Watershed managers hold public meeting Feb. 8 on plans for Bone, Moody lakes

by DENISE MARTIN

The Comfort Lake-Forest Lake Watershed District Board has a work plan in place for 2012 that includes improving area lake fisheries and water quality.  One major project will be done this summer to benefit a couple of interconnected lakes:  Bone and Moody.

There will be an informational meeting presented by the Comfort Lake-Forest Lake Watershed District managers, Wednesday, February 8 to present fish barrier projects.  

The barriers are meant to prevent upstream migration of carp into Bone Lake and carp movement out of Bone into Moody Lake, as well as downstream carp migration after spawning.  

The informational meeting is at the Scandia Community Center.  It starts at 6:30 p.m.

The timetable has the CLFLWD managers following-up with ordering the project, Thursday February 23, during its regular managers’ monthly session.  Bids could be awarded in April.  Actual construction is anticipated later this coming summer.

The watershed district managers last week unanimously accepted the engineering report detailing fish barrier installation.  

The original consideration was for three barriers. This has been scaled back with the barrier at Moody Lake excluded. (See graphic)

The managers also agreed the Department of Natural Resources will do the “fish survey” (with nets and electric catch and release) in Moody Lake, to gather data on populations of desired and non-desired species.  

But, the Watershed District managers also agreed to keep the fish survey on its list of projects-- just in case the state agency can’t perform the survey during the preferred time period.  The district stands ready to do it, in order to complete the barrier project yet this year.

The survey also will help determine the success of bullhead harvest done in Moody Lake.  Engineer Lisa Tilman informed the managers that the survey will help the managers evaluate future in-lake sediment treatment options.  The treatment recommended at this point  is alum application to reduce phosphorus loading from sediment, but there has not been a final decision.  Chemical treatment of curly leaf pondweed in Moody Lake is also recommended but no action has been taken.

The Comfort Lake-Forest Lake Watershed Dist. is using a Conservation Partners Legacy Grant for the project.  The City of Scandia has granted access on land it owns on Bone Lake for the inlet barrier.  The outlet barrier will be in Washington county-owned right-of-way.

The project budget  of about $282,000 is covered by the grant.

Lake association plea

In other business last week the Forest Lake Association asked the CLFLWD to takeover vegetation management for all of Forest Lake.  Steve Schmaltz, association head, said members are “feeling over challenged” and he requested the managing of problem vegetation like curly leaf pondweed and flowering rush-- be put into the hands of an agency that has the technical expertise and funding needed.

See WORK PLAN/7.

The Comfort Lake-Forest Lake Watershed District Board has a work plan in place for 2012 that includes improving area lake fisheries and water quality.  One major project will be done this summer to benefit a couple of interconnected lakes:  Bone and Moody.

There will be an informational meeting presented by the Comfort Lake-Forest Lake Watershed District managers, Wednesday, February 8 to present fish barrier projects.  

The barriers are meant to prevent upstream migration of carp into Bone Lake and carp movement out of Bone into Moody Lake, as well as downstream carp migration after spawning.  

The informational meeting is at the Scandia Community Center.  It starts at 6:30 p.m.

The timetable has the CLFLWD managers following-up with ordering the project, Thursday February 23, during its regular managers’ monthly session.  Bids could be awarded in April.  Actual construction is anticipated later this coming summer.

The watershed district managers last week unanimously accepted the engineering report detailing fish barrier installation.  

The original consideration was for three barriers. This has been scaled back with the barrier at Moody Lake excluded. (See graphic)

The managers also agreed the Department of Natural Resources will do the “fish survey” (with nets and electric catch and release) in Moody Lake, to gather data on populations of desired and non-desired species.  

But, the Watershed District managers also agreed to keep the fish survey on its list of projects-- just in case the state agency can’t perform the survey during the preferred time period.  The district stands ready to do it, in order to complete the barrier project yet this year.

The survey also will help determine the success of bullhead harvest done in Moody Lake.  Engineer Lisa Tilman informed the managers that the survey will help the managers evaluate future in-lake sediment treatment options.  The treatment recommended at this point  is alum application to reduce phosphorus loading from sediment, but there has not been a final decision.  Chemical treatment of curly leaf pondweed in Moody Lake is also recommended but no action has been taken.

The Comfort Lake-Forest Lake Watershed Dist. is using a Conservation Partners Legacy Grant for the project.  The City of Scandia has granted access on land it owns on Bone Lake for the inlet barrier.  The outlet barrier will be in Washington county-owned right-of-way.

The project budget  of about $282,000 is covered by the grant.

Lake association plea

In other business last week the Forest Lake Association asked the CLFLWD to takeover vegetation management for all of Forest Lake.  Steve Schmaltz, association head, said members are “feeling over challenged” and he requested the managing of problem vegetation like curly leaf pondweed and flowering rush-- be put into the hands of an agency that has the technical expertise and funding needed.

See WORK PLAN/7.