Mike Kinney Administrator/M.S. 44 Lake Street South, Suite A 651.395.5855 Forest Lake, MN 55025 Michael.Kinney@clflwd.org

April 23, 2020 Administrator’s Report Page 1 of 7

TO: Comfort Lake-Forest Lake Watershed District (CLFLWD) Board of Managers DATE: April 16, 2020 RE: District Administrator’s Report for the April 23rd Regular Board Meeting

Administration (1000 series)

• 1001 – Board Administration o Despite the effects of COVID-19, the District Board of Managers continues to stay

busy with five board meetings in March and another five in April. Meetings included two regular meetings per month, emergency meetings in response to COVID-19, workshops for the District’s workload analysis, and workshops for the District’s watershed management plan update.

o Staff are working with the District Payroll Accountant to provide Managers with online access to their per diem paystubs.

• 1003 – General Administration o Staff, managers, District Accountant and District Auditor met on April 2nd to review

the results of the 2019 audit. The auditor will present its findings at the April 23rd board meeting, and staff will recommend acceptance of the report.

Programs (3000 series)

• 3002 – Permitting o See Permitting Update attachment for updates. o Jason Kuennen drafted a permit inspection schedule that should give coverage to

all high-risk sites once per week and all lower-risks sites every two weeks. The schedule was evaluated and approved by Abigail and myself with the caveat that the schedule is not ironclad, to allow for adaptive responses to weather events or other site issues.

o Trey coordinated with Abigail to assist her in completing the permit program update.

o Trey began regular inspections at Liberty Ponds to assist Jason. o Abigail completed a review of all permits issued in 2019 and has set up meetings

with Trey and Jason to address inconsistencies related to database tracking and permit issuance. The meetings will also cover the implementation of improved tracking system.

• 3003 – Monitoring and Data Assessment

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o Staff is coordinating with MnDNR and EOR to establish lake elevation gages on 14 lakes this spring. EOR will install all gages as the DNR is currently not allowed such field

work and the staff gages are needed for current monitoring efforts. o Staff is finalizing plans for the DIY and CAT monitoring efforts in the JD6, Heims

Lake, Forest Lake Third basin, and Bone Lake drainage. Monitoring is scheduled to begin in mid-April with samples kept frozen until the IO Rodeo technology is sufficiently upgraded. Staff working on upgrading the IO Rodeo technology to detect a finer range

of Ortho-phosphorus concentrations. o Letters were sent out to all landowners near EOR monitoring sites for the 2020 filed

season. The letters informed the landowners of ongoing monitoring activities near or on their property.

o Due to Governor Walz’s extension of the stay-at-home order, the Metropolitan Council has suspended the delivery of supplies and all CAMP monitoring until at least May 3rd. Staff has communicated this delay to the District’s CAMP volunteers and will keep them updated as the situation unfolds.

• 3004 – Non-Point Source Pollution Abatement (Cost-Share) o Jason Kuennen has been in contact with Citizen Advisory Committee member Tom

Furey and John Goodfellow, Forester with Marine on Saint Croix, regarding the Bone Lake Gravel Bed initiative. Mr. Furey created a draft mailer to gauge interest in the program from Bone Lake homeowners which is Jason is reviewing. Mr. Goodfellow sent example photos and some specifications for the Marine on St. Croix gravel bed to help guide our process.

• 3005 – Education and Outreach o Annual Report: Staff hasn’t received any comments on the draft 2019 Annual

Report since discussion at the March 26th meeting. With finalization of the 2019 audit and water monitoring reports this month, we will recommend approval and finalization of the Annual Report at the April 23rd meeting.

o Jessica participated in a videoconference on the topic of “Education Adaptation during the stay-at-home order” convened with education staff from local Watershed Districts and Watershed Management Organizations. The group plans to convene every month or so to share resources and provide each other with tips and tricks for continuing education and outreach during these uncertain times.

o Jessica has been working to increase the District’s online presence since our physical presence throughout the District has been reduced. Her initial focus has been on making sure residents know how to join in on the virtual board meetings, sharing online educational opportunities, and reminding the public that while our office is closed District staff are still hard at work.

o Jessica attended the Minnesota Lakes & Rivers (MLR) webinar on “One Watershed-One Plan, How Lake Advocates Can Engage” on April 15th. The informational webinar featured Julie Westerlund of the Board of Water and Soil

March 26, 2020 Administrator’s Report Page 3 of 7

Resources presenting on the One Watershed One Plan (1W1P) program and “how you can get involved in developing ten-year plans to restore and protect local water resources”. The recording of this webinar can be found here: http://www.anymeeting.com/PIID=EE54D885864A3F More info on upcoming MLR webinars: http://www.mnlakesandrivers.org/mlr-webinar-series

o Events April 23rd - Landscaping for Wildlife Workshop: Get ideas for creating and

nurturing habitat on your land to attract wildlife and protect local water resources. This webinar is hosted in partnership with the WCD, RCWD, City of Hugo, and the Washington County Library. Learn more and register: http://www.mnwcd.org/events/2020/4/23/landscaping-for-wildlife-hugoforest-lake

April 28 – Planting for Pollinators: Learn about how you can plant for pollinators, protect water quality, and receive funding for your own project. This webinar is hosted by Blue Thumb. Learn more and register: http://www.mnwcd.org/events/plantingforpollinators0428

o Publications The day the kingdom rested by Angie Hong. Published online March 27,

2020. https://eastmetrowater.org/2020/03/27/the-day-the-kingdom-rested/ Do’s and Don’ts of spring gardening by Angie Hong. Published online

April 2, 2020. https://eastmetrowater.org/2020/04/02/dos-and-donts-of-spring-gardening/

500 frogs a croaking by Angie Hong. Published online April 9, 2020. https://eastmetrowater.org/2020/04/09/500-frogs-a-croaking/

More articles by Angie Hong available online at https://eastmetrowater.org/

• 3006 – Technical Resource Sharing and Interagency Communication o 3006F Watershed Management Plan (WMP) Update: On April 14th and 16th the

District held two “issues identification” virtual workshops to review pertinent watershed issues, goals and priorities. Discussion topics included: Lakes, Streams, Wetlands, Groundwater, Upland Resources, and Aquatic Invasive Species. Attendees included board members, staff, EOR, and various partners with technical expertise on each topic. Three more workshops will be held in May/June to discuss remaining issue areas including Stormwater Management, Floodplain, Resiliency Planning, Public Education, Interagency Communication, Monitoring and Data Acquisition, Issues of Emerging Concern, and other issues not addressed in previous workshops that may arise.

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o Workload Analysis & Visioning: This effort will run parallel to the WMP update. Each topic will be tied to the other since staffing needs are largely dependent on District priorities/goals/objectives etc. A board workshop was held with Houston Engineering on April 8th. A second board workshop will be scheduled sometime the last week of April; staff is currently coordinating with managers to decide a date/time. The third workshop, which will be attended by staff instead of the board, will occur a few weeks after the second board workshop.

o Mike shared a copy of the District’s 2020 staff work plan with a few other watershed district administrators.

• As part of the WMP updates and the Workload Analysis effort, Mike has asked staff to start developing measurable metrics for all aspects of the District’s efforts beyond what is currently in our annual Progress Report. As such, it could become a model for all other entities involved in water management efforts in MN. 3007 – Research

o Claros Technologies is working to produce additional phosphorus absorbing material for future deployment in the basin. EOR is coordinating this effort. COVID-19, however, has currently slowed progress since their current facility to produce this material is located on the U of M campus.

• 3008 – Measurement of Progress o Progress Report: Staff has received comments on the draft 2019 Progress Report

from one manager so far. Staff has made the associated modifications to the report and will recommend approval and finalization of the report at the April 23rd meeting.

• 3009 – Grant Research and Preparation o Clean Water Fund: Staff submitted work plans to eLINK for the District’s two

FY20 grants: Washington Judicial Ditch 6 Iron Enhanced Sand Filter and Sunrise River Drained Wetland Restoration. As a reminder, on 2/26 the board adopted resolution 20-02-01 authorizing the board president to sign the grant agreement. It has since been signed and sent to the Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR). Once BWSR approves the work plans, it will then sign the grant agreement and the District will receive the first 50% payments for each grant.

o AIS Grants: The District received eight grants for aquatic invasive species (AIS) prevention and management this year (three from Washington County, five from MnDNR). Staff recently finished executing all of the grant agreements, and all projects are now active.

o CWF Grant Reconciliation: Staff is in the final stage of working with BWSR to complete a reconciliation (i.e. regularly scheduled audit) of the FY18 Moody Lake Alum Treatment Clean Water Fund grant.

• 3010 – Operations and Maintenance o Staff will be checking and maintaining the Bixby Weir and Bone Lake Fish barrier

in Mid-April. o EOR is coordinating with the FHGC on the O&M of the Shield Stormwater Reuse

System.

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• 3011 – Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention and Management o Blue Water Science has communicated to staff that they are on track to start CLP

delineations for the District this Spring, despite the current COVID-19 situation. o Garrett attended the online Metro Watercraft Inspection Coordination Meeting on

April 2, 2020. Several staff from other LGUs were in attendance, as well as Christine Hokkala-Kuhns from the Minnesota DNR. Discussion primarily focused on how to operate the watercraft inspection program amidst the COVID-19 situation. Currently, the DNR is still having internal discussion about their plan for the 2020 watercraft inspection program. As of April 15th, no season start dates or training dates have been announced by the MN DNR.

o On April 15th, Garrett sent interview invites to 7 applicants for the watercraft inspection position. Interviews are anticipated to take place during the week of April 20th.

o The District has purchased 4 new tablets for the watercraft inspection program to minimize the exchanging of equipment between inspectors.

o Staff has reviewed and is working to finalize the Purple Loosestrife Management Plan by the end of April.

o Garrett has drafted a grant proposal for the Minnesota DNR’s Behavior Change Grant. If awarded grant monies, the District would use the funding to improve bait disposal sites and increase educational outreach on proper bait disposal procedures.

o District Staff have finalized a Winter Fish Kill Rapid Response Plan. The purpose of this report is to offer guidance to District Staff on how to manage a winter fish kill.

Projects (5000 series)

• 5100 Floodplain:

• 5200 Lakes o Moody Lake: The Chisago Lakes Township was contacted regarding potential park

enhancements at Moody Lake that would have included some shoreline restoration and a fishing pier. The Township is not interested at this time.

o Bone Lake: o Shields Lake: Letters were sent to Landowners regarding access to implement the

Aerator upgrade project; awaiting response. o Forest Lake: o Comfort Lake:

• 5400 Wetlands o Bone Lake Drained Wetlands: 90% design received for the DCB project.

Permitting initiated through WCD (WCA and ACOE permits) and City of Scandia (Grading Permit).

March 26, 2020 Administrator’s Report Page 6 of 7

The Peterson Wetland project is currently on hold as additional correspondence is needed with the landowners. This project may eventually be abandoned as recent modeling indicates less phosphorus reductions than originally estimated, thus reducing the cost effectiveness of the project.

o Wetland Bank: EOR memos evaluating the two parcels of land near Fourth Lake were submitted to the Board at the 4-9-2020 meeting. The Whitney parcels have potential for wetland banking. Mike and Blayne spoke with Mr. Whiney on 4-9-2020 regarding the memos and the Districts intentions. Mr. Whitney stated that he may be interested in moving forward on such a project and showed interest in a portion the land becoming a regional park in the future – perhaps 40 to 60 acres of the total ~100 acres. Mr. Whitney will share with the District the recent land survey work he had completed regarding potential subdivision of the property.

• 5800 Interagency Communication o One Watershed One Plan: Staff sent out a notice to its local stakeholders

(cities/townships, Citizen Advisory Committee members, lake association presidents, and general listserv) regarding the 60-day draft plan being ready for public review and comment. The deadline for comments is June 3rd. Though staff and managers have provided a number of comments/suggested redlines in the past, the Board may also use this 60-day period to submit additional comments if it wishes.

March 26, 2020 Administrator’s Report Page 7 of 7

District Technician, Jason Kuennen, poses with the personal protective equipment he uses when inspecting construction sites.

District staff, Garrett Miller and Blayne Eineichner, work with EOR Engineer Mike Majeski to install monitoring equipment across the District while taking extra measure to ensure social distancing guidelines are being followed.

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Administrative Updates 18-017-P3 Third Lake Estate Block 1, Lot 5 LMD: Forest Lake

Applicable Rules: 3.0, 9.0 New Impervious: N/A Project Summary: Construction of new single-family home within the development. Applied: 3/26/20 Approved: 03/31/20 Active: 4/2/20 Closed Out: N/A

19-009 Cherry Hill Minor Subdivision LMD: Comfort Lake Applicable Rules: 3.0, 4.0, 9.0, 10.0 New Impervious: 7500sqf Project Summary: Subdivision of 40-acre parcel into two lots, addition of cul-de-sac Applied: 4/23/19 Approved: 3/31/20 Active: 4/2/20 Closed Out: N/A

19-010 Lisu Church Basin Updates LMD: Forest Lake Applicable Rules: 2.0, 3.0, 9.0, 10.0 New Impervious: 0.5 Project Summary: Construction of new parking facilities and sidewalks Applied: 4/23/19 Approved: 4/9/20 Active: N/A Closed Out: N/A

20-002 Applewood Nursery Relocation LMD: Comfort Lake Applicable Rules: 2.0, 3.0, 9.0 New Impervious: 8.6 Project Summary: Relocation of Applewood Nursery Applied: 2/25/20 Approved: 4/9/20 Active: N/A Closed Out: N/A

20-003 Forest Lake Street Improvements LMD: Forest Lake Applicable Rules: 3.0 New Impervious: 4700sqf Project Summary: Pavement improvements, mill/overlay, reclamation, utility repair Applied: 2/17/20 Approved: N/A Active: N/A Closed Out: N/A

20-004 Corbett New Construction LMD: Forest Lake Applicable Rules: 3.0, 9.0 New Impervious: 0.1 Project Summary: Construction of new single-family home Applied: 3/16/20 Approved: 4/2/20 Active: 4/14/20 Closed Out: N/A

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Permitting Program Metrics1

YEAR TO DATE METRICS

Notes:

1. Current site numbers include all permits that are either active or in the permitting process as of 4/14/2020. 2020 inspection

numbers include all inspections conducted in 2020 as of 4/14/2020 – this may include inspections of projects that are currently

closed out.

2. Residential numbers do not include any homes within residential developments/subdivisions.

3. Totals may not equal the sum of each Lake Management District’s numbers. Some projects are in more than one LMD and

are counted for each applicable LMD.

4. Comfort Lake LMD developments include: Cherry Hill (2 lots), Shoreview 1 (2 lots), Woods on Comfort Lake (9 lots), and

Heims Lake Villas (33 lots). Little Comfort Lake LMD developments include: Liberty Ponds (79 lots) and Birch Lake Estates (5

lots). Forest Lake LMD developments include: Chestnut Creek (220 lots) and Third Lake Estates (10 lots).

5. The inspection numbers for Little Comfort LMD seem disproportionate to the number of sites because one inspection is counted

for each Liberty Ponds home, but the development of Liberty Ponds is counted as one site for the purpose of maintaining

consistency with the other developments.

Comfort Little Comfort Forest Bone Total3

Current Residential2 7 5 20 10 42

Current Developments4 4 2 2 0 8

Current Commercial 6 2 4 0 12

Current Governmental 4 0 3 0 7

Total Current Sites1 21 9 29 10 69

Total Inspections in 2020 87 33 62 45 227

Average Inspections per Site in 2020

8.7 3.3 3.8 7.5 5.8

Total Non-Compliant Inspection Items in 2020

19 9 53 0 81

Average Percentage of Non-Compliant Items per

Inspection in 2020

11.9 11.25 22.1 0 11.31

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Note: The point labeled 18-017 represents one new permit transfers within the Third Lake Estates Development: 18-017-P3. Permit 20-003 is general street improvements and thus located throughout the city of Forest Lake.