4.0. SR 12-15-1997 - Laserfiche WebLink

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LAKE IMPROVEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS Background - Lake Orono was incrementally lowered between October 15~ and 17th to aid staff in determining the locations and quantities of sediment deposits in the lake. Aerial photos of the lake were taken during this period by Laurie Mezera-Kerr of the Building and Zoning staff. In addition, Belaire Excavating reviewed the lake when it was lowered to determine how materials could be removed and gave the city cost estimates for doing this work. MAP #1 attached shows the locations of the sediment deposits. Is a project needed - Modest improvements to water quality in Lake Orono can be made. These efforts should be ongoing to avoid having water quality in the lake decrease. However, the most pressing issue facing Lake Orono is Bedload. If nothing is done regarding bedload the lake will eventually fill-in and revert back to being a river. A project is needed sometime. When should a project be done - There are two issues driving the timing of a project. The first issue is how quickly is bedload affecting the use of the lake. In the last decade, the western most lobe of the has become nearly non-navigable. It is estimated that the lobe of the lake immediately north of Highway 10 will experience significant bedload impacts in the next fifty years (more or possibly less). When this happens half the lake will be affected by bedload. The other important issue to consider regarding the timing of a lake improvement project is development pressures around the lake. Staffhas made contact with four property owners with significant amounts of land near the lake that are open to the idea of having material removed from the lake being deposited on their sites. These properties will be receiving assessments for urban services in the near future and their properties will probably not remain vacant for long. These development pressures are likely to come to bear in 1998. The cost of a lake improvement project approximately doubles, if the material excavated has to trucked away from the immediate lake area. If a project is going to happen, it should be in the near future. Priorities - MAP #2 identifies the areas of the lake that the task force considered for improvement. This map was based on the sediment deposits identified on MAP #1. If all of these areas where enhanced, a lake improvement project would literally cost millions of dollars. Therefore it is important to set priorities. The following outlines the recommended priorities of the task force: AREA A - Area A is located at the outlet of a storm water pipe from Orono Parkway. Very little sedimentation from erosion or construction activity enters the lake from this pipe, but sand from Orono Parkway does. Removing sediment from this area can not be readily accomplished from Orono Parkway; the lake would have to be lowered to allow equipment on the lake bed. This area is not a recommended priority at this time. fSshrdoc~b&zXstever\lakeocc.doc