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Aquatic Plant Management Policies Jan. 20, 2005 Page 2 of 3 consideration of various approaches. Management activities shall be directed towards improvement in lake water quality, consistent with other City policies. 3. Financial participation by the City will be guided by the policies used by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for regulating herbicide use in lakes. The DNR supports management methods that cause as little damage to native aquatic plants as possible. The DNR protects native plants because they provide many benefits to lake ecosystems, such as stabilizing lake sediments, and increasing habitat for fish and wildlife. In addition, widespread destruction of native plants can lead to an overall increase in the amount of Eurasian watermilfoil in a water body because milfoil is very effective at invading disturbed habitat. Specific participation policies include: that treatment is designed to control the exotic; that treatment cannot exceed 15% of the littoral area of the lake; and, treatment in off-shore areas (greater than 150 feet from shore) and public use areas represents public purpose. Each winter, the City will organize a workshop inviting representatives of HOAs, the DNR and commercial lake management operators to present information on the status of lake management practices. Changes in DNR management policies will be incorporated into this policy without further action by the City. 4. Financial participation by the City is meant. to supplement other sources of funding. Other agencies, notably the DNR, have in the past provided grants to aid in the development of a lake management plan., plant assessment surveys and treatments to control the spread of invasive aquatic plants. A financial contribution by the City will be made only if a complete grant application has been submitted to the DNR and other sources of funding. A contribution by the City, together with any other grants obtained by an HOA shall not exceed the casts incurred by the HOA. 5. Financial participation by the City will supplement the financial commitment of lakeshore property owners and reflect the exotic plant infestation levels existing within the City boundaries. City funding is limited and meant to supplement the efforts of lakeshore property owners. A homeowners association (HOA) must be incorporated to be eligible to receive funds from the City. In the event more than a single HOA exists for a lake, a joint application to the City will be required. Annual lake survey and treatment costs are expected to vary, both from lake to lake and from year to year for a variety of reasons. Annual lake surveys should be conducted to identify the extent of exotic species infestation in a particular lake. It is recommended that professional assessment of exotics occur annually. 6. The City will encourage participation by Ramsey County. Ramsey County operates parks on each of these five lakes. The public access points are located within those parks. The City recognizes that the lakes benefit the general public due to these access points, as well as noting that exotic species can be spread to City lakes as a result of the transport of plant fragments on watercraft. 7. The City will encourage participation by the City of Roseville. Shoreview and Roseville have entered into a Joint Powers Agreement to regulate surface water use on Lake Owasso.