8.1. SR 06-17-2019 - Laserfiche WebLink

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The LID will need to work closely with: • DNR Area Fisheries Supervisor Joe Stewig (joe.stewig@state. mn.us, 320-223-7867) for guidance on minimizing impacts to flora and fauna from the drawdown, dredging, water level restoration, and related activities. • DNR Area Hydrologist James Bedell (lames.bedell@state.mn.us, 320-223-7850) for overall guidance on the activities and PW permits. • DNR Dam Safety Program Supervisor Jason Boyle (iason.boyle@state.mn.us, 651-259-5715) for guidance on any activities requiring operation of the dam. • US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) for guidance and to clarify applicable standards. • The MPCA on permits to ensure the safe and appropriate disposal of dredged sediment. • The City of Elk River on the drawdown, sediment removal, and sediment disposal work. Both the City of Elk River and various individuals associated with Lake Orono Improvement Association and the Lake Orono Water Quality Committee have experience with these activities from the lake's first sediment removal in 1998, and the DNR is encouraged by this experience and previous success. MN DNR also notes that Upper Orono, the area with the greatest amount of sediment deposition, n1cn hac tha mnct nhiinrlan+ r1 Q Tho rI�IR nvnnr+c +ho I Irl �nii +hof +i n� GIL Qiior +.. rc.n7 ., dredging contractors to take every sensible precaution to avoid spread of the CLP plants or turions during these operations. The proposers should consult with the DNR Aquatic Invasive Species Program staff for further guidance on avoiding CLP spread from dredging and sediment. • The Lake Orono Water Quality Committee proposes to extend the time span between sediment removal projects from the current expected 20 years to at least 30 years. This will be challenging because most of the sediment comes from the upstream watershed. Since this area is outside of the LID boundary, there is very little that the LID can do directly. However, the Lake Orono Water Quality Committee is working closely with several other groups that have more direct opportunities to promote Best Management Practices (BMPs) in the upstream watershed and reduce sediment loading. MN DNR encourages the LID to continue with these partnerships. The LID also proposes projects besides dredging to reduce sediment input to the lake. Available data suggest that total suspended solids (TSS) contribution from the area immediately surrounding Lake Orono is minor; however, it is easy for the LID to directly pursue sediment reduction projects in this area. Such projects would consist of encouraging property owners to plant native vegetation and vegetative buffers along the shoreline to reduce runoff into the lake. The DNR encourages the LID to promote these projects among the LID's members. The City of Elk River can also engage in actions to reduce the sediment load in city runoff carried by drainage ditches into the lake. These actions may include continuing its practice of dredging material accumulated in front of drainage areas and sweeping the streets near the lake regularly, especially before forecast storm events. The LID will also educate citizens on the importance of keeping lawn waste out of streets, ditches, and areas prone to runoff. The DNR would like to remind the LID proposers that increased precipitation, and particularly an increase in more intense rainfalls and storms, is predicted for Minnesota due to climate change. The observed increase in precipitation (and accompanying increase in TSS) could be part of this predicted trend. The DNR encourages the LID proposers to continue to monitor TSS and water flow into and out of Lake Orono so this question can be explored further. The DNR also encourages the LID proposers to take into account DNR Advisory Report on Lake Orono Lake Improvement District Page 4