6.4. SR 04-20-1998 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Study recommendations The study made the following four recommendations to improve Lake Orono: Develop a lake management plan, with rough cost estimates for dredging parts of the lake based on usage. The Lake Orono Improvement Association and the City of Elk River work jointly to develop a plan to remove sediment from the lake and restore the western most lobe to its original navigable depth. The sediment removal project that follows the plan is the reason for this EAW. Management of erosion upstream to slow future sedimentation is also included in the plan. 2. Dredge an in-lake sedimentation basin where the Elk River enters Lake Orono to provide a reservoir for coarser fraction of the river's sediment load to be deposited in. It was considered impractical to gain enough width or depth in the Elk River to provide a sedimentation basin prior to Lake Orono. In addition, the city is concern that creating a sedimentation basin in the river will disturb the equilibrium of the sediment upstream. It was decided that by excavating sediment from the western lobe of the lake that storage for future sedimentation would be provided in an area where sediment deposition occurs naturally. 3. Develop a local water quality plan to address: fecal coliform contamination in Lake Orono - The majority of the shoreline of the lake is served with city sewer. Capacity at the city's waste water treatment plant has been reserved and sewer trunk lines appropriately sized to serve the remainder of the lake's shoreline. Further, the city has began a program of weekly fecal coliform sampling during the swimming season to track this issue and eliminate potential sources. ongoing water quality monitoring - Routine secchi disk monitoring etc. will be conducted by volunteers from the Lake Orono Improvement Association. Periodic monitoring of a more detailed nature will be conducted by the city and compared to the base line established by the 1997 study to determine if additional actions are needed. best management practices within the City of Elk River - The city will continue to require best management practices and sedimentation prior to storm water discharging to the lake. In addition, the use of vegetative buffer strips will be encouraged and a citizen education program on issues like non-phosphorus fertilizer will be conducted.