2006 RLAA General Activities

October 18, 2006 - Rice Lake Applications for City Funding via Lake Quality Commission (for Budget Year 2007)  were presented to the LQC by RLAA representative George Schneider on October 18th at the monthly LQC meeting.

·         Projects approved by LQC

o        Algae Treatment for 2007 (if necessary) - Total Cost - $6,000; Requested funding - $1,500

o        Winter Aerator #2 for 2007 (if necessary) - Total Cost - $4,500; Requested funding - $2,000

·         Projects withdrawn by RLAA

o        Curlylead Pondweed treatment for 2007 - Total Cost - $5,500; Requested funding - $2,000          (Curlyleaf growth does not appear to be an issue for the short term future, based on plant surveys conducted this season)

·         Projects covered by City of Maple Grove - Aquatic Plant survey for 2007 - Total Cost - $2,800; Requested funding - $2,000

August 2006 - Sign up for the RLAA Summer Party on Saturday, September 16th at the Maple Grove Arboretum. Click on the sailboats photo below for details and RSVP by regular mail or e-mail us at ([email-masked]).

Algae Treatment Updates

August 18 - Additional application made on Elm Creek north of County Road 30 (missed the first round of treatment).

August 4 - Application #2 applied to the southern half of the lake and Elm Creek (north). This completes the treatment plan for the season. The water has cleared up noticably and does not smell like it did previous to the treatment.

July 26 - Application #1 of Copper Sulfate treatment completed on northern half of lake. Treatment #2 for southern half of lake scheduled for next week.

July 21 - DNR authorized permit for Lake Restoration to begin algae treatments with Copper Sulfate in reduced dosages over 3 applications. Treatment will begin week of July 24th.

July 16 - Lake level down about 1 foot below normal as of this weekend. No signs of fish kill as of this time and nuisance weed growth (Curlyleaf Pondweed) continues to be at a minimum. Based on this limited problem weed growth, no drawdown is planned for 2006-2007.

July 13 - RLAA submitted a total of 49 signatures (60%) approving of an algae treatment consisting of copper sulfate to be done as soon as possible. This request has been submitted to Lake Restoration (Rogers, MN) for submission to the DNR for a permit to apply. Thank you to those individuals who have supported this effort. Progress updates will be done on this page as activities occur. Current secchi disk readings are at a low of 1.5 feet in the lake with the surface water temperature in the mid-80's.

July-August 2006 - Floating blue-green algae became a nuisance and was sprayed with Copper Sulfate during 3 applications:

north half of the lake - July 26

south half and creek north to County Road 30 - August 4

remaining creek north of County Road 30 to dam - August 18

May 28 - Buoy placed on NNW corner of lake on raised island. Depth approximately 2'.

May 23 -  First aquatic plant survey for 2006 conducted today; Curlyleaf Pondweed is visible in some places, but not considered to be a nuisance at this time.

May 2006 - Rice Lake Reforestation Project will begin for tree/shrub plantings between I-94 and the Park Trail just south of the Elm Creek channel entrance into the lake (Click here for details).

May 2006 - Local retailers are complying with state mandate to reduce phosphorous fertilizer sales. Click here for last 3 year trend comparison for 4 local retailers in the Maple Grove area.

April 26 - The RLAA 2006 Annual Meeting was held on Wednesday, April 26th at Angeno's in

Maple Grove (click here for details).

March 12, 2006 - RLAA Annual Meeting will be held on April 26. Details will be mailed to all those who are or can be members. If you'd like to become a member, e-mail us at [email-masked]

February 2006 - Are you having any success catching fish this winter on Rice Lake? Feel free to reply to this site's e-mail address with details at [email-masked].