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memo <br />2of14 <br />discussed by the GLWMO Board of Commissioners at their September 22, 2011 Board Meeting. In order <br />to respond to these comments, the following information is presented in this memorandum: <br />A. References to No -Wake zone in GLWMO DRAFT 2011 Watershed Management Plan <br />B. Intent of Including Implementation Activity in 2011 Watershed Management Plan <br />C. Review of Existing No -Wake Ordinances <br />D. Summary of Public's Comments on Implementation Activity <br />E. Response to Summary of Comments <br />A. References to No -Wake Zone in DRAFT 2011 Watershed Management Plan <br />There are four references to the evaluation of options to address internal loading in Lake Owasso by <br />protecting the shallow portions of the lake: <br />Implementation Activity 1.2 b (page 111) — "Work with member communities to develop options <br />(such as ordinances establishing no -wake zones) protecting shallow areas of sensitive lakes." <br />Implementation Activity 1.9.f (page 114) — "To address internal loading (in Lake Owasso) work with <br />member communities to test the impacts of establishing a no boating area or no -wake zone on certain <br />portions of the lake (e.g. shallow areas) for a defined period of time; the goal being to make it a <br />permanent ordinances if the results are positive." <br />Implementation Plan Table: Third Implementation Activity under Watershed Wide Water <br />Quality /Water Quantity — `Develop options for the protection of shallow portions of sensitive lakes" <br />(to be funded 50% by the GLWMO with a total cost of $5,000 and to begin in 2015 through 2017). <br />Implementation Plan Table: Fourth Implementation Activity under Lake Owasso — "Evaluate impacts <br />of establishing no boating area or no -wake zone on certain portions of lake" (to be funded 50% by the <br />GLWMO costs reflected in previous line item). <br />Whereas the plan does not explicitly define the shallow portions of Lake Owasso, in general depths less <br />than ten to fifteen feet are considered shallow. At these depths, light levels typically support rooted <br />aquatic plant growth. The MPCA defines the littoral zone of a lake as any areas shallower than 15 feet. <br />An investigation into the establishment of a no -wake zone would more precisely define the depths of <br />water that would be addressed. <br />B. Intent of Including Implementation Activity in 2011 Watershed Management Plan <br />The overall intent of the GLWMO 2011 Watershed Management Plan is to lay the framework for the next <br />ten years of activities by building on what has been accomplished to date. In reviewing what has been <br />accomplished to date, the Project Consultant compiled all of the water quality and water quantity data <br />collected since the 2001 Watershed Management Plan to characterize the quality of the GLWMO's water <br />resources. In addition, the Project Consultant reviewed all of the studies completed since the 2001 <br />Watershed Management Plan and incorporated the findings and recommendations of these studies as long <br />as they still were appropriate given the review of the water quality and water quantity data. <br />This particular Implementation Activity was a recommendation of the Lake Owasso Use Attainability <br />Analysis Diagnostic - Feasibility Study: Water Quality Issues and Potential Restorative Measures prepared <br />for the Grass Lake Watershed Management Organization in April 2009 by Barr Engineering. The key <br />product of this analysis was the development of an annual water and phosphorus budget for Lake Owasso, <br />identifying the relative percent contribution of each of the various sources to the annual water and <br />phosphorus loads. These results are presented in the following tables: <br />Emmons & Olivier Resources, Inc. <br />651 Hale Ave N, Oakdale, MN 55128 p: 651.770.8448 f: 651.770.2552 www.eorinc.com <br />