2011-09-22_AgendaPacket - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Master This Comment Date Who Made Comment List # Tables # Lake Owasso has water quality near GLWMO and state standards and is at risk of impairment. The lake is currently in a clear water state dominated by aquatic macrophytes, but could potentially transition to the less desirable algae dominated condition. Grass Lake WMO Watershed Management Plan- 6/2011112 Most lakes could potentially transition into a less desirable algae dominated condition. After all, eutrophication is a natural process. The lake is on the state's impaired waters list due to high levels of mercury in fish; the MPCA completed a plan to address this impairment in 20093. Grass Lake WMO Watershed Management Plan- 6/2011112 Mercury is an issue for most Minnesota lakes. 364 97 1 am writing to express my objection to the no boating /no wake ordinance affecting shallow portions of Lake Owasso proposed in the GLWMO Draft 2011 Watershed September 14, Alex Elder Management Plan (identified in implementation activity 1.9.f, as well as generally in 1.2.1b). 2011 365 98 1 genuinely support the vision and mission of the GLWMO - -to help maintain water quality and quantity, by providing information backed by research to help guide and September 14, Alex Elder support decision making. But the proposed ordinance would affect recreational activities more than might be necessary. 2011 366 99 1 have been a Shoreview resident for almost all my life, and have been swimming, fishing, and waterskiing in Lake Owasso since I was a young child. The quality of the water in September 14, Alex Elder the lake is very important to me, and I have observed how its clarity, weediness, and depth have varied over the years. It is my hope that high water quality can be attained 2011 without sacrificing the great recreational value Lake Owasso offers. 368 100 Here is the specific implementation activity I object to: 1.9.f To address internal loading (in Lake Owasso) work with member communities to test the impacts of establishing a September 14, Alex Elder no boating area or no wake zone on certain portions of the lake (e.g. shallow areas) for a defined time period; the goal being to make it a permanent ordinance if the results 2011 are positive. 369 101 1 object to this proposal for two reasons. First, there are quite a few proposed implementation activities that aim to reduce phosphorus levels, and because of this it will not September 14, Alex Elder be possible to directly attribute any changes in levels to the reduction or elimination of boating activity. 2011 370 102 The second, related (and stronger) objection is to the "goal" of making it "a permanent ordinance if the results are positive." The net effect of this is that a permanent ban of September 14, Alex Elder boats or wakes in shallow areas could be put in effect even if no evidence can be shown that such boat activity actually has an impact on phosphorus levels. This "goal" seems 2011 also to be a foregone conclusion, given that one of the recommended implementation activities (curly -leaf pondweed management) is expected to "have the most significant impact on the lake's water quality" (Barr, 2009). 371 103 It is not clear what portions of the lake are the "shallow areas" but since 78% of the lake is less than 15 feet deep it could amount to a significant portion. A large number of September 14, Alex Elder the users of Lake Owasso are boaters, and restricting boating activity will directly affect these users' enjoyment of the lake. 2011 372 104 1 support efforts to preserve the water quality of Lake Owasso and the other bodies of water in the Grass Lake Watershed. But activities that restrict recreational use to this September 14, Alex Elder degree should not be done unless other efforts have been tried and found to be inadequate. 2011 373 105 Please remove implementation activity 1.9.f from consideration. September 14, Alex Elder 2011 375 106 1 respectfully request that you remove Sec. 1.9.f from this plan, and open it to consideration of aeration of the shallow areas of the lake September 15, Daniel Kelsey, P.E. 2011 488 107 1 think that with education and data, you can move mountains. Unfortunately, the wording of the draft report is vague. My initial reaction was also emotional. Once given the August 28, 2011 Joanna LaBresh time to go back and reflect, rational thought takes over. I think it is important to always provide more data. I think more data and time lines for actions would also calm the waters. If the part about the no -wake was worded in such a way as to say that it is not desirable outcome, but that reports are meant to encompass all the options and that no -wake is an option that may have to be investigated. I don't want a no -wake, but as a scientist, I can easily accept that it is an option that has to be evaluated in order to reach the mandated phosphorus levels to maintain lake clarity. 489 108 1 was concerned to hear that there is a proposal on the table to implement a no wake zone at Lake Owasso in the shallow parts of the lake. I live in the metro area and am an September 12, Robin Mavin avid user of Lake Owasso. It is my opinion that if you try and establish a no wake zone on this lake you will force all of the recreational users to one area of the lake and not 2011 only will this become a possible safety issue but it will potentially render the lake useless for recreational boating. I have to believe that there are other ways to address the issues that we all have concerns about such as water quality, weed management, erosion management, watershed /stormwater management, etc. I encourage you to find other ways to mitigate these issues and would hope that the establishment of a no wake zone on Owasso would be your last -ditch effort. Grass Lake Watershed Management Organization — 2011 Watershed Management Plan Response to Comments: 60 -dav review period 9/19/2011 Page 15