Rice Lake Area Association 2007 Annual Meeting Agenda

AGENDA

Buffet style meal for all attending the meeting at Angeno's in Maple Grove (6:30-7:15)

·         $5 per head if not paying dues

·         No charge if paying dues

Call to order by President Chuck Berger at 7:20

·         Minnesota Waters (formerly Minnesota Lakes Association) encourages its members to follow activities promoted by the organization to insure we get funding for those waters that need it.

·         Reports from Officers and Directors

·         Presidents Report (Chuck Berger)

·         No problems with weeds this past year, in fact almost no weeds at all.

·         Treasurers Report   (Steve Cady)

·         $12,500 in the bank

·         $8,500 in 2006 expenses

·         $5,000 in 2006 income (mostly from dues)

·         Dues are $100 for lakeshore owners and $50 for lake view owners

Election of Officers   (Chuck)

·         5 terms expire (Berger, Cady, Schneider, Lind, Rybinski)

·         All 5 volunteered to continue with new 3-year terms

·         2 decided to resign (Von Lehe, Malone)

Summer Picnic scheduled for Saturday, July 28 (Molly Kridel)

·         Check website for details

·         Flyers will be distributed at a later date

Lake Management Plan Highlights   (George Schneider)

·         Valid projects can be partially reimbursed by City of Maple Grove if warranted

·         Aquatic Plant Management Surveys

·         Required by DNR to authorize weed treatment (drawdown, herbicide, etc.)

·         City of Maple Grove no longer paying for surveys from Blue Water Science

·         2007 surveys proposal from Steve McComas of Blue Water Science

·         Vote by Directors to accept Steve McComas bid of $2,800 for 2007 surveys

Fish Survey proposal from Steve McComas for $4,500 for 2007

·         City will fund up to 50%

·         Will help determine if fish are causing water clarity problems

·         Vote by Directors to accept Steve McComas bid of $4,500 for 2007 fish surveys

CLP control - Looks very good so far.

Algae control - We've had to treat with Copper Sulfate past 2 years

·         What options do we have for proactive control?

Lake Quality Commission Report   (George Schneider)

·         LQC is made up of 12 members, 1 from each of the 7 lakes and 5 at-large members. They are responsible for maintaining the links between the lake associations and the city. Members of the LQC are considered quasi-government employees.

o        Kurt Paulson (Pike Lake - Chair)

o        Catherine Thompson (At Large - Vice Chair)

o        George Schneider (Rice Lake)

o        John Garritsen (Eagle Lake)

o        Doug Schon (Fish Lake)

o        Trish Lugtu (Weaver Lake)

o        James Erickson (Edward Lake)

o        Steve Lane (Cedar Island Lake)

o        Roger Granberg (At Large)

o        Don Helmeke (At Large)

o        Heather Xavier (At Large)

·        Completed projects in 2006

o        May - Submitted LIP (Lake Improvement Applications) for respective projects

§         Rice Lake submitted these for Calendar Year 2007

·         Winter Aerator #2 (if needed for drawdown) for $2,000 out of total of $4,500

·         Curlyleaf Pondweed treatment (if necessary) for $2,000 out of total of $5,500

·         Aquatic Plant Surveys for $1,800 out of total of $2,800

·         Algae Treatment (if necessary) for $1,500 out of total of $6,000

o        June - Received update on Clean Water Legacy Act and Minnesota's funding towards the project

o        July - Toured Rice Lake with Commission

§         CLP population still low; Commission enthusiastic about drawdown control effect

o        August - Toured Weaver Lake with Commission

§         Fluridone treatment on Weaver for Year 2 is still showing very good results on CLP

o        September - Meeting cancelled due to light agenda and absence of several commissioners and staff

o        October - Finalized 2007 LIPs presented in May 2007

§         Rice Lake pulled CLP treatment request for $2,000 out of $5,500 since it is apparent it won't be necessary this year. This freed up funding for other worthy projects in Maple Grove.

o        November - Planned 2007 agenda items and projects

o        December - Annual Holiday Party

·        Completed projects in 2007

o        January - State of the Lakes report by Steve McComas. Some of the key findings included:

§         Weaver Lake had very good water quality after 1st year fluridone treatment

§         Rice Lake CLP population was still down 2 years after the last drawdown, although overall plant growth is lower than expected. May need to take action to increase native plant growth.

§         Eagle Lake iron filings sample area showing good results with little CLP growth

o        February - WHEP (Wetland Health & Evaluation Program) presentation - need volunteers!!!

o        March - Meeting for the Lakes by the Lakes

§         Each lake provided an update on projects and status. Eric Lind spoke for Rice Lake.

§         The general tone of the meeting was to find more funding opportunities so we can address long range projects and not just quick fixes that do not last.

o        April - Area experts discussed their projects and how they have been successful

§         Tim Larson from MPCA discussed TMDL programs (Impaired Waters) and future goals

§         Eric Macbeth (City Water Engineer from City of Eagan) discussed how they cover the several dozen lakes are funded from Storm Water Utility Fees they charge each business/residence.

§         Steve McComas (Blue Water Science) discussed how Burnsville, Lakeville, Apple Valley and Plymouth utilize their Storm Water Utility Fees for long term projects.

§         Consensus is that Maple Grove needs to pursue a Storm Water Utility Fee to fund projects.

·         Visit the LQC at: http://www.ci.maple-grove.mn.us/content/143/199/568/default.aspx

Fishing update   (Wade Quale)

·         Lots of rough fish, some bass and northerns caught during the past year.

Goals for 2007   (George Schneider)

·         Increase membership

·         Storm water run-off - Can city help monitor with RLAA?

·         Phosphorous monitoring- Can city help monitor with RLAA?

·         Collect support for Algae Treatment and Drawdown if necessary

Miscellaneous

·         Water drainage on County Road 30 with new entrance ramp on I-94

·         Being pumped from NW corner into container - where does it go from there?

·         Need to check with the City and Minnesota DOT

·         George Schneider will check with the City

Fish Netting - Former resident Joan (Schaller) McCann asked - Can we do it without a survey and just get what we think are the problem (carp and bullheads) and not have to worry about getting commercial fisherman involved?

·         Suspect not, since it is a huge effort and previous commercial fishermen have complained about the degree of difficulty netting in certain parts of the lake.

Dues - We need more participation

·         Can we set up a Calling Tree to contact those who live on the lake and are not contributing? (Steve Levin)

·         Yes, we do have the right to contact those not contributing.

·         To do - George Schneider to work with Steve Levin getting a process to contact those not paying.

Adjourned at 8:40 pm

Rice Lake Area Association Board of Directors (as of 4/30/2007)

Title

Name

Term Expiration

President

Chuck Berger

2007

Treasurer

Steve Cady

2007

Secretary

George Schneider

2007

Director

Eric Lind

2007

Director

Molly Kridel

2009

Director

Jim Kridel

2009

Director

Rick Stulac

2009

Director

Joni Stulac

2009

Director

Wade Quale

2010

Director

Nika Rybinski

2007

Director

Jami Stromberg

2008

Director

Mark Mitchell

2008

Director

Matthew Coumbe

2008

Director

Tom Dechmann

2008

Rice Lake Website - http://www.ricelake.homestead.com

Quick Facts

Rice Lake is the largest of Maple Grove's lakes at 330 surface acres

Maximum depth is almost 12 feet

Elm Creek Watershed drains almost 100 square miles into the lake

Rice Lake ordinary high water (OHW) elevation is 891.5 feet above sea level

There are about 80 homes on the lake with shoreline property

There is no public access on Rice Lake (except for walk-ons)

Fish population includes: sunfish, crappies, bullheads, carp, northern pike, largemouth bass, perch

What does a Drawdown do to the lake?

Under ideal conditions (hard winter freeze with little snow cover early), a drawdown can kill out the Curlyleaf Pondweed seeds in the lake sediment, preventing growth the next year.

Can also kill out Eurasian WaterMilfoil.

Allows residents to clear debris from lake bottom and improve the shoreline.

Is an economical way to manage the lake's natural problems