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0 <br />U <br />z <br />W <br />m <br />wsb <br />Memorandum <br />To: City of Elk River <br />From: Luke Lunde, PSS <br />Pete Willenbring, PE <br />Date: May 15, 2020 <br />Re: Feasibility Lake Orono Restoration and Enhancement Project Report <br />WSB Project No. 015125-000 <br />1.0 INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND <br />This report provides background information on and discusses the feasibility of undertaking the <br />proposed Lake Orono Restoration and Enhancement Project (LORE). <br />The project generally includes removing accumulated sediment and installing habitat <br />improvements in six aquatic habitat zones that cover approximately 55 acres of the lake. These <br />improvements are also intended to improve navigation, recreation and wildlife habitat in the basin, <br />as well as maintain and enhance game fish populations. <br />The project will also include construction of a sediment catch basin area at the upper west portion <br />of the lake to capture incoming sediment before it reaches the main body of the lake, and allow <br />for the periodic removal of sediment from this area when needed to continue to protect the main <br />body of the lake from accelerated sedimentation. It is anticipated that if sediment is removed <br />from this area every 10 years, the rate of sedimentation in other areas of the lake will be reduced <br />and only limited sediment removal from areas within the main body of the lake will be needed for <br />up to 30 years. <br />The project is expected to have a positive impact on native fish, wildlife and aquatic plant <br />communities. There will also be improvements in water quality/clarity, increased dissolved oxygen <br />levels (deeper water), reduction in curly leaf pondweed and improved fish habitat via toe wood, <br />sunken islands, and rock spawning beds. <br />1.1 Data Available <br />Information and materials used in the preparation of this report include the following: <br />• City of Elk River Dam Record Plans. <br />• Lake Orono 2011 Sediment Depth Assessment completed by Wenck Engineering <br />• Lake Orono 2017 Macrophyte Survey completed by Wenck Engineering <br />• Lake Orono 2018 Sediment Depth Assessment completed by WSB <br />• Field Observations of the Area and Discussions with City Staff <br />• Lake Orono 2020 Bathymetric Survey of Proposed Dredging Locations <br />