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April 24, 2025 <br />Dear Mayor Tunheim and Councilors Benson, Berrett, Persian, and Ricks, <br />Thank you for your service to the Citizens of Orono. <br />This letter is to highlight two vital initiatives that help maintain the water quality of lakes in Orono: <br />1. Consistent, science-based and funded Bay Wide Treatment (BWT) programs for <br />sustainable ecological health and enjoyment of our lakes. <br />2. Lake Improvement Districts (LIDs) that are essential for continued and equitable funding <br />of BWTs. <br /> <br />What is a LID? <br />LIDs are mini-government districts that are formed by citizens to collaboratively address very <br />specific lake quality issues in MN and provide equitable funding from lakeshore property owners. <br />Please see this DNR website for more information. <br />The goals of LIDs are to preserve, protect, and enhance the use and enjoyment of a lake. There are <br />hundreds of LIDs across Minnesota. <br />https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/waters/watermgmt_section/shoreland/lake-improvement- <br />districts.html <br />From the website: <br />Lake Improvement Districts <br />Minnesota Statutes 103B.501 - 103B.581 allows local citizen initiatives to petition counties <br />to create lake improvement districts (LID) in order to address specific concerns within a <br />lake watershed that cannot be addressed under normal governmental actions. Citizens <br />and local governments willing to undertake such initiatives benefit from greater local <br />involvement in the management of their own lakes. The DNR provides oversight and <br />assistance. <br /> <br />We believe it is necessary to understand "Bay Wide Treatment" (BWT) Programs to address <br />Aquatic Invasive Plant Species (AIS) when considering whether LID formations should be <br />supported by the City of Orono. <br /> <br />BWT Programs for AIS <br /> <br />75