Laserfiche WebLink
MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br />Monday, April 23, 2018 <br />7:00 o'clock p.m. <br />21. LONG LAKE WATERSHED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT FOR CARP REMOVAL <br />AND STUDY — Continued <br />problems in the watershed, will give a good idea of where the carp are spawning and moving. From the <br />Long Lake Waters Association's perspective, there is a ground swelling of community support for this <br />and that they look at the partnership as a strength. Ordway stated in her view the small financial <br />contribution by each of the parties will be well worth it. <br />Walsh commented everyone likes clean water, but the issue is that Orono has a number of bays within the <br />City and that the City has told other LIDs and nonprofits that they have to assume some responsibility for <br />the watershed. Walsh stated he sees this as a Watershed project and that historically the City has not <br />given to nonprofits because that would prompt other nonprofits to approach the City asking for money. <br />Walsh stated people who live on the lake need to be responsible for the water quality as well as the people <br />who live upstream. <br />Ordway stated she does not see this as giving money to the LLWA and that it is more a public-private <br />partnership. Ordway stated the project would be a positive step for Long Lake, Orono, and Medina to <br />address their TMDLs, which they are required to do. Ordway stated the Minnehaha Creek Watershed <br />District is very interested in working in the lake and that there is a lot of community support willing to <br />help Orono look at the watershed and do some positive work. Ordway stated she does not see this as the <br />City of Orono supporting a nonprofit but rather a partnership. <br />Walsh stated it is not only helping a nonprofit but it is helping residents on one specific body of water. <br />Walsh noted the City has had other LIDs request money to address invasive species and the City has said <br />it was their responsibility. <br />Crosby asked how this situation is different from a LID program like on Carman Bay. <br />Ordway stated the first proposal looked at the whole watershed and that grant was denied because they <br />did not have information on the carp. Ordway stated they then scaled down the project to make it a one- <br />year project rather than a 3 -year project. With the original proposal, each of the three cities committed <br />$18,000 each. Ordway stated without this data, they do not feel they can leverage any additional money <br />in grants or legacy money. Ordway stated water quality affects other lakes in the area and not just the <br />residents of one particular lake or bay. <br />Walsh stated in his view this should be a Watershed issue and that they should get all the other cities to <br />donate money. <br />Crosby stated it is not necessarily a City issue. <br />Ordway stated the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District is very much committed to the project but that <br />she does not believe the Watershed District is going to undertake the entire project. Ordway stated the <br />project at Six Mile Creek is a partnership and is a really great way to do some leveraging of public and <br />private dollars. <br />Crosby stated his concern would be that it would open up Pandora's Box and that residents on other bays <br />will come to the City asking for financial help. Crosby noted Orono has more shoreline than any other <br />city on the lake. <br />Page 12 of 15 <br />