2000-06-08_AgendaPacket - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Action 2b. The Lake Owasso Association and Ramsey County should implement an education and inspection program to minimize the chance of Eurasian watermilfoil being introduced to Lake Owasso. In addition, Action la supports this objective by providing active surveillance for milfoil. Objective #3 Provide safe and. pleasant recreational uses. Recreational use on Lake Owasso appears to be increasing. Because milfoil is not in the lake and the water quality has been improving, the recreational experience has remained enjoyable. The only detracting factor is the abundant growth of native aquatic plants. The Lake Owasso Association has been controlling nuisance aquatic plants for a long time. Increasing recreational use may threaten the lake in two ways: 1) by increasing the change of milfoil becoming problematic as note in Objective 2, and 2) by increasing the likelihood of surface use conflicts. Implementing the actions in Objective 2 will help to minimize the first tlu-eat. In addition, the Lake Owasso Association should continue to implement it nuisance aquatic plant control program as it has in the past to assure the most pleasant recreational use of the lake. Action 3a. The Lake Owasso Association should continue their aquatic nuisance control program as they have in the past. The other aspect of recreational use of Lake Owasso deals with the overall experience. As use increases, the number of conflicts and possible safety concerns may increase. However, there is inadequate objective information. regrading the recreational use of the lake, so there is no objective basis to consider the extent of the concern or possible control measures. Therefore, a lake use study should be conducted. The White Bear Lake Use Study9 can be used as a model. Action 3b. The Lake Owasso Association and Ramsey County should conduct a lake use study of Lake Owasso. Objective #4 Find a solution for low lake levels. Lake Owasso, like many other lakes in Ramsey County, have had concerns with extreme lake levels for a long time. Ramsey County had operated a series of groundwater pumping stations near many lakes, including Owasso, to help relieve low water conditions until new state rules prohibited the practice of lake level control using groundwater. Lake Owasso has gained some relief from high water with the construction of a controlled. Low water levels will recur in the future. Obviously, to address this concern, a source of water that can be used to augment lake levels during low water conditions must be identified. The Lake Owasso Association is aware that Snail Lake's water level is augmented with water purchased from the St. Paul Water Utility, so it is possible that this source could be used for Lake Owasso too. That should be explored further. Other than the possibility of water from the St. Paul Water Utility, there are probably no other feasible water sources available for lake level augmentation during low water. Action 4a. The Lake Owasso Association, Ramsey County and others can explore whether the St. Paul Water Utility might be able to sell water for lake level augmentation in Lake Owasso. Objective #5 Coordinate lake management. There is a need for the better coordination of management activities and better understanding of management responsibilities among various organizations and agencies. Guidance for better coordinating specific management activities is offered here.