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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 />Ordway stated carp is the number one contributor to the phosphorus in the water and that the cities in the <br />watershed district have to do something to address the TMDLs. Ordway stated this project will help <br />everyone understand where the TMDLs are coming from and that it is a really important project for <br />Orono in understanding the nitrogen and phosphorus in the water. <br />Rief asked if the City has a requirement to spend so many dollars per year on reducing TMDLs. <br />Edwards stated there is not a requirement to commit a certain dollar amount but there are assigned <br />TMDLs requirements from the state. In this particular subwatershed, Orono is supposed to remove an <br />additional 125 pounds per year of phosphorus. Edwards stated the way the City currently accomplishes <br />that is through stormwater improvements and street sweeping. Edwards stated this proposal is another <br />potential way for the City to meet some of its TMDL requirements. The biggest unknown at this time is <br />what the contribution of carp is to TMDLs in this particular subwatershed and that this might be a good <br />opportunity to look at it and see whether additional carp removal projects would help. <br />Walsh noted this is money for a study versus dollars that go for specific projects that they know actually <br />reduce TMDLs. Walsh noted there are only three council members present tonight and that he would like <br />to hear what the other two council members have to say. <br />Crosby stated his concern is the type of results they would get for the money. <br />Rief asked how much the grant was for and whether there were specific reasons for why the grant was not <br />approved. <br />Ordway stated to her knowledge the original grant was $250,000 and each of the three cities was going to <br />contribute approximately $6,000 each and the MCWD was going to give an in-kind contribution. The <br />feedback from Hennepin County was that they would like to see more data around the carp within the <br />watershed before they would be willing to give a long-term grant for carp removal. Hennepin County <br />wanted hard data on population size, movement, and age. Ordway stated carp are extremely invasive and <br />prolific, and without that data, to simply go in and remove the carp from the water will not solve <br />anything. Ordway stated addressing the problem needs a more scientific approach, which is what <br />Hennepin County wanted. Ordway indicated the grant went to do the project at Six Mile. <br />Crosby asked who provided that data. <br />Ordway indicated she does not know but that she could find out. Ordway stated it has been documented <br />in the Long Lake Watershed Plan from the MCWD that one of the highest drivers for water clarity is carp. <br />Ordway commented it is something that has been talked about for quite a few years but no action has <br />been taken. Ordway stated the people involved have worked very hard over the past two years to put <br />together this partnership and that the study will provide a number of benefits for a small investment. <br />Ordway stated $10,000 is a small amount, and that without the partners, Orono would not be able to do <br />this project. Ordway stated in her view it is something that Orono should seriously think about. <br />Rief requested she submit information on the Six Mile Creek project to Mr. Edwards. <br />Page 13 of 15 <br />