Annual Meeting

Greetings!

We had our annual meeting last week with a presentation by Rice Creek Watershed District (RCWD) and Steve McComas of Blue Water Science.  Thanks to everyone in attendance.  Glad you could make it.

Tom Weyandt was nice enough to record meeting minutes.  The following is from Tom, with minor edits by me.

Bald Eagle Area Association Annual Meeting    2-5-15

Approximately 25 members were present.

President Jim Moore announced that an attempt will be made to control purple loosestrife on the lake using beetles collected from a wetland near Highway 96 and White Bear Parkway and chemicals for smaller areas.  We may be looking for volunteers to assist with the treatment.

Rice Creek Watershed District represented by Matt Kocian and Jessica Bromelkamp

1. Alum Treatment first application completed successfully.  Life expectancy of the treatments is 20 years with dramatic increases in length if phosphorous additions to the lake are cut.  It could extend to 50-100 years depending on how significant the phosphorous additions are cut.
2. A second Alum application will be done in 2016, with the expectation the it will extend the life of the full treatment.
3. Phosphorus and Chlorophyll A are below maximum limits for first time in recorded history.  Secchi disc reading mean was 1.7 meters.
4. Aquatic Invasive Species - 92 acres treated for Curly-leaf pondweed with a cost of $30,600.  Small patch of flowering rush found on the northwest side of the lake north of the West Oaks dock and mechanically removed by RCWD.  No zebra mussels found yet in the lake.
5. Oneka Ridge Golf Course project completed and will be operational in 2015
6. Dam Replacement will likely take place in late 2015.

Rain Garden assistance with design and up to 50% funding are available from the RCWD.

Steve McComas - Blue WaterScience

1. Explained the survey methods for determining locations and density of Curly-leaf pondweed patches and described treatment.
2. Advised that there was a bit of an increase in natural vegetation in the lake and how he expects it to expand from current 8 foot max depth to 11 or 12 feet in the next few years.
3. Explained that there will be a period of increased vegetation in the water due to the increased water clarity.  There will be a 2 -3 year cycle to this and then eventually equilibrium will return with expectations that the vegetation will be less robust.