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January 20, 2005 TO: Lake Regulations Committee Grass Lake WMO FROM: Rob Warwick, Associate Planner RE: Policies, Invasive Aquatic Plant Management in City Lakes and City Financial Participation BACKGROUND The City Council directed the Lake Regulations Committee (LRC) to collect information on management of invasive aquatic plant species in September 2002. The LRC held a public workshop, conferred with the Environmental Quality Committee (EQC), and compiled information on expenditures by Lakeshore homeowners associations. At the April 12, 2004 Council Workshop, the LRC reported the results of their work and recommended the City participate financially in management of invasive aquatic plants. The Council directed the Committee to develop recommended goals and policies for the City. A funding level of $10,000 has been included in the 2005 City budget. POLICIES The Comprehensive Plan identifies the City lakes as one of the landmark features and a significant resource within Shoreview. The lakes have scenic and recreational qualities benefiting all City residents. As such, the City will assist financially in efforts to manage and control invasive, exotic aquatic vegetation, especially Eurasian watermilfoil and Curly leaf pondweed, which can adversely affect native aquatic plant growth and interfere with water recreation. 1. Financial participation by the City is limited to lakes with a developed public access. The Comprehensive Plan recognizes that location on or near a lake enhances property values, but citizens throughout the community benefit from the number of public accesses to lakes available in the City. Five of the ten lakes located in the City have a developed public access: Island, Owasso, Snail, Turtle and Wabasso. All five of these fakes have identified infestations of Eurasian watermilfoil. The purpose of City financial participation is to assist each of the benefited lakes. City participation should not be viewed as a competitive grant process, but instead the policies are meant to encourage communication between residents, the City and other jurisdictional agencies in recognition of the importance lakes have on the overall quality of life enjoyed in our community. 2. Financial participation by the City is limited to lakes with a lake management plan. The required management plan shall assess the condition of the lake, identify the problems to be addressed, establish specific goals and the management activities needed, including