HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-11-23 Agenda Packet Chair:
Aisha Elmquist (2024)
Secretary:
Renee Marino (2024)
Board Members:
Kathy Johnson (2024)
Susan Johnson (2025)
Gary Gerding (2025)
Linda Hansohn (2026)
Kent Stennes (2026)
Staff Liaison:
David Swearingen
Karth Lake Improvement
District Board
REGULAR MEETING
Tuesday
July 11, 2023
1245 W. Highway 96
Arden Hills, MN 55112
651.792.7800
www.cityofardenhills.org
Agenda
Board Meeting Convenes at 6:30 PM
The public may access this meeting remotely by joining via Zoom.
To join the Zoom Meeting, click this link (or copy and paste it into a new browser):
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88267461265?pwd=d3EvOVFpdVVuN0hEZVl1ek1KWGhHUT09
CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL
1. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
2.APPROVAL OF MINUTES of the previous meeting April 11, 2023
3.PUBLIC INQUIRIES
4.OLD BUSINESS
4.1. Karth Lake water level modeling and management process progress report. Renée Marino
4.1.1 Background: Hypothesis: a revision to the pump management policy can reduce water level bounce (i.e., range of high
and low levels), which can improve lake quality and its environment while appropriately mitigating risk of damage to shoreline
properties.
Action: Discuss new developments and expected next steps in this project.
4.2. Plan for 2023 removal of excess lake weeds and debris. Susan Johnson
4.2.1 Background: Holt has scheduled another lake weed removal day in August 2023 for lake property owners interested in
participating. This is classified as a voluntary effort and not an official board action. However, the board is aware of and
supportive of this effort.
Action: Provide updates, if any.
4.3. Plan for 2023 control of invasive purple loosestrife. Kent Stennes and Renée Marino
4.3.1 Background: After the Purple Loosestrife infestation event in 2022, it will be important to monitor and mitigate new
growth in the near future, since seeds from the plants removed in 2022 will most likely continue to germinate for several years
going forward.
Action: Discuss next steps to address identification and response to any new sightings in 2023.
4.5. Lakeshore owner outreach and education. Kathy Johnson and Board.
4.5.1 Background: The KLIDB has reached out to KLID members in the past with flyers, events and door-knocking to
increase awareness of what the KLIDB does, provide information to assist members in managing their shoreline and to recruit
new board members. Several lakeshore properties have or are soon expected to have new owners that have not benefited from
past communications and an update on the lake’s current status to continuing owners would be helpful.
Action: Continue development of the 2023 communication plan, identify events, flyer design, website updates, etc. to support
a 2023 outreach.
4.6. Report of water quality results for 2022. Gary Gerding.
4.6.1 Background: The Metropolitan Council has released their summary water quality report for 2022 and detailed report for
2021. Both are available at this link: https://metrocouncil.org/Wastewater-Water/Services/Water-Quality-Management/Lake-
Monitoring-Analysis.aspx. Karth Lake’s overall health grade dropped from B in 2021 to C in 2022. It was a B from 2011 to
2021 with the exception of C in 2016 and 2020.
Action: Discuss water sample results charts provided by Cathy Nester of Rice Creek Watershed District.
Karth Lake Improvement District Board
July 11, 2023 Page 2
5. NEW BUSINESS
5.1 Bylaws review and possible modification. Susan Johnson
5.2 Open meeting laws update. Susan Johnson
6. NEXT MEETING
7. ADJOURN
Draft Minutes for Karth Lake Improvement District Board
Regular Meeting 6:30 PM, Tuesday, April 11, 2023
CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL
The meeting convened at: 6:30 PM.
Present:
Board Members: Aisha Elmquist, Chair; Renée Marino, Secretary; Gary
Gerding; Linda Hansohn; Susan Johnson
Staff Liaison: David Swearingen, Public Works Director
Visitors and Karth Lake Improvement District members: Kent Stennes, Jim
Elliott Jr.
1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: One item to discuss rain gardens was added to the
agenda by David Swearingen. With that amendment, the agenda was approved as written.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The minutes of the previous meeting on April 11, 2023
were approved as written.
3. BOARD MEMBER ELECTIONS: David Swearingen reported that there was no
response to the letter the City of Arden Hills had mailed to KLID members in February
asking for interest in become a candidate for board membership. Tony Peleska, whose
term was expiring, had relayed to Susan Johnson that he would step down if someone
new were interested in becoming a board member. If not, Tony agreed to serve another
term. Visitor and KLID member (i.e., Karth Lake shoreline property owner) Kent Stennes
was asked to become a candidate for Tony’s seat. Kent agreed to do so. The results were
as follows. All votes were unanimous:
Kent Stennes: Term Expiration April 2026
Linda Hansohn: Term Expiration April 2026
4. ELECTION OF CHAIR AND SECRETARY: Aisha Elmquist was unanimously
elected as Chair, Renee Marino was unanimously elected as Secretary. Terms are through
April 2024.
5. PUBLIC INQUIRIES: None.
6. OLD BUSINESS
6.1. Karth Lake water level modeling and management process progress report.
Renée Marino
6.1.1 Background: Hypothesis: a revision to the pump management policy can
reduce water level bounce (i.e., range of high and low levels), which can improve
lake quality and its environment while appropriately mitigating risk of damage to
shoreline properties.
Discussion: Renée shared a chart showing the first year of lake level data
collected under the DNR program and using the DNR-calibrated gauge. Renée
requested and received approval for the DNR to change the gauge location in a
month or so to make it easier for volunteers to view from the shore. The new
location had been approved by David Swearingen. Renée also shared the Rice
Creek Watershed District (RCWD) statement of work for the Houston
Engineering hydrologist’s lake level modeling tool development. That tool is
expected to be ready within a month or two. David is interested in the level of the
bottom of the lake for sediment analysis as a part of managing the street sewer
system. In contrast, this project is focused on the lake surface level. The KLIDB
is also concerned about growth in the lake’s bottom level due to sediment infill
from street sewers and shoreline erosion. These two topics may merge in the
future.
6.2. Plan for 2023 removal of excess lake weeds and debris. Susan Johnson
6.2.1 Background: Holt has scheduled another lake weed removal day in August
2023 for lake property owners interested in participating. This is classified as a
voluntary effort and not an official board action. However, the board is aware of
and supportive of this effort.
Discussion: No new developments. Tabled until July meeting.
6.3. Plan for 2023 control of invasive purple loosestrife. Renée Marino
6.3.1 Background: After the Purple Loosestrife infestation event in 2022, it will
be important to monitor and mitigate new growth in the near future, since seeds
from the plants removed in 2022 will most likely continue to germinate for
several years going forward.
Discussion: Renée shared a DNR chart for identifying and treating Purple
Loosestrife. Kent Stennes noted that the Wisconsin lake on which he was a lake
improvement district board member had had significant Purple Loosestrife
populations. They were successful in treating some plants by cutting and applying
chemicals under a permit from Wisconsin’s DNR and others by introducing
beetles. Those methods are shown on the DNR chart. Renée and Jim plan to
search for plant sightings with their canoe again this year. Susan Johnson offered
to go door-to-door to notify residents with plants on their shorelines. Kent Stennes
agreed to help lead this effort.
6.4. Possibility of initiating a new study to identify status and refresh list of
BMPs for future management of Karth Lake: David Swearingen
6.4.1 Background: The most recent Karth Lake study and BMP identification
was performed in 2009. The board would like to identify a plan to be included in
a follow-up assessment of Karth Lake’s current health and opportunities for
improvement (BMPs). David Swearingen described current and future grant
opportunities that the City of Arden Hills will pursue and extended to include
Karth Lake.
Discussion: David found that requesting that Karth Lake be included in RCWD’s
resiliency study can be done through RCWD’s Matt Kocian and Houston
Engineering’s Bret Zimmerman. David plans to write grant proposals for this at
the end of 2023. David also discussed drainage pond sediment growth and
management analysis that his team will be contracting for under 2024 PMP
(pavement replacement) plans. When the west side of Karth Lake undergoes its
PMP in 2026, he hopes to use this 2024 work to help get funding to study Karth
Lake’s sediment growth and management. This item is on hold for now.
6.5. Lakeshore owner outreach and education. Kathy Johnson and Board.
6.5.1 Background: The KLIDB has reached out to KLID members in the past
with flyers, events and door-knocking to increase awareness of what the KLIDB
does, provide information to assist members in managing their shoreline and to
recruit new board members. Several lakeshore properties have or are soon
expected to have new owners that have not benefited from past communications
and an update on the lake’s current status to continuing owners would be helpful.
Discussion: Kathy Johnson was absent so some of this discussion was tabled.
David suggested the board could plan an event to discuss rain garden maintenance
- see new business topic on rain gardens. David Swearingen also said a new full
time communications director, Luke, would be starting within a week. Luke can
update the website and post communications to social media.
7. NEW BUSINESS
7.1 Report of water quality results for 2022 and volunteer sampling plan for
2023. Gary Gerding.
7.1.1 Background: The Metropolitan Council has released their summary water
quality report for 2022 and detailed report for 2021. Both are available at this
link: https://metrocouncil.org/Wastewater-Water/Services/Water-Quality-
Management/Lake-Monitoring-Analysis.aspx. Karth Lake’s overall health grade
dropped from B in 2021 to C in 2022. It was a B from 2011 to 2021 with the
exception of C in 2016 and 2020.
Discussion: The Karth Lake specific report is not yet available so that portion of
this topic is tabled until the next meeting. The volunteers for water sampling this
year will be Andrew Elmquist, Renée Marino and Jim Elliott.
7.2 Maintenance of Nursery Hill rain gardens: David Swearingen.
7.2.1 Background: According to the city’s rain garden agreement with KLID, the
KLID had agreed to maintain the gardens including weeding and replacing dead
plants.
Discussion: Linda Hansohn and Gary Gerding acknowledged that agreement,
however rain garden maintenance is not currently an active board project. Susan
Johnson does and plans to continue to do weeding in the rain gardens, as well as
in the Art Larson Memorial Garden in Cummings Park. David suggested that the
Arden Hills Foundation (contact Arlene Mitchell) could be a source of funding to
replace dead plants. David also said the Arden Hills Park Trails and Recreation
Committee (PTRC) (contact Marie Hinton, chair) is willing to organize volunteers
to maintain rain gardens so that the board could reach out to them and that Kerri
Seemann of the PTRC is a good resource for this. David also suggested that rain
garden maintenance could be an organized event under the communications plan
discussed previously.
7.2 Buckthorn and diseased tree removal in Cummings Park: David Swearingen.
Discussion: David announced that the city will be removing buckthorn in
Cummings Park this summer. He will let us know when that will happen in the
hopes we could organize volunteers to assist. The city will also be removing
diseased trees near trails that pose a health safety risk, but will be leaving dying
trees in deep woods to let nature take its course.
7. NEXT MEETING: Tuesday, July 11, 2023 at 6:30 PM at City Hall.
8. ADJOURN
932.0 932.5 933.0 933.5 934.0 934.5 935.05/6/20225/20/20226/3/20226/17/20227/1/20227/15/20227/29/20228/12/20228/26/20229/9/20229/23/202210/7/202210/21/202211/4/202211/18/202212/2/202212/16/202212/30/20221/13/20231/27/20232/10/20232/24/20233/10/20233/24/20234/7/2023Karth Lake Elevation (feet above sea level)5/6/2023 to 4/11/2023
‐ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 136/30/19749/22/19837/12/19844/15/199610/28/20027/19/20048/6/200410/23/200511/7/20057/11/20079/2/20079/14/201110/13/20116/30/20137/25/20138/15/20136/13/20147/3/20147/23/20146/10/20158/21/20159/24/20154/11/201610/3/20168/15/20179/5/20179/18/20176/24/20197/23/201910/9/20195/1/20205/15/20206/1/20206/22/20207/20/20209/14/202010/27/20215/5/20225/19/20226/10/20226/30/20227/14/20228/4/20228/19/20229/8/202210/1/202210/21/202211/10/20224/11/2023FeetHistory of Karth Lake Level Measurements, All Days with Observations(Measurements made by: City or DNR Program=Blue; DNR 2011 Lidar=Orange; Marino=Red)1974 Normal Depth before development was 930 feetabove sea levelDNR "Pump On" Depth 936 feet above sea level (10' on Original stick)DNR "Pump Off" Depth 934 feet above sea level
task order
Matthew Kocian <MKocian@ricecreek.org>
Tue 4/11/2023 3:56 PM
To:Renee Marino <renee@cupitorconsulting.com>
Hello Renee,
See below for the text from our agreement with Houston Engineering. Note – it might be later May or early June.
Houston Engineering Project No.: R005555-0338
Task Order Purpose: The task order purpose is to develop a basic spreadsheet calcula on model for the pumping
opera ons of Karth Lake. The spreadsheet model will be delivered to the Karth Lake Improvement District (KLID)
for their use in developing pumping and lake level management metrics.
Professional Services Rendered: HEI intends to provide the following professional services during the comple on
of this Task Order:
1. Verify storage curve for Karth Lake. Bathymetry data will be added to the storage curve if KLID can provide the
bathymetry data.
2. Review pump ra ng curves for the exis ng Karth Lake pumps supplied by KLID.
3. Extract Karth Lake inflow data from the exis ng DWMP XPSWMM model.
4. Develop a spreadsheet calcula on model (Model) for simula ng various scenarios based on inflow volume,
available storage volume, pump ra ng curves, and various on/off eleva ons for the pumping opera ons.
5. Dra a technical memorandum explaining how to use the Model, the Model inputs, and limita ons of the
Model.
6. Two (2) coordina on mee ngs (virtual) with KLID and/or RCWD.
Deliverables: The deliverables for the Task Order include:
• Spreadsheet calcula ons model (Model) for Karth Lake pumping scenarios
• Dra and final technical memorandum
Schedule and Compensa on: HEI will perform the professional services iden fied above on a me and materials
basis up to the not-to-exceed amount of. HEI shall not exceed this amount for the comple on of this work without
prior authoriza on from the District Administrator. The work will be completed no later than May 15, 2023.
Ma Kocian
Lake and Stream Program Manager
Rice Creek Watershed District
763.398.3075
Seed matures
then plant dies
Seeds in
seed pod
Flower detail
Flowering
Bolting
stem grows
Stem sprouts from root crown
Seedling
Germinating seed
PERENNIAL LIFECYCLE &
TREATMENT TIMING
mda.state.mn.us/weedcontrol
DIG ROOT
Remove seedling and root.
FOLIAR SPRAY
Spray leaves.
CUT AND TREAT
Cut stem at the base and
spray.
MOW
Mow before seed set to
prevent seed dispersal.
WEED TORCH
Burn seedling stage.
BIOCONTROL
Release designated biocontrol
agents on large populations.
Monitoring and repeated
management is necessary
for long term control of
established infestations.
PURPLELOOSESTRIFE
Lythrum salicaria