Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout4 - Lake Review Committe Status Report AGENDA NUMBER: PREPARED BY: SUBJECT: DATE: INTRODUCTION: DISCUSSION: CENSUS '90 . 4 DAVID UNMACHT, CITY MANAGER PRESENT LAKE REVIEW COMMITTEE STATUS REPORT CHAIRMAN TOM WATKINS APRIL 2, 1990 In the fall of 1989, the City Council organized a Lake Review Committee. The City Council prepared a charge and directed Staff to implement the format1on of the committee. Subsequently, Tom Watkins was appointed Chairman, individuals were solicited to participate and Committee action began. The Committee's activities have been plenty. Numerous meetings have been held on a full Committee level and the membership has been broken down into four work groups or subcommittees. Those are Water Level, Water Quality, Water Use and Governance. Each subcommittee was directed to research specific topics of discussion and each group has been extremely active and aggressive in their efforts. Enclosed please find a copy of Draft 2 of the Lake Review Committee report dated March 8, 1990. The Table of Contents on page 2 of the Report breaks down the information provided into a Committee Charge, Executive Summary and Introduction, the four specific subcommittees, End Notes and Appendixes. IT IS IMPERITIVE TO POINT OUT THAT THIS REPORT IS ONLY A DRAFT FORM AND IS BEING PRESENTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL BECAUSE THE COMMITTEE IS NEARING THE FINALIZATION OF THE FINDINGS SECTION OF THE REPORT. The basics of the Report can be found in the various chapters and subcommittee presentations. The major component of the Report will be in Sections A, Findings; Section B, Conclusions; and Section C, Recommendations. At such time that the Findings, Conclusions and Recommendations are completed, the final draft of the Re~ort will be prepared, acted on by the Comm1ttee and presented to the Council. 4629 Dakota St. S.E.. Prior Lake, Minnesota 55372 / Ph. (612) 447-4230 / Fax (612) 447-4245 ACTION REQUIRED: Specific Committees~bave already reached the Conclusions and Recommendations stages on certain components of their activities, but not all Committee activities and findings have been researched and analyzed to the point that Conclusions and Recommendations are read~ to be provided. At this juncture the Comm1ttee anticipates to complete its work within the next two to four months. This would reduce the amount of time the Committee anticipates to complete it's work from one year to 9-10 months. On March 29 the subcommittee Chairman together with Staff, Tom Watkins and Co-Committee Chairman Doug Larson will be meeting to brainstorm on the Findings, to ascertain where committees are in their activities and to coordinate the remaining research to be conducted in preparation of the Conclusions and Recommendations components of the Report. Together with Chairman Tom Watkins, the subcommittee Chairmen have been invited to attend the Council Meetin9 along with other members of the Lake ReV1ew Committee. Tom Watkins will be presenting and reviewin9 this draft Report and commenting on the act1vities of the Committee to date. Because the Lake Review Committee has not acted formally on the Findings in this Report, the Lake Review Committee will not be asking the Council to take action. Simply s~eaking, the Lake Review Committee wants to br1ef the Council and the public on their work to date. .~. -LRCRPT- ... DRAft a... REPORT or THE CITY or PRIOR LAD LAXE REVIEW COMMITTEE March 8, 1990 To. Watkins, Chair City of Prior Lake 4629 Dakota street Prior Lab, 11M 55372 (612) 447-4230 .~:$-.1 iIJ.. TABLB or CONTENTS COMMITTEE CHARGE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY I NTROOUCf ION CHAPl'BR 1 - WATER LEVEL CHAPTER 2 - WATER QUALITY CHAPTER 3 - WATER USE CHAPTER 4 - GOVERNANCE END NOTES APPENDIX - SUPPLEMENTAL REPORTS 2 NEMBIRSHIP ay 8UBCOIOCIft_ WATER LEVBL Jon Falkow.ki - Chair Dave Vinlove - Co-chair David Bergeron Thoma. Loftu. Jerry Meysembourg Tom Schlick John Wingard Rob LaBandz John Packer Mike McAlpine Melvin Borchardt WATER USE Pete Schenck - Chair Richard Warner - Co-Chair Scott Carlson Jim Sent~z Bill Nevin Doug Larson Larry Killian John Andren Scott Donaldson WATD OOALI'l'Y Andrew Franklin - Chair Bruce Jandorf - CO-Chair David BrOOD Betty Brickson Mike Felix Dave Moran Jame. Space Fred Gordon GOVERNANCE George Kobla. - Chair Richard Hadley - Co-Chair Lee Andren France. Greenfield Pat Lynch Joe Rie. Leonard Pre.cott Rick AdaJ18 3 COMMITTlI CHARG. The lakes, .treams and watervay. located within the City ot Prior Lake, are it. principle natural resource. The City of Prior Lake is unique due to the existence of the water bodie. which are an integral component of the hi.tory, identification and growth of the c01lDlunity. The water resource. provide opportunities for people to collectively enjoy a sense of place ana to become part of a greater "Lake C01lJDunity." The Comprehensive Plan, and existing policies do not reference nor contemplate the significance of the natural vater resource. within the City boundaries. Further, with the exce~ion of the Shoreland Management component of the Zonin; Ordinance, Prior Lake Code fails to adequately address the lake., streams and waterways within the city. The elected otficial. and .taff of the City of Prior Lake, are pledged to visionary ~a:ning for the community. To that end, a long tera co_i t 6a. been established to preserve and improve the unique natural water features of the communit! which impact social and environmental factors making up the "Qua ity of Life" in Prior Lake. Therefore, in order that the waters within the city be appropriately managed, now and in the future and that the quality of the water resources be improved, the Prior Lake City Council hereby creates and appoint. a Lake aeview committee (LRC). The Charge of the LRC i. to define and e.tabli.h co..unity values relative to the lakes, streams and watercourse. in Prior Lake. The C01lDli ttee i. further charged to develop goal. and objectives based on the lake values, in order to develop proposed amendments to the Comprehensive Plan, Zoning Ordinance, and other jurisdictional controls which impact the water resource. of the community. The findings and recommendations of the LRC .hall become the basis for a comprehensive water resource management plan to be adopted by the city of Prior Lake. Future capital improvement expenditures, develop.ent and redevelo~nt proposals shall be evaluated, among other local control., in teraa of their impact on, or in relation to, the cOIIprehenaive water resource aanagement plan of the City ot Prior Lake. .. IXBCUTJ SUMMARY . . Th. .lev.n lak.., aultipl. vat.rvay.~ v.tlanda and .tr.... located vithin the corporate li.it. ot Prior Lake are the principl. natural resource ot the comaunity. The vater bodie. provide tre..ndoua opportunities tor vater-based recreation and unique residential envlronaent. tor people who choose to live in or vi.it the city. Up to now, r..ident. and bu.in...' bave be.n able to take for granted ~eir ability to use and enjoy the unique vater resource. ot the co_unity. However, it has beco.e apparent that the lake. and oth.r vater resource. ot Prior Lak. are deteriorating in several i.portant areas: * THE QUALITY or WATER IN AREA LADS IS DETERIORATING TO THE POINT THAT FISHERIES, AQUATIC VEGETATION AND WATER ClARITY ARE THREATENBD. * RECREATION ORIENTED SURFACE USE or THE LADS, CONTINUU TO INCREASE WHICH HAS CAUSED CONCERN' ABOUT CROWDING, LITTER AND SAFETY. * FLUCTUATING LAKE LEVELS ON UPPER AND LOWER PRIOR LAD CAUSE CONCERN ABOUT COMMUNITY IMAGE, REAL ESTATE VAWBS AND BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY. * CONTINUED RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT AOOACENT TO WATER RESOURCES HAS CAUSED CONCERN ABOUT PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE WATER BODIES. * THE ABSENCE or A COMPREHENSIVE LAKE MANAGEMENT POLICY HAS LED TO CONFUSION OVER WHICH, or A MULTITUDE or GOVERNMENT JURISDICTIONS, HAS REGUIATORY POWERS OVER WATER RESOURCES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. Unfortunately, vater resource .anagement has been fragmented and mainly oriented toward current issues and interests rather than long-term concerns. Water resources are managed to a li.ited degree by the City of Prior Lake: DNa; Corps of Engineers: MPCA; Prior Lake SprinC) Lake Watersbed District: Scott County, and Metropolitan Council. These governmental bodies frequently have conflicting goals and objectiv.s. Conflict. between sbort-term and long-tera interests are also common. To ensure that future generationa can enj oy the unique vater resources of th. c~unity the Water Use s~lttee r~.: * * * . 5 I , i TO anaure that vater ~ala a~ Level Subco..ittee reca.aend8. .anaged in the future, the Lake * * * * To improve local governance and long-term planning for the use and protection of water resources in the community the Governance Subcommittee recommends: * * * * To improve the quality of water of the lakes of Prior Lake, the Water Quality Subcommittee recommends: * * * . , i- i IMTRODUCTIOR Resident. of Prior Lake enjoy the lake. and water re.ource. available to th_ in the co_unity. They utili.. water re.ource. for boating .vi..i~, fi.bing, bunting and to live adjacent to their .horellne.. Prior Lake offer. tre.endous opportunity for residential and recreational develop.ent assoclated vith the abundance of public vater. within the community. However, the situation on local lakes is changing. Surface use of the lake. continues to grow, leading so.e to feel that the lakes are becoming overcrowded and unsafe. The vater ~ality of the lake. i. threatened and water level fluctuation. cau.e concern about community image and real estate values. Lakeshore. throughout the community are being developed and redeveloped, causing a concern about public access ana use of the lakes and their respective shoreland. The lakes of Prior Lake have been developed and used according to fragmented policies entorced by multiple juriSdictions. The sporadic segmented approacb to lake management is the result of the absence of a comprehensive lake manage.ent policy. out of the multitude of lake management agencies, not one has been charged with the overall responsibility for co..unity lake.. The Lake Review Co..ittee examined current water resource issues and then looked ahead to the future of the lakes and water vay. wi thin the communi ty. The overall goal is to develop recommendations for policy changes in local ordinances in order to ensure future use and enjoyaent of water resource. for the future. To this end, the Lake Review Comaittee has been divided into four distinct subcommittees with each charged vith making recommendations on specitic lake management issues. Chapter 1 of this report examines vater level issues such as seepage, ponding areas, outlet operation, aquiter, navigation and ground water augmentation ot lake levels. Chapter 2 examines water quality issues such as the relationship between land use and water quality, chemical tactors which lmpact water quality, develop.ent ot permanent aonitoring .yst_, fisherie., aDd aquatic vegetation. Chapter 3 revievs issu.. related to vater use such as ~lic acce.s, satety, enforceaent, fish bous_, fiShing, boating and swi_iftCJ public .arinas and vater skiing.Chapter 4 discusses governance Issues related to vater aanageaent and regulation across various jurisdictions. 7 ~v- . .;: DRAFT CHAPrD l IfATBR LlVBL In thi. Chapter, the Water Level 8ubco..lttee .tu41ed varloua issue. which directly and indirectly i.pact vater level Oil the lake of Prior Lake. A. FINDINGS ON LAD LEVEL POR TIm LAD or PRIOR LAD 1. THE USB or THE PUMP '1'0 AUGMBMT IAD LEVELS lIAS BUN RESTRICTED BY ACTIONS or THB on, PRIXARILY, TBI U8ULT or THE CURRENT DROUGHT CONDITIONS I1f KI1fHI8OTA. 2. THIRI EXISTS SEVERAL ALTERNATIVES POR AUGMIN'l'ING LOCAL LAD LEVELS WHICH REQUIRE FURTHER BXAMINATIOR AS TO THEIR PRACTICALITY AND FEASIBILITY. 3. NO PLAM EXISTS FOR THE MANAGEMENT or THB OPTIMAL lAD LEVEL IN PRIOR LAD. 4. OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE POR WATER LEVEL ISSUES SUCH AS ROCX REMOVAL, BAY IMPACT, AND NAVIGATION HAVE NOT BEEN ADEQUATELY EVALUATED OR ADDRESSED. 5. INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE FROM SOURCES WHICH CAN REASONABLY MEASURE THE VOWME or WATER WHICH EN'l'IRS THE WATERSHED ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. 6. ACTUAL ANNUAL MOISTURE CONTENT CONTRIBUTING TO THE LAD LEVEL VARIES WITH THE AMOUNT or RAINFALL AND RUNorr, COUPLED BY THE AMOUNT or EVAPORATION. 7. NO COMPREHENSIVE LAKE MANAGEMENT MODEL IS AVAILABLE FOR PRIOR LAD. 8. COMPREHENSIVE LAD SEEPAGE STUDIES DO NOT EXIST FOR PRIOR LAKE, AND RECENT SINGLE AREA STUDIES HAVE PROVEN INFORMATIONAL, BUT NOT CONCLUSIVE ON SEEPAGE IMPACTS. 9. AN OUTLET MANAGEMENT POLICY AND OPERATING PROCEDURES PLAM IS IN EFFECT AS APPROVED BY THE PRIOR lAKE/SPRING LAD WATERSHED DISTRICT IH AUGUST OF 1987. 10. TIll JORDAN AQUIFER IS THE MAIN WATER BODY FOR PRIOR LAD'S WATER SYSTEM. PRIOR LAD/SPRDIG LAD WATERSHED DISTRICT'S ACl'IONS ON LAD MANAGBIIBIIT IMPACT TBI RECHARGING OF THE AQUIna. B. CONCLUSIONS ON WATER LEVEL C. RECOMMENDATIONS ON WATER LBVBL 8 I I ~. DRAFT CHAPTD 2 WATIR QUALITY In this Chapter! the Water Quality Subco..ittee .tudied .everal issue. which .pact the water quality of vater resource. in the cOJlDlunity. A. FINDINGS ON WATER QUALITY 1. BOAT MOTORS AND SPEED LIMITS ARB PHYSICAL FACTORS WHICH REDUCE LAX! WATER QUALITY BY CBURMING UP LUB BOTTOM SEDIMENTS. 2 . LOCAL ORDINANCES FAIL TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION FOR WETLAND AREAS AND DESILTATION BASINS NEEDED TO MAINTAIN WATER QUALITY WITHIN COMMUNITY LAKES. 3 . SHALLOW CHANNEIB, BAYS AND INLI'1'8 ARB SOURCBS or SEDIMENT PROBLEMS IN TIMBS or LOW WATER. TIIB NAVIGATION OF BOATS THROUGH SHALLOW AREAS DISTURBS LUB BOTTOM SEDIMENTS. 4 . WATER QUALITY IS THREATENED DURING WINTER MONTHS BECAUSE FEW PUBLIC TOILET FACILITIES ARB AVAILABLE FOR USI NEAR THE LAXES. 5. THE USE OF COMMERCIAL PHOSPHORUS BASED LAWN FERTILIZERS NEGATIVELY AFFECTS WATER QUALITY BY CONTRIBUTING TO AU:AE AND NOXIOUS WEED GROWTH AND PROLIFERATION. 6. THE USE OF ROAD SALT NEGATIVELY QUALITY . 7. THERE IS NO SYSTEMATIC WATER MONITORING PROGRAM ESTABLISHED TO SAMPLE PHOSPHATES, NITRATES, DISSOLVED OXYGEN LEVEIB, CHLOROPHYLL, DISSOLVED SOLIDS AND WATER CLARITY OF COMMUNITY LUB8. APFECTS WATER 8 . THE FISHERIES MANAGEMEN'l' PROGIWI FOR TIIB COJIIIUlIITY IS INADEQUATE IN TERMS or rISB STOClaJIC, BSTABLISBBD rISB SPAWNING AREAS AND REMOVAL or ROUGH PISB POPUUUORS. 9. THERE IS INADEQUATB PUBLIC IMPORMATIOII AVAILULI AT PUBLIC BOAT LAUNCHING SITES TO WAlUI 8OA'l'BRS OP BURASIU WATER MILPOIL AND PURPLB LOOSBSTRIR DlPBSTM'I~. 10. WEED REMOVAL PROII PRIVATE BBACH AREAS 18 DlADBQUATBLY MONITORED. t 11. THERE 18 A LACK 0' PUBLIC INPORMATIOII PROCIWI8 ESTABLISHED TO EDUCATI TIIB PUBLIC ABOU'1' WA'l'D QUALIft 1M THB COMMUNITY. . . B. CONCWSIONS ON WATER QUALITY C. RECOMMENDATIONS ON WATER QUALITY 10 DRAFT CHAP'l'BR 3 WATER OSI In this chapter, the Water U.e Subco..ittee exaained pattern. and trends in recreational u.. of the lak.., .urface u.. contlict. and their consequence. and control. on .urface u... A. FINDINGS ON WATER USB 1. PRIOR AND SPRING IAXES ARB PUBLIC WATERS THAT ARB USBD BY A MULTITUDE OF GROUPS FOR VARIOUS AClIVB AND PASSIVE RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES. 2. THERE IS A PUBLIC CONCERN THAT SAFETY BB MAINTAINED ON LOCAL LAXES HOWEVER, THE SOURCE OF SPECIFIC SAFETY PROBLEMS HAS NOT YET BEEN DEFINED. 3 . EXISTING WATER MARKERS AND BUOYS DO NOT ADEQUATELY HIGHLIGHT HAZARDOUS AREAS. INADEQUATE MARKING JEOPARDIZES SAFETY ON LOCAL LAKES. 4. A FULL SERVICE MARINA IS NEEDED TO ACCOMMODATE RECREATIONAL WATER VESSELS AND TO SERVICE THE NEBDS OF LAD RESIDENTS. 5. WATER SKIING IS A PROMINENT RECREATION USE ON PRIOR AND SPRING LAKES. 6. A MULTITUDE OF INDIVIDUALS HAVE ACCESS TO THE LAKES VIA HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATIONS. THERE IS NO CURRENT INFORMATION AVAIIABLE ON THE IMPACl, NUMBER AND TYPE OF USES WHICH ARE OWNED AND OPERATED BY NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS. 7. LADS ARE HEAVILY USED BY SKIERS, FISBERIIEH AND 0"....1U51( BOAT OPERATORS. TIIB DIVERSITY 0.. WATERCRAFT USB ON PRIOR AND SPRING LUES KAY POSE SAFETY PROBLEMS UD USB CONFLICTS FOR PBOPLI OSING IAD RESOORCBS. B. CONCWSIONS OR WATER USE C. RECOMMENDATIONS ON WATER OSE ..... 11 DRAF'T CHAPTER 4 GOVERNANCI In this chapter the Governanc. Subcomaitt.e reviewed i..u.. related to water resource governance and regulation. A. FINDINGS ON GOVERNANCB 1. LOCAL ORDINANCES ARE INCONSISTENT AND OR DBFICIBNT IN ADDRESSING DEVELOPMENT or AND AROUND WATER RESOURCES or THE COMMUNITY. 2 . THE MULTITUDE OF WATER RESOURCE REGULATORY AGENCIES CAUSE CONFUSION OVER WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ENFORCEMENT AND REGULATION OF COMMUNITY WATER RESOURCES. 3 . LAND USE AnJACENT TO WATER RESOURCBS IS PREDOMINANTLY RESIDENTIAL. OTHER USES SUCH AS COMMERCIAL, OR PUBLIC SPACE SHOULD BE REVIEWED TO DETERMINE WHETHER SUCH DEVELOPMENT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL OR DETRIMENTAL TO THE WATER RESOURCES or PRIOR lAD. 4 . ISLAND DEVELOPMENT AND USE IS NOT ADEQUATELY REGULATED BY PRIOR LAKE ORDINANCES. 5. REVISED SHORELAND MANAGEMENT RULES MAY OR MAY NOT BE CONSISTENT WITH THE WATERS or THE COMMUNITY AND MAY NEED MODIFICATION TO PROTECT THE UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS OF LOCAL WATER RESOURCES. 6. THE RECOMMENDATIONS or THE METROPOLITAN LAKES MAHAGBMENT COMMITTEE MAY OR MAY NOT BE ENTIRELY APPLICABLE 1'0 THE WATER RESOURCE ISSUES or PRIOR lAD AND KAY REQUIRE MODIFICATION WHERE INCONSISTENCIES OCCUR. 7. A COORDINATBD PUBLIC AWARENESS PROGRAM IS 110'1' AVAIUBLB TO INFORM CITIZENS or WATER RESOURCB ISSUBS AHD TO ENLIST COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR WATER MAHAGBIIENT PRACTICES D THE COMMUNITY. 8. FUNDING SOURCES FOR WATER MANAGEMENT PROJBCTS, SUCH AS DREDGING, ROCIt REMOVAL, SURFACE WATER BIIPORCBMBIft' ARB FRAGMENTID AND KAY BB IHADBQUATI. 12 9. THB PRIOR IAD COMPREHENSIVE PLU 18 DlrICID'l' IN ." ADDRESSING WATER MANAGEMENT ISSUIS SUCII AI LAND USI, PUBLIC WALlING AND VIEWING ACCESS AND PUTURI PLANNING TO ENSURE THAT THE "PUBLIC WATER RESOURCIS" AU AVAIlABLE POR ENJOYIIEHT 8Y ALL RESIDENTS or THE COMMUNITY. 10. THERE IS INADEQUATE PLANNING FOR TIll PUTURI or WATER RESOURCES WITHIN TIll SPRING LAD ORDERLY ANNEXATION AREA 8. CONCWSIONS ON GOVERNANCE C. RECOMMENDATIONS ON GOVERNANCE 13