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Request for Action <br />To <br />Item Number <br />Mayor and City Council <br />10.2 <br />Agenda Section <br />Meeting Date <br />Prepared by <br />Work Session <br />October 3, 2022 <br />Suzanne Fischer, Environmental/ Special Projects Director <br />Item Description <br />Reviewed by <br />Lake Orono Aquatic Plant Control <br />Patrick Plant, OLID Chair <br />Reviewed by <br />Cal Portner, City Administrator <br />Action Requested <br />Discussion. <br />Background/Discussion <br />Under Minnesota law, aquatic plants growing in public waters are the property of the state. Because of their value <br />to the lake ecosystem, they may not be destroyed or transplanted unless authorized by the DNR Commissioner as <br />stipulated in the Aquatic Plant Management Rules. <br />Some aquatic plants are not native and may cause problems as can the overgrowth of native plants. Control of <br />aquatic plants may be done to reduce interference with boating or swimming, to reduce the risk of spread <br />of invasive species to uninfested waterbodies, or in some situations, to attempt to produce ecological benefits such <br />as increases in other desirable native plants and to improve water quality. <br />MN Statute 103G.625 states the governing body of a municipality or town may expend funds for the control or <br />destruction of harmful or undesirable aquatic vegetation or organisms (e.g., Zebra mussels) in public waters and <br />may cooperate with other governing bodies and landowners in the control or destruction. <br />In June of 2022, 36 acres of the lake was successfully treated for control of non-native Curly -leaf pondweed. In <br />recent years, there has been a noticeable increase in native Water Stargrass (Heteranthera dubia), a submersed <br />grass -like plant. Following are the Water Stargrass finding results from all lake Point -Intercept Surveys: <br />• July 26, 2017 = 23 points (low density) <br />• July 21, 2018 = 35 points (low density) <br />• July 25, 2019 = 45 points (low density) <br />Financial Impact <br />N/A <br />Mission/Policy/Goal <br />Water Quality Protection. <br />Attachments <br />• July 21, 2020 = 61 points (moderate density) <br />• July 22, 2021 = 80 points (moderate density) <br />• July 19, 2022 = 93 points (high density) <br />MN Statute 103G.625 - Municipal Control of Aquatic Vegetation & Organisms <br />Lake Management Plan (2023 budget) <br />The Elk River Vision <br />A welcoming community with revolutionary and spirited resourcefulness, exceptional <br />service, and community engagement that encourages and inspires pi ospei ly. <br />M <br />TUREJ <br />Updated.• August 2020 <br />