RLAA Board Meeting Minutes for November 18, 2010

Location: Maple Grove Library (Room 105)                                                                                                                                    Time: 7:00 pm

Call to Order at 7:05 pm

Present - Rick Stulac, Nika Rybinski, George Schneider, Bill Kidder, Scott Roeglin, Joy Roeglin

Absent - Larry Bick, Wade Quale

Guests - None present

Approve this Agenda

Approved without changes

Introduction of Board Members and Guests (George)

No guests - no introductions

Treasurer Report (Rick)

Any new members since last meeting?

None

Current finances

$13,500 total in bank (checking & savings)

Upcoming expenditures/bills

Payments will be due by January 2011 for:

Zooplankton Study = $975

Carp Exclosure Project = $4,250

Formal presentation to Board for both projects = $350

Potential project payments by mid-2011 for:

Carp Removal Project = $7,000 (est.) *

Boat Ramp Bay Channel Dredging = $6,000 (est.) *

* City Lake Improvement funding should pay for up to 50% of these total costs.

Old Business

Rough Fish Removal project (Nika/George)

·         Do we plan on working with Jeff Riedemann to remove carp this winter on Rice Lake?

Major hurdle has been to get his commitment and timing when to perform work, once we get proper access granted by City Park Board. Cost for the project is dependent on price for fish at the time they are netted; will not know when that time will come - must just be ready for it.  Board suggested these steps to move forward on the project:

Have Jeff get DNR permit granted for removal of Carp during the Winter of 2010-2011 (beginning January 1st).

Work with City Park Board to get Permitted Access to Glacier Lane cul-de-sac for access point to remove fish and load on trucks.

City requirements are the same as in 2009.

Notify residents adjacent to removal area of project intentions/timing.

Keep Dr. Peter Sorenson from University of Minnesota involved in conversations about Carp Removal project. Find out what he can do to help us manage this problem.

Algae/Water Quality for this past season

·         What can we do to prevent/reduce impact in the future?

Provide more education opportunities to the general public

City Lake Quality Commission may be providing useful education material for city residents in 2011.

RLAA Website now has more information on how to maintain your shoreline, how to "rank" your shoreline for environmental efficiency and more.

Emphasize Lawn Aeration

Objective is to find a service provider for a discount for RLAA members. Once that discount is available, contact RLAA membership via e-mail to contact that service provider to secure the discount for services.

Scott Roeglin worked with a contact at a national chain this fall, but they did not seem anxious to cooperate to offer discounts to members. Scott will be checking with some local firms this winter/spring to see if they will be more likely to offer discounts with opportunities to generate more business for themselves.

Q3 2010 Newsletter (George)

·         Plan on releasing by 2nd half of November.

o        It was also recommended to provide an annual list of those who have paid their RLAA dues once per year in the RLAA Newsletter. A good time for this would be prior to the annual meeting. Board agreed this approach to acknowledge those who have contributed is a good idea.

o        George to follow up with board via e-mail on next issue final content

On-Going Business

Elm Creek Watershed TMDL Project Plan (George)

·         The stakeholders meeting on September 23 was cancelled due to changes in project management and players involved. Next meeting planned for January 20, 2011 at Plymouth City Hall. George will provide update to Board after that meeting.

Continue discussions on 2010-2011 projects

·         LIP project ideas were discussed at the October 20 LQC meeting (not formalized) and will be formally submitted/reviewed at the February 2011 LQC meeting. These potential projects were introduced for Rice Lake:

o        Dredging out boat ramp channel

§         Scott confirmed the City has this on their project list for 2011. He will keep in touch with them to coordinate the effort.

§         Navigational need to pursue this project; we should request 50% co-share with the City on this project. (estimated total cost of $6,000)

o        Potential Curlyleaf Pondweed problems in 2011?

§         Consider a plan for a drawdown in 2011-2012 if conditions warrant one.

§         Determine in early Spring 2011 if Plant Surveys need to justify a drawdown.

§         Take action to pursue drawdown if surveys dictate the need for one.

o        Plant Survey in 2011

§         Don't plan for one in 2011, but if we need to do one, request it then. (estimated total cost of $2,000)

o        Carp Removal in 2011

§         Keep this on the possibility list for 2011. (estimated total cost of $7,000)

Storm Water Drain Inventory (Bill)

·         May need to revisit this next spring (2011)

·         Scott asked if we could have the City check out the cistern on Elm Creek south of County Road 30 located between the Nord and Grefe properties.

Action Item: George checked with the City to get more information on it.

Cistern is a Sanitary Sewer and not Storm Sewer. Need to check further with Public Works department (pending).

New Business

RLAA Asset Inventory (George)

Due to a need to relocate existing RLAA assets (winter aerator, PVC pipes, and other related materials) elsewhere than current City Public Works garage, began taking inventory of our current assets. George started a spreadsheet to track what we have and where it can be stored. Larry has graciously offered use of a facility for the long-term storage items (winter aerator & carp exclosures).

Need volunteer with a vehicle (pickup truck) to help us transport to new storage location. (Nika offered to help with her truck.)

Next steps

Complete inventory.

Organize inventory and delivery to storage facility.

Beaver damage on Elm Creek (George)

George informed the board that Marshal Alsaker had noticed more beaver damage this summer/fall along Elm Creek, including along the Arboretum. He reported it to the City, who has contracted with a local trapper to remove the beaver from the area.

Project Updates

FSS Projects update (George)

·         Carp Exclosure

o        Preliminary results confirm suspicions that carp activity impacting vegetation growth.

·         Zooplankton results

o        Early sampling review indicates there should be plenty of plankton to support a healthy game fish population.

·         FSS would like to do formal presentation at our December 2010 (or later) board meeting (date to be determined).

o        Formal presentation will be given at December 9th RLAA board meeting.

Task Team Updates

Lake Management (George)

Nothing new but plan on having another team meeting this winter.

Membership (Rick/George)

No new activities since the last meeting in summer 2010.

The board agreed that we need to increase awareness and participation by our membership to continue moving forward with our efforts to improve lake quality.

Funding opportunities - Some organizations (such as Star Lakes) require 50% membership to be eligible for any funds for projects.

What is considered 'membership'? Does it mean dues-paying members? Or those who are potentially dues-paying members? (Nika will follow up with Star Lakes contact.)

Other Business

Lake Rebecca alum treatment (Star Tribune – Metro West section – 11/17/10)

Interesting how a similar-sized lake as Rice can also be impacted so heavily by algae blooms.

Note: Lake Rebecca is much deeper (40') than Rice, so not everything is similar.

http://www.startribune.com/local/west/108015094.html?elr=KArks:DCiUBDia_nDaycUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUoD3aPc:_2yc:a_ncyD_MDCiU

See handout for details.

Score Your Shore survey from the DNR

George provided handouts to the board about this effort to help residents determine how their shoreline property ranks on the Environmental scale.

Link to the survey is available on the RLAA website at this link: http://www.ricelakemn.com/files/Shoreline_Erosion/Score_Your_Shore_by_the_Minnesota_DNR_2010.mht

Next Meeting date

·         Choose a few options for December and check with FSS to confirm available dates. Plan on meeting at the Maple Grove Library in Room 105.

o        Chose December 9th at 7:00 pm at this location for next board meeting. FSS will formerly present results from Carp Exclosure and Zooplankton studies conducted this past season.

Adjournment at 8:55 pm

Minutes written by George Schneider 11/20/10

Rice Lake Area Association website = http://www.ricelakemn.com