Shadow Creek Meeting summary held on Thursday, October 9, 2008

Meeting Objective: To provide the residents of Shadow Creek with information on what RLAA has been doing and wants to do in the future to improve the condition of the lake for both recreational and natural/environmental purposes. RLAA recognizes that residents of Shadow Creek are considered full-fledged association members just like the rest of Rice Lake and Elm Creek (proper). RLAA would like to invite residents of Shadow Creek to join our association to help us reach our goals:

To activate members toward improvement of water condition

To preserve our shore land

To enjoy, but not destroy, our natural environment

To keep open the lines of communication with our members and the public

To utilize fundraising as a source of revenue

Meeting Agenda with comments

Meeting began approximately 7:15 pm at the home of Barbara English and Dennis Belanger on 8660 Terraceview Lane North in Maple Grove. 22 people RSVP’d they would attend. 11 people attended with 9 households represented from the Shadow Creek side of the lake. The Shadow Creek folks were very grateful for the introduction of and time from folks from the north side, George, Molly, Jim and Rick. Wonderful to have them at the meeting!

Who is RLAA?

Board of Directors currently has 11 members, including our newest member, Barbara English. We can expand up to 20 but our by-laws require a minimum of 5 members.

Dues-paying membership (currently we have 47 out of a total of almost 200 lakeshore, lake view and creek residents). We would like to increase that membership to present a stronger organization with local governments and entities.

Volunteers - Anyone can help us reach our goals without being a member.

Who does RLAA work with?

City of Maple Grove

Engineering department

Parks department

Lake Quality Commission (LQC) - Visit the website at http://www.ci.maple-grove.mn.us/content/143/199/568/default.aspx

Three Rivers Park District

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA)

Met Council (water sampling)

Minnesota DNR for permits and regulations

Consultants

Steve McComas from Blue Water Science (a.k.a.: The Lake Detective)

James Johnson from Freshwater Scientific Services (James has also been an integral part of the cleanup on Weaver Lake, where they have been using experimental chemical treatments to reduce Curlyleaf Pondweed growth)

Where does RLAA get funding/revenue to operate?

Membership dues comprise a large portion of our revenue

Lake Improvement Project (LIP) funding for valid projects through the LQC - up to 50% of total cost may be covered if the projects are worthy.

RLAA Recent Project List

NOTE: Most of the projects conducted in the recent past have only included the main part of the lake (excluding Elm Creek and backwaters). This will change going forward as we learn more about those who live along Elm Creek and its proximate waterways.

2004-2005

Curlyleaf Pondweed (CLP) Drawdown

This project drastically reduced the CLP problem on the main part of the lake

All portions of the lake/creek were impacted by the drawdown

Native plant growth since that time has gradually improved, more in some areas than others.

2005

Citizen Monitoring Programs (CLMP, CSMP) on main lake & Elm Creek north

Algae Treatment with Copper Sulfate on main lake & Elm Creek north

Aquatic Plant Survey on main lake

Install trees along I-94 south of northernmost bridge

2006

Citizen Monitoring Programs (CLMP, CSMP) on main lake & Elm Creek north

Algae Treatment with Copper Sulfate on main lake & Elm Creek north

Aquatic Plant Survey on main lake

2007

Citizen Monitoring Programs (CLMP, CSMP, CAMP)

Algae Treatment with Copper Sulfate on main lake & Elm Creek north

Aquatic Plant Survey on main lake & Elm Creek north

Inflow Monitoring on Elm Creek (part of Impaired Waters study)

What Projects are being worked on in 2008?

Citizen Monitoring Programs (CLMP, CSMP, CAMP)

Aquatic Plant Survey

This is an annual program which is co-funded by the LQC

Fish Survey

Last fish survey done in 1994 by DNR, who rejected requests to conduct any more on Rice Lake since we are not considered a trailered Public Access lake.

RLAA and its consultants believe that rough fish are contributing to the poor water quality; a fish survey will help us determine if that is true.

RLAA has done it’s own fish stocking, the last one conducted in 1998

Future stockings would be done only when the game fish can survive through adulthood (carp have been known to feed on game fish before they reach adult size)

Algae Reduction with Barley Straw in Stormwater Ponds

To find out if we can make a difference for water quality coming into the lake

Inflow Monitoring on Elm Creek (part of Impaired Waters study)

Required by the State (DNR and MPCA) to set water standard goals

What Projects is RLAA planning for the future?

2008-2009

Quarterly Newsletter for all members/prospective members

Contacts with the local news media (Osseo-Maple Grove Press & Cable Ch. 12)

Learn more about Shadow Creek concerns and address them accordingly

Weed problems – are these CLP infestations?

Has the water level dropped since the last drawdown?

City Engineering would say it has not

Could this be result of sediment buildup on the lake bottom?

Dredging – Can the bottom be dredged out?

DNR would need to authorize a permit for any dredging project

Estimates for dredging (and removal) have typically run $10,000/acre

Is any testing being done specifically for frog or bird health related to water quality?

No specific testing being done at this time, but the various monitoring efforts should serve as an alert if different chemical or environmental levels are being exceeded.

This would be a good topic for someone to lead some additional study on

Citizen Monitoring Programs (CLMP, CSMP, CAMP) on entire lake and creek

Aquatic Plant Survey on entire lake and creek

Algae Ultrasonic testing

What can residents of Shadow Creek do to help?

Understand what contributes to poor water quality:

External sources (watershed)

Phosphorous – Fertilizers, animal waste, lawn clippings, etc.

Internal sources (lake bottom, certain non-native plants, rough fish)

Become involved by becoming a member of RLAA

Although the vast majority of our current revenue comes from dues, we would like to work more with local businesses through fundraising efforts.

Spread the word about who we are and what we do.

Attend meetings for RLAA and other local organizations who work with RLAA:

RLAA Annual Meeting for the membership is in late April/early May each year

Notices for this and other RLAA meetings will be sent to all members

Lake Quality Commission (http://www.ci.maple-grove.mn.us/content/143/199/568/default.aspx)

7:00 pm the 3rd Wednesday each month at Maple Grove Government Center in the Mayor's conference room

City Council meetings (http://www.ci.maple-grove.mn.us/content/143/440/213/default.aspx)

Elm Creek Watershed Management Commission (http://www.elmcreekwatershed.org)

Meets the 2nd Wednesday each month at 11:30 am at the Emergency Operations Center at the Maple Grove Government Center

Be a part of the quarterly RLAA newsletter

We need a name for our newsletter - any ideas??

Visit our website (http://ricelakeassoc.homestead.com)

Meet the Board and the RLAA members

More information to come about a Winter Meeting on the lake for all members.

Submit any ideas you have for a fun activity

Join a Committee/Team

Media

Fundraising

Summer Picnic

Other committees/teams we can consider organizing

Wetlands

Shoreline Erosion

Clean up

Wildlife

Fishing

Be environmentally conscious!

Good lawn care practices

Shoreline buffers and wetland protection

Maintain the natural surroundings in alignment with Minnesota DNR recommendations

Questions/Comments/Suggestions?

The group liked the past clean up days; would like to see more scheduled, a “restore your shore” effort

The fence by the truck stop needs repair

We need a volunteer to head up the media committee-they like the electronic version

Some didn’t get the email, Barb was going to follow up to make sure their email is on the list

Add Rick Stulac’s name to the website for who and where to send checks to, people didn’t feel comfortable sending checks without a persons name

Coordinate an RLAA activity with National Night Out

Get together on the ice over winter would be fun

We would like to see Shadow Creek head up a Wet Lands Committee

We need to send out an email for the city council meeting so that people can attend

NOTE: Check the City Website for when the City Council and other government meetings take place. You can also get on an "alert" to notify you for those meeting dates.

Remember that we are a 501c3 organization; your contributions to RLAA are tax-deductible.

Everyone thought the desserts were great!

Updated Mailing List has doubled on Shadow Creek side: Barbara has created a new mailing list for the Rice Lake Association (with some email addresses) reflecting all of the homes on Quarles and Terraceview. Several addresses on Tarleton and Shadow Creek are on the list and can be expanded yet.  Homes on Elm Creek past Quarles and Tarleton need to be researched and added. The new Shadow Creek mailing list now has 25 addresses with contact names and phone numbers compared to the original list of 17 addresses only.  Barbara has forwarded this mailing list to George S.

Elm Creek: Residents along Elm Creek are concerned about losing their shoreline/bank due to the steep curve. George had some good suggestions from the DNR as to how to maintain shoreline.

Most attendees did not know that the Rice Lake Association existed because previous home owners did not pass that information along. So the feedback from the meeting about George’s presentation, and comments from Rick, Molly and Jim that the meeting was really valuable.

Interest Survey: Barbara collected an interest survey at the meeting from attendees. This survey is attached with responses from meeting attendees.

New Action Team: George and Barbara have discussed creating an Action Team that would include Spring Clean up and Education efforts with team members from both sides of the lake.  George has suggested several names from the north side and Barbara is calling people on the Shadow Creek side to create this new entity. We’ll try to embrace the history of what these efforts have been in the past on the north side, so we can continue any important traditions or carry forth concerns.

Dues Paying folks: George – how many people sent in checks or paid that night to become members? I know Johnsons and us are two new homes to the Association, but I was hoping there were others? (Barbara - as of last weekend, we had you and Luke & Randine Johnson send in dues checks. There may have been others since last weekend, but that's the last update I got from Rick Stulac.)

Follow-up efforts with Shadow Creek folks: Barbara is sending an email as a follow-up. The email will include attachments from George (copy of annual meeting agenda spring 08 and copy of committee list information). Barbara will attach a copy of the interest survey, asking for commitments. Depending on response, she will call key neighbors asking for help on the Action Team for Spring Clean up and Education and forward names on to George for other committee chairs to make contacts of Shadow Creek folks.

Buckthorn is a concern – we should tie that to the Wetlands Committee initiatives

Many of the attendees wanted to know about treatments and testing on this side of the lake. One resident asked what it would take to for us to be considered and to get some help with treatments. The comment was made that if all of the households represented at the meeting paid dues (7 homes), that would be enough to start some treatment activity on this side of the lake. That was great news to several folks who seemed relieved to get this news.

RESOURCES:

Rice Lake Association - http://ricelakeassoc.homestead.com

E-mail for Rice Lake Area Association - [email-masked]

City of Maple Grove - http://www.ci.maple-grove.mn.us/content/3332/71/default.aspx

City of Maple Grove Lake Quality Commission - http://www.ci.maple-grove.mn.us/content/143/199/568/default.aspx

Maple Grove shoreline and dock regulations: http://www.ci.maple-grove.mn.us/content/141/181/5716.aspx

MN DNR: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/index.html

Contact Rick Lestina ((763) 494-6354 or [email-masked]) Maple Grove Water Resource Engineer for dock, water and wetland/shoreland questions