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June 12, 2019 <br />Amanda Bednar <br />City of Elk River <br />13065 Orono Parkway <br />Elk River, MN 55330 <br />Dear Ms. Bednar, <br />The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) understands that, at the public hearing regarding the <br />establishment of the proposed Orono Lake Improvement District (OLID), several residents living along 189th <br />Avenue NW, at the upstream end of Lake Orono, stated opposition to their properties being included in the OLID <br />boundary, and that the City of Elk River would like clarification from the DNR before the city makes its decision <br />regarding establishment of the OLID. Specifically, you requested that we confirm whether the properties along <br />189th Avenue NW are affected by the operation of the reservoir. <br />The DNR has concluded that the properties are in fact affected by the operation of the reservoir. Lake Orono is a <br />reservoir created by a dam on the Elk River, and without the dam the lake would not exist in its current <br />condition. Therefore, the DNR considers the upper extent of the reservoir to be the point at which the presence <br />of the dam stops exerting a discernible influence on water levels at low flow conditions. Fortunately, the DNR <br />has a hydraulic model for this stretch of water and we were able to use this model to determine what water <br />levels look like under existing conditions, and what the water levels would look like if the dam were removed. <br />Results indicate that the water levels abutting the properties on 189th Avenue NW would be significantly lower <br />without the dam. Therefore, the DNR considers the waterbody abutting these properties to be part of Lake <br />Orono. <br />If you have any further questions please feel free to give me a call at 651-259-5694. <br />Thinks, <br />Kathy Metzker <br />C: Jennifer Shillcox, DNR Land Use Programs Supervisor <br />James Bedell, DNR Area Hydrologist (Sherburne County) <br />Tom Hovey, DNR Water Regulations Unit Supervisor <br />Jason Boyle, DNR Dam Safety Program <br />Patrick Plant, Chair, Lake Orono Water Quality Committee <br />Christy Cox, President, Lake Orono Improvement Association <br />Calvin Portner, City Administrator <br />Brandon Wisner, Stormwater Coordinator, City of Elk River <br />Minnesota Department of Natural Resources • Ecological & Water Resources <br />Box 25, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN, 55155-4025 <br />