01-10-1994 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Long Lake This past year the MCWD completed Diagnostic and Feasibility Studies for Long Lake and has completed a draft implementation plan. The MCWD is \i-orking with the cities of Long Lake, Orono, and Medina, local homeowners, and the Hennepin Conservation District (HCD), the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and the Minnesota PoUuticn Control Agency (MPCA) to develop a cooperative plan for improving Long Lake. The cooperating Cities and Agencies will identify water quality goals for Long Lake. This project proposes two stormwater sedimentation basins and two aerators. The MCWD and the cooperating cities and agencies will look at public education programs, fisheries management, citizen ’s lake monitoring, best management practices and other measures to reduce nonpoint source pollution. This project will also look at ways the MCWD’s Water Resources Management Plan and the cities’ Local Water Managemeru Plans can better improve and protect Long Lake ’s water quality. Minneapolis Chain of Lakes The Minneapolis Chain of Lakes suffer degraded water quality. The water quality of Cedar and Lake Calhoun falls below levels considered desirable for swimramg during certain times of the summer. Although Lake Harriet’s water quality remains good. It needs help to remain that way. The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, the Cities of Minneapolis, St. Louis Park and Edina, several state agencies and the MCWD have joined together on a Clean Water Partnership project for the Mirmeapolis Chain of Lakes. This S6.5 million project wiil span several years and will involve a variety of in-lake and watershed measures and practices. The cooperating agencies include every agency that can help. The proposed measures range from small, volunteer efforts to large capital improvement projects. These measures include improved street sweeping, better parking lot maintenance, better lawn and garden management, better ordinances, and changes in use patterns. Large scale projects include construction of grit chambers and detention basins to treat storm water, repairing shoreline erosion problems, and treating the lakes with alum to improve their clarity. Public education will also play a major role. The MCWD will build several wetland treatment sy-stems over the next six years to treat stormwater runoff to Lake Calhoun and Cedar. These wetland treatment systems will significantly reduce the phosphorus loading to these lakes. This will improve both swimming and fishing. They may also address potential flooding problems. Wetland treatment systems also provide wildlife habitat. Lake Minnetonka Lake Minnetonka is a priority resource for the MCWD. The following chart lists the phosphorous loadings to Lake Minnetonka from its tributaries. The MCWD’s two