input is another key factor to setting SNW elevations and is a legal requirement for modifying SNW restrictions in city code.

“Before a SNW restriction can be adopted or modified, DNR rules require that a public hearing be held to gather feedback from affected property owners, recreational users and other stakeholders,” says the report.

A public hearing was held during the City Council meeting, at which the council intended to discuss and evaluate an SNW elevation for Lake Minnewashta of 945.3’. More than 30 members of the public attended the hearing and 17 spoke.

The council had determined at a previous work session to dismiss the requested 945.9’ SNW elevation, citing city staff’s findings that street flooding would occur at this water level.

Mayor Elise Ryan, opening the public hearing, spoke on the council’s decision.

“The reason why,” Ryan said, “is if it got to the FEMA high-water mark, we’re not talking about boat wakes. We’re talking about flooding.”

Advocates of raising Lake Minnewashta’s SNW elevation argued that the lake’s current restrictions are too rigid.

“Summer is precious,” said Gary Bhojwani, who lives on Lake Minnewashta. “When we lose even one day, it’s a big deal. At the Slow-No Wake level we currently have, in the last two years, we lost 34 days.”

SNW restrictions have also been triggered by high water levels on the Fourth of July during the past two years, restricting lake use during peak season and impacting the annual waterski show.

According to an analysis completed by Chanhassen city staff on historical water level data, assuming the lake’s current SNW elevation of 945.0’, 10% to 12% of Lake Minnewashta’s boating season over the past 20 years would have fallen under SNW restrictions. The analysis determined that an SNW elevation of 945.3’, on the other hand, would only have triggered restrictions once in the last 20 years — during historic flooding in 2014 that surpassed the lake’s FEMA 100-year floodplain.

Those opposed to raising the SNW elevation raised environmental and property concerns.

“Minnewashta is a challenged lake — it’s impaired for aquatic life and it’s only a C+ lake,” said Kevin Zahler, a board member of the Lake Minnewashta Preservation Association, alluding to the lake’s “C+” DNR classification. “My hope is that my grandson, and his grandchildren, and their grandchildren will be able to enjoy the use of this lake. That’s at least a hundred years out. We’re not going in the right direction.”

Other residents spoke on impacts to lakeshore properties, especially vulnerable properties sitting on lots at lower elevations or with more gradual inclines.

“As much as I believe that everybody has rights and wants to play and do all this stuff,” said Helen Gunther, another resident on the lake, “it’s great, provided that the recreation that other people want to do doesn’t destroy or ruin the property that I have.”

Gunther raised concerns about SNW restriction enforcement — concerns voiced by many others at the hearing.

“What needs to go along with that No Wake restriction is some enforcement,” she said. “I cannot tell you how many times this past summer, during the days that there was No Wake, I saw boats and fishermen and surfers flying by.”

City staff later clarified that the Carver County Sheriff’s Office is responsible for SNW enforcement on Chanhassen’s area lakes.

“The city has no ability to do more enforcement,” said Charles Howley, director of Public Works. “If it’s a persistent problem, we should lobby the county to make more resources available to address the problem — easier said than done of course.”

Mayor Ryan requested that city staff find out from the Carver County Sheriff’s Office how often they were on Lake Minnewashta last summer, and how often they were on the lake during SNW restrictions.

During the following council discussion, Council Member Jerry McDonald proposed to consider a higher SNW elevation of 945.5’.

“The 945.3’ that we looked at seemed as though it would be a good number,” McDonald said. “But then, what I looked at is at 945.3’, we’ve hit that a number of times in the past couple of years, and that would have shut the lake down — and I don’t think that’s a good idea. What I would like to do is to propose 945.5’, because that gets us to a level where I don’t think you’re going to be impacted by the rise and fall of the lake.”

McDonald’s statement contradicts city staff’s findings that an SNW elevation of 945.3’ would have triggered SNW restrictions only once in the last 20 years.

Mayor Ryan and other council members spoke in support of either SNW elevation for Lake Minnewashta, 945.3’ or 945.5’.

“I think this is an enforcement problem,” Ryan said, “and that is what leads me to lean more towards 945.5’. … With 945.3’, I’m afraid that we’re going to put ourselves in a precarious situation again. 945.5’ gives a little more leeway to allow residents to utilize the lake at leisure, and I think that is a number that I would be comfortable with. I support either 945.3’ or 945.5’.”

McDonald made the motion that the City Council request the DNR’s approval to raise Lake Minnewashta’s SNW elevation to 945.5’, and furthermore motioned to reduce the SNW waiting period from three days to one — a measure the attending public generally supported. Council member Mark van Oven seconded the motion, and the motion passed 5-0.

The Lake Minnewashta Preservation Association (LMPA) held its 2025 Annual Meeting to review progress in protecting, preserving, and enhancing the quality of Lake Minnewashta. Over fifty residents attended the meeting which included an open forum on a wide variety of topics.

LMPA president Steve Gunther opened the meeting, welcoming first-time attendees and recognizing the dedicated volunteers who make the organization effective.

our 2025 board of directors

• Kevin Zahler – Master water steward, AIS lead, shoreline buffer coordinator and Highway 5 expansion and chloride monitoring lead and so much more
• Scot Lacek, vice president who works on permitting for invasive weed treatment, DNR funding, rock hazard mapping and responsible for an exciting new automated education system at the Regional  Park
• Anne Ripple – our treasurer
• Helen Gunther – secretary and annual meeting planner
• Doug Tanner – who contributed in a wide variety of topics 
• LJ Ripple –  youth board member who is completing his final season with us
• Dan Laun – who is retiring from the board but has provided great insights 
• Nancy Simpson, from the Pleasant Acres association,
• Becca Fink from Campfire Minnesota who has recently left the organization

and a shout out to some special non board members

• Rick Zweig – our long time water quality and elevation monitor along with Kevin Zahler. Rick has retired from service with us and we offer him our deepest thanks for a job well done
• The July 4^th event organizers and t-shirt committee 
• Gary Bhwojani, who kept our fireworks show going again in 2025!
• Our neighborhood captains who are a conduit of info!

2025 Has Been A Year Of Positives For Lake Minnewashta. 

• We’ve experienced very good water clarity…our lake continues to be rated as an “A” lake by the MET Council                                                                           
• We’ve used your donations to treat many acres of invasive weeds.
  • Invasive Eurasian milfoil was nearly undetectable                                                    
• A 5 Year Plan to eradicate Curly Leaf Pondweed was approved 
  • Estimate $30k/year for 5 years
  • Scheduling a DNR required “turion” survey this fall as the first step             
• We’ve enjoyed Carver County’s support for incoming watercraft inspections for AIS at the Regional Park
  • We know of no new invasive species introduced into the lake                     
• Proactive actions taken to address Highway 5 expansion issues
  • We project lower chloride runoff due to gutters and runoff ponds                          
• We’re piloting a new automated, vehicle-activated audio training system stressing Clean-Drain-Dry at the Regional Park…developed by Scot Lacek                     
• We’ve continued our partnership with Carver County and Chanhassen to provide expertise and grants to Minnewashta watershed owners to build shoreline buffers and rain gardens
  • These reduce runoff into the lake which improves water clarity.                             
• We drove Carver County sheriff to place markers on rock hazards to reduce boat damage     
• We’ve had great financial support from you and built a large war chest                                    
• We’ve had cooperative use of the lake from most parties                                                          
• We’ve experienced the help of wonderful volunteers… neighborhood captains, the July 4^th organizers and skiers, our zebra mussel, water clarity and lake level monitors, and our board members                                                            

But on the downside

• We suffered a period with Slow/No Wake declaration due to high water levels for the second year.
  • City Council was asked by a citizen’s group to raise the trigger level to the 100 year flood mark which the LMPA board does not support
• Minnewashta is only classified as a C+ lake by MN DNR
  • We should be much higher to protect the water way into the future.                     
• Minnewashta is considered an impaired lake for aquatic life  
• Curly Leaf pondweed (an early riser) was prolific and native weed growth is increasing as the water clarity improves.                                                                                        
• We continue to see zebra mussels but there is no immediate solution  
• The expansion of Highway 5 will increase traffic noise despite our efforts                                
• We continue to field complaints about a small number of boaters not practicing safe and responsible boating 
  • Not observing Slow No wake, large wakes close to shore or other lake users, loud music, no lights, riding on transoms and towers, etc. 
  • No meaningful enforcement except on July 4^th
• Further degradation of the lake is possible due to shoreline erosion
  • Boating regulations must be improved and enforced to preserve safety, shoreline protection and water quality
• Our Bylaws need to be updated

For 2026, the LMPA board will focus on

• Keep focused on AIS prevention and reduction
  • 100% incoming watercraft inspections and Clean-Drain-Dry education       
  • Implement a wide scale, multi-year weed treatment to 100% eradicate curly leaf pondweed
  • Investigate actions on non-invasive vegetation
  • Implement the automated, vehicle-activated audio training system stressing Clean-Drain-Dry at the Regional Park and other launches
• Work with the city to reduce the Slow-No Wake frequency and duration
  • While protecting the lake from shoreline damage and water quality degradation
• Continue to educate people on improving water quality by reducing run off into the lake
  • Shoreline buffering and rain gardens…Grant money is available
  • Grow the Adopt A Drain program      
  • Don’t let leaves run off into the lake                                                                          
• Stay on top of the U of M’s St. Anthony Falls Laboratory wave impact study and their final conclusions and recommendations (2026)                                                                          
• Monitor the efforts of MAISRC in developing genetic modifications of zebra mussels to eradicate them and implement when ready                                        
• Continue partnering with local and state organizations to grow the collective voice of lake associations statewide
• Continue to drive better boater etiquette – share the lake
  • Expand and deploy our Boating Recreational Use Guidelines 
  • with help from Minnesota Inboard and other area lake associations
• Update our Bylaws
• Fill the openings on our board and neighborhood captain’s rosters                                           

Do your part to help us keep Lake Minnewashta beautiful! 

Improve The Water Quality & Prevent The Spread Of Invasive Species

• Use a Permitted Lake Service Provider when working on your shore
• Don’t move a mussel from infested lakes via watercraft, toys or lifts
• Clean, Drain and Dry your boat before and after launching
• Plant a shoreline buffer strip and/or rain garden using our available design resources and grant money to help
• Keep debris out of the streets & drains, especially leaves – Adopt a Drain
• Inspect your docks, lifts and boats for signs of Zebra Mussels, when removed in the fall         

Practice Good Boating Etiquette  

Know the rules and follow them – share the lake!

Join us!

• Volunteer to be a board member, a neighborhood captain or join a committee           

Keep Connected To The LMPA

• Register your email address by sending a note to info@lakeminnewashta.org
• Get your neighbors to sign up as well                                                                                          

Donate To The LMPA when needed

• Make a tax-deductible donation
  • Payment options include Zelle, Venmo, check or PayPal
  • Apply for employer Matching Funds

Acknowledgement and Thanks!

• Our hosts, Camp Fire Minnesota        
• Our event planner…Helen Gunther
• Our donors 
• Our board of directors, our neighborhood captains and all of our lake wide volunteers     

The Lake Minnewashta Preservation Association is hosting our Annual Meeting and Pot Luck Dinner at the wonderful dining room of Camp Fire Minnesota , Sunday October 12th  from 4PM to 7PM. This is a great time to meet and catch up with your neighbors (old and new), hear an update on what’s happening on Lake Minnewashta and make plans for 2026. There will also be an open discussion about issues around the lake so we hope you will join us.  

This year, we will return to our usual Pot Luck Dinner and ask that you bring a dish to share and your favorite beverage. The LMPA will provide hot dogs, buns, condiments and water to drink.The Camp is located off of Highway 41 at 3300 Tanadoona Drive, Excelsior, MN 55331. Look for the yellow signs. 

AGENDA:
4:00 – 4:45         Check in and Social Hour
4:45 – 6:30       Dinner and Annual Meeting 
6:30 – 7:00         Socializing and Clean Up

Please RSVP to Helen Gunther at hgunther57@gmail.com or 612-986-4073. Helen needs to have an idea how much food to buy so please let us know if you are coming. 

Fall is an important time to protect storm drains. Join the nation’s largest Adopt a Drain program which invites residents to adopt a storm drain and commit to keeping it clear of leaves, trash and other debris.

Keeping storm drains clean prevents pollution in lakes and creeks. The program began in Minnesota in 2017, and the impacts are huge. Around 19,000 volunteers have prevented over 900,000 lbs. of debris from getting into local lakes and rivers.

Leaves, grass clippings, and dirt that build up along curbs and storm drains contain phosphorus, a nutrient which in high amounts causes algae blooms and reduces oxygen in the water.

Just 1 yard waste bag of leaves has enough phosphorus to create 100 lbs. of algae in water.

Sign up as an individual, a family, a school, an organization, a service group, and more. A few minutes a month can make a big difference in our waters. 

Click HERE to sign up!

Dear Lake Minnewashta Residents and Supporters,

As part of our ongoing mission to protect and enhance the water quality and recreational enjoyment of Lake Minnewashta, the Lake Minnewashta Preservation Association (LMPA) will be treating areas of the lake for aquatic invasive species (AIS) in August.

We want to keep you fully informed—this is your official notice that we will be conducting treatments in various parts of the lake in August.

Eurasian Watermilfoil Treatment

Within the next two weeks, we will treat Eurasian Watermilfoil, another invasive species, using the DNR- and EPA-approved herbicide 2,4-D under a DNR permit. This chemical , has proven highly effective in past treatments. If your property is affected, shoreline signs will be posted with any applicable water use guidelines—though there are no restrictions on swimming or fishing after treatment.

If you do not want treatment to occur near your property (within 150 feet of shore), please notify us by August 15th  by emailing info@lakeminnewashta.org. This deadline is important.

Treatment zones will be based on the most current survey…see below.

Float signs will be placed in the treated areas, and residents should refer to these for any water-use information. Restrictions are minimal with these products, but we encourage everyone to stay informed.

Previous Curly-Leaf Pondweed (CLP) Treatment

Our first treatment in May targeted Curly-leaf pondweed (CLP), an invasive plant that grows in early spring and can disrupt water quality and recreation. Treatment areas included locations within 150 feet of your shoreline, as identified by a recent survey conducted by the Carver County Water Management Organization.

We used EPA-approved aquatic herbicides Dibrox or Flumigard under a DNR permit.This year, the DNR has approved an expanded treatment plan (see below):

• 50 acres of CLP was treated in May (up from 40 acres in previous years)
• This is part of our 5-year plan to significantly reduce CLP levels
• A follow-up assessment will be conducted later in the season, possibly followed by a fall or winter treatment

Native Aquatic Plants

Please note: the many plants you may have noticed in this summer—such as Coontail, White Water Crowfoot, Bladderwort, and others—are native species and play a healthy role in the lake ecosystem. These will naturally return each season and are not part of our treatment plan.

How You Can Help

These treatments are entirely funded by donations from generous LMPA members. If you’re a lakeshore property owner—or simply someone who enjoys this beautiful lake—please consider joining the LMPA or making a donation to support this important work.

Thank you for your continued support in keeping Lake Minnewashta clean, healthy, and enjoyable for everyone.