---

Next week is your chance to have some input on the Chisago Lakes Lake Improvement District's upcoming work plan and budget.

Conclusions presented in the 2006 chain of lakes water quality monitoring summary will be discussed at the Lake Improvement District's annual meeting Monday, August 6, 7 p.m. at the Government Center in Center City.

The status of North and South Center Lakes is not improving. These consistently rate as having the worst water quality of the seven lakes in the LID.

The Lake Improvement District or LID is a special taxing area that basically encompasses property from Little Lake, northeast of Center City, to Green Lake in Chisago City and the immediate adjoining watershed.

If your property lies within the LID there is a line on your property tax statement that specifies the tax you contribute.

In past years high lake levels have motivated people to attend the annual LID meeting-- but with the lack of local rainfall, lake levels probably won't be a hot topic. Past agenda items have also touched on Eurasian water milfoil controls and funding, questions about the lake lowering system, ditch maintenance, etc.

Water quality measurements have been taken on the Chisago chain of lakes for 13 years. The main goal of this monitoring is to develop lake management plans that protect, maintain and enhance the lakes' water quality, according to the study summary booklet.

In the 2006 study the data gathered on North and South Center basins showed the highest levels of phosphorus and least clarity of all the lakes the LID oversees.

North Center is at 57 parts per billion of total phosphorus and South Center is at 52 ppb. Chlorophyll counts are also high for these two lakes-- 63 ppb and 47 ppb respectively.

The monitoring report shows North Lindstrom at 23 ppb in phosphorus and 47 ppb chlorophyll. South Lindstrom is next "best" in water quality at 31 total phosphorus and chlorophyll count at 22 ppb.

North and South Lindstrom also rated well on the clarity check. Using a Secchi disc, the person recording the data lowers the disc into the water on a weighted chain and the depth at which the disc can no longer be observed is recorded.

The clarity on most of the chain of lakes was over six feet.

North and South Center lake clarity disappeared at under four feet.

Other data in the 2006 study released this spring:

~ South Center is the second biggest lake in the LID at 1,003 acres. Green Lake is largest at 1,940 acres.

~ South Center has the deepest spot measured at 109 feet. All others are 29 to 46 feet maximum depth. Green Lake is the deepest on "average" at 19 feet deep.

~ Best water clarity (three month summer average) is being recorded on Big Green and North and South Lindstrom lakes.

~ Phosphorus concentration in most of the chain of lakes is above regional average.

The data collection costs are covered by the LID and are done in the field by Steve McComas, limnologist with Blue Water Science; Pat Collins, Chisago Lakes science teacher and Jeff Angel, of the Chisago Lake-Lindstrom Lake Association, working with various volunteers.

What is it

The LID is not to be confused with area lake "associations." A district is set up by specific boundaries and uses property taxes to support a budget created by district board members. The district boards are appointed by elected officials.

There are lake associations within the LID area. These consist usually of lakeshore property owners and others concerned with their lake and they generate their own funds, commonly through dues, etc.

The Comfort Lake Association, North and South Center Lakes Assoc., Chisago-Lindstrom Assoc. and Green Lake Assoc. basically operate independently, although some of these associations get some financial support from city government.

There's a Rush Lake Improvement Assocation and there's also a Friends of the Sunrise River group working on water quality issues.

Lastly, in the southwest corner of the county is the Forest Lake-Comfort Lake Watershed District. It is headquartered in Forest Lake and does collect property taxes from parcels within its boundary. Members to this Board are appointed by county commissioners in Washington County and Chisago County.

---