November 13, 2019 CAC packet

Citizen Advisory Committee 7:00 PM, Wednesday, November 13, 2019 – Capitol Region Watershed District 595 Aldine Street, Saint Paul, MN 55104 Agenda

Materials Enclosed

7:00

I)

Welcome, Announcements, Updates, and Introductions

7:05

II)

Public Comment for Issues Not on the Agenda (3 minutes per person)

7:08

III)

Approval of the Agenda

7:09

IV)

Approval of Minutes A) Approval of the October 9, 2019 Minutes

7:10

V)

District Initiatives for Review, Comment and Recommendations A) Lake McCarrons Management Plan Update (Sellner) B) MAWD Annual Meeting

8:10

VI)

CAC Initiatives A) Service Learning Student Update (Lilly)

8:20

VII)

Project and Program Updates A) Watershed Steward Awards (Bromelkamp)

8:45

VIII) CAC Observer Update

8:50

IX)

Discussion A) New & Old Issues B) CAC Observer for November 20 and December 4, 2019 Board of Managers Meetings

9:00

X)

Adjourn

Our mission is to protect, manage and improve the water resources of Capitol Region Watershed District.

Citizen Advisory Committee Meeting Wednesday, October 9, 2019, 2019, 7:00 p.m.

CAC Members Present: Mary Lilly David Arbeit Bob Simonet Cheryl Braun Nicole Soderholm Gwen Willems Tom Elko Steve Duerre Michelle Ulrich

Others Present: Mark Doneux, CRWD Anna Eleria, CRWD Rachel Funke, CRWD Mary Van Sant, CRWD Mary Texter, Board Manager

Members absent: Mike MacDonald, excused I. Welcome, Announcements, and Updates Mr. Duerre opened the meeting at 7:03 p.m. Mr. Duerre asked for any announcements or updates. Mr. Doneux announced the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners has appointed Shawn Murphy to serve in Manager Reider’s position on the CRWD Board of Managers. Mr. Doneux expressed appreciation for Ms. Reider’s service with the District and hopes she will continue to be involved in helping the District carry out its mission and objectives in the future.

II. Public Comment for Issues Not on the Agenda Mr. Arbeit reminded staff that the microphone system in the meeting room should be accessible for use by CAC members as well as staff presenters.

III. Approval of Agenda Ulrich/Lilly Unanimously approved CAC 19-024 Motion: To approve the CAC October 9, 2019 agenda.

Arbeit/Soderhom 1

Unanimously approved IV. Approval of Minutes A. September 11, 2019 CAC Meeting Minutes Ms. Willems noted that she did not move to adjourn the meeting as stated in Item X. It was agreed that the minutes in Item X should be changed to read that “the meeting was adjourned by consensus.”

Willems/Simonet Unanimously approved CAC 19-025 Motion: To approve the September 11, 2019 CAC Meeting Minutes.

Unanimously approved V. District Initiatives for Review, Comment, and Recommendations A. BMP Inspection and Maintenance Update (Funke) Ms. Funke presented an overview and summary of CRWD inspections and results for Green Line and grantfunded BMP’s in the District. The District has constructed fourteen different BMP’s along seven side-streets adjacent to the Green Line to reduce pollutant loading and minimize stormwater runoff. According to CRWD’s 2019 Green Line BMP Performance Analysis, these best management practices have reduced stormwater volumes and pollutant loads by over 50%. The CRWD is responsible for maintenance of these BMP’s, inspecting each BMP on a monthly basis. CRWD contracts with a maintenance crew to perform frequent maintenance on a regular schedule that has varied from monthly to bi-weekly. In response to Mr. Arbeit’s question concerning maintenance contracts, Ms. Funke explained the District has an annual maintenance contract with Outdoor Lab, a consultant company that has been maintaining these BMP’s since their construction. The most frequent type of maintenance completed was annually contracted maintenance which includes weeding, trash, and sediment removal from the surface sumps – 72.0% of maintenance activities. Cleaning the catch basins was the next most frequent activity – 10.4%, and mulch replacement the least frequent correction – 2.4% of maintenance activities. Mr. Duerre asked about tree maintenance responsibility. Ms. Funke replied that the City of St. Paul is responsible for maintenance of the trees in the tree trenches along the Green Line. Ms. Funke noted the annual average maintenance costs for all rain gardens and stormwater planters have totaled $18,000, less than the original estimate. Ms. Willems added she was impressed with the overall lower cost of the BMP’s.

B. Watershed Management Plan: Goals and Objectives (Eleria) Ms. Eleria provided a review of the draft goals and objectives for the 2020 watershed management plan. The developed goals and objectives are subdivided into 8 categories. A goal is a general condition or state that the District wants to achieve in the 10-year plan. An objective will help the District achieve its goal but will be a task or activity to help the District achieve that goal. Ms. Eleria then reviewed each of the developed goals and objectives. She recognized that these goals are carryover form the District’s 2010 watershed management plan, as well as from new input. This draft will be updated, and the CAC will be reviewing a redraft in the future. Mr. Duerre commented that he thinks the draft is in good form already.

“Our mission is to protect, manage, and improve the water resources of the Capitol Region Watershed District.”

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VI. CAC Initiatives A. Service-Learning Student (Lilly) Ms. Lilly explained the service-learning student project is on hold at this time. Ms. Lilly will touch base for spring semester potential student projects.

VII. Project and Program Updates A. Master Water Stewards Update (Van Sant) Ms. Van Sant advised the CAC that applications for the Master Water Stewards program have closed.

The Board has approved six of the seven applications. The current class graduated October 8, 2019.

Managers Texter, Murphy and Saunders attended the ceremony, as well as staff member Lindsay Schwantes.

B. Social Media Update (Van Sant) Ms. Van Sant reviewed the District’s on-line presence. She noted that new blogs are posted twice a month.

Topics include District work, events, etc. Newsletter: The District re-launched its newsletter in September 2019 and is sent to 966 subscribers on the District’s email list. The District has expanded its online communications by increasing Facebook posts, Twitter and Instagram. Facebook: lists community events, two-to-three posts a week. The District has more than 150 followers on Instagram.

C. Grand Opening Update (Van Sant) Ms. Van Sant explained that the District’s Grand Opening Celebration for its new office building will be held on Friday October 11, 2019 from 3:00-7:00 p.m. Ribbon-cutting ceremony to take place at 4:00 p.m.

The District is looking for volunteers to attend at the registration table. A sign-up sheet was passed around for volunteer attendance.

VIII. CAC Observer Update Ms. Soderholm attended the September 18, 2019 Board meeting. Ms. Soderholm commented that at this meeting the Board reviewed draft goals and objectives for the District’s updated watershed management plan; approved a contractor for 2019 Boulevard raingarden projects; and adopted the District’s preliminary 2020 budget, for final 2020 budget adoption in December.

IX. Discussion A. New & Old Issues Mr. Doneux advised the CAC that the annual MAWD conference is coming up in December and that CAC members are welcome to attend (meeting held in Alexandria, Minnesota Dec. 5th – Dec. 7th. This year Mr. Doneux will be conducting a session on maintaining an active CAC. Mr. Doneux considers the CRWD CAC exemplary in the State of Minnesota and wants to highlight in this session what is working and what to “Our mission is to protect, manage, and improve the water resources of the Capitol Region Watershed District.”

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do to keep it working successfully. Attending CAC members at MAWD may be asked to participate as a panelist for this session.

B. CAC Observer for October 16 and November 6, 2019 Board of Managers Meetings Mr. Duerre volunteered to attend the Board’s October 16, 2019 meeting; Ms. Lilly volunteered to attend the Board’s November 6, 2019 meeting.

C. Grand Opening, October 11, 2019 The District’s Grand Opening for its new office building is scheduled for Friday October 11, 2019 from 3:00-7:00 pm. The ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at 4:00 p.m. Staff is looking for volunteers to help with the registration table. Ms. Lilly and Ms. Ulrich volunteered to help staff register and welcome attendees.

X. Adjourn CAC 19-026 Motion: To adjourn the October 9, 2019, CAC Meeting.

Soderholm/Elko Unanimously approved The meeting was adjourned at 9:05 PM. Respectfully submitted, Michelle Ulrich W:\05 Citizen Advisory Committee\Minutes\2019\October 9, 2019.doc

“Our mission is to protect, manage, and improve the water resources of the Capitol Region Watershed District.”

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November 13, 2019 CAC Meeting V. Lake McCarrons Management Plan Update (Sellner)

DATE: TO: FROM: RE:

November 08, 2019 CRWD Citizen Advisory Committee Joe Sellner, Water Resource Specialist Lake McCarrons Management Plan Update

Background In 2003, the District adopted its first Lake McCarrons Management Plan. The Plan has served the District and its partners well over the past 15 years and has guided work to allow Lake McCarrons to maintain high water quality.

Issues Staff have been working with Barr Engineering staff to draft a new Lake McCarrons Management Plan.

With the input of CRWD staff, an agency advisory group, and the public, a draft set of goals, objectives and potential management actions has been created. Staff will review the management plan development process, and the draft goals, objectives and management actions with the CAC. Action Requested Provide comment and feedback on the draft Lake McCarrons Management Plan goals, objectives, and management actions.

Enc.

Lake McCarrons Draft Management Plan Goals, Objectives, and Management Actions

W:\06 Projects\McCarrons\2019 Lake McCarrons Mgmt Plan\Board & CAC\CAC Memo LMMP Goals Objectives Actions 2019-11-13.docx

Our mission is to protect, manage and improve the water resources of Capitol Region Watershed District.

Draft Management Plan Goals, Objectives, and Management Actions Based on a review of the 2003 Lake McCarrons Management Plan, recent monitoring data, past

CRWD implementation activities and input from the Lake McCarrons Management Plan Agency Advisory Group, the following goals, objectives and actions were drafted for potential inclusion

in the 2020 Plan.

Goal 1: Maintain phosphorus and chloride concentrations below target levels in Lake McCarrons and reduce the water quality impact of other pollutants.

A. Maintain in-lake summer average TP epilimnetic concentration less than 33 µg/L. a. Continue bi-weekly in-lake water quality sampling.

B. Achieve subwatershed TP load target of X.

a. Develop subwatershed target phosphorus standards. (This will be done in 2019 as a part of the Lake McCarrons Plan modeling efforts.)

b. Manage the release of phosphorus from Villa Park Ponds. c. Identify and prioritize BMPs, where applicable.

C. Maintain summer average hypolimnetic TP concentration < 300 µg/L.

a. Reevaluate need for another alum treatment annually by reviewing hypolimnetic phosphorus concentrations.

b. Evaluate phosphorus concentrations in lake sediment cores every five years.

c. Alum application to inactivate sediment phosphorus when summer average hypolimnetic TP concentration exceeds 300µg/L.

D. Minimize the frequency of in-lake chloride concentrations exceeding 230 mg/L. a. Complete a chloride source assessment and prevention plan for the Lake McCarrons subwatershed.

b. Promote best winter deicing practices to the community.

c. Collaborate with agency partners to promote best deicing practices and support innovations in deicing methods.

d. Routinely monitor and analyze chloride concentrations in Lake McCarrons and at storm sewer outlets.

E. Reduce other non-point source pollutants to the lake (e.g. trash, sediment and bacteria). a. Coordinate efforts with Ramsey County and assign roles and responsibilities. b. Educate residents and promote best practices.

c. Conduct a shoreline inventory to determine the amount of shoreline suitable for lakescaping as well as the shoreline subject to erosion (Ramsey Soil and Water Conservation District).

d. Improve trash management within the immediate vicinity of Lake McCarrons.

e. Coordinate with community groups to develop a plan for reducing trash from the watershed.

Goal 2: Maintain a healthy, balanced aquatic ecosystem in Lake McCarrons.

A. Prevent the introduction of new aquatic invasive species (AIS) and mitigate the impacts of existing invasive populations.

a. Implement the Lake McCarrons AIS Plan.

b. Manage established AIS populations in accordance with Lake McCarrons AIS plan.

B. Maintain a healthy, balanced, aquatic plant community.

a. Develop and implement a lake vegetation management plan.

b. Conduct aquatic vegetation surveys at a minimum frequency of twice per year.

C. Create and maintain stable shoreline buffers around Lake McCarrons. a. Conduct shoreline assessment.

b. Provide cost share grants with Ramsey County and homeowners to improve shoreline buffers.

D. Assist the City of Roseville in determining where and when no-wake zones should be established in the lake.

a. Share lake level, bathymetric information and current science regarding the effect of boating on shoreline erosion (CRWD and Ramsey County Parks).

E. Maintain a balanced fishery.

a. See objectives 2A and 2C management actions.

b. Continue implementing the fisheries management plan for Lake McCarrons (MnDNR).

c. Develop long-term targets for balanced fishery.

d. Complete regular fish surveys every 2-3 years or as needed to determine species abundance and diversity.

Goal 3: Promote sustained community stewardship of Lake McCarrons and its watershed.

A. Target communication and education efforts toward Lake McCarrons community groups. a. Continue to provide educational materials and cost sharing for lakescaping to lakeshore owners.

b. Provide technical assistance to lakeshore owners.

c. Provide educational opportunities to McCarrons area residents on non-structural practices.

d. Support the community in implementing non-structural practices in the McCarrons watershed.

e. Develop educational resources about Lake McCarrons for school groups and f.

community groups.

Develop and install new educational signage around Lake McCarrons.

g. Incorporate art and other media as an alternative communication method of Lake McCarronâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s water quality.

B. Develop and encourage volunteer efforts to protect Lake McCarrons.

Goal 4: Reduce the risk of flooding to habitable structures and significant infrastructure surrounding Lake McCarrons and Villa Park.

A. Maintain the Lake McCarrons outlet.

a. Assign roles and responsibilities between Ramsey County and CRWD.

B. Identify the potential for homes and infrastructure flooding along the shoreline of Lake McCarrons and Villa Park during extreme storm events.

a. Complete hydrology and hydraulics watershed modeling and communicate results to Roseville and Ramsey County.

Goal 5: Support the recreational use of Lake McCarrons by achieving water quality and vegetation conditions consistent with the Lakeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s intended uses, including swimming, boating and fishing.

A. Maintain a variety of boating opportunities on Lake McCarrons. a. See objective 2D.

B. Maintain fishing opportunities in Lake McCarrons.

a. Continue implementing the fisheries management plan for Lake McCarrons (MnDNR).

b. See objectives in Goal 2.

c. Enhance and maintain existing fishing areas through habitat restoration projects in collaboration with the MnDNR and other partners.

C. Maintain conditions suitable for swimming in Lake McCarrons. a. See objectives 1A and 1E.

b. Expand areal extent of E. coli testing in Lake McCarrons.

c. Communicate beach closures due to unsafe bacteria levels (Ramsey County Parks).