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U of M Carp Study Update & Permit to Use Motorized Boats on Lake Ann CITY OF CHANHASSEN 7700 Market Boulevard PO Box 147 Chanhassen, MN 55317 Administration Phone: 952,227,1100 Fax: 952,227.1110 Building Inspections Phone: 952,227.1180 Fax: 952,227.1190 Engineering Phone: 952,227,1160 Fax: 952,227,1170 Finance Phone: 952,227.1140 Fax: 952,227,1110 Park & Recreation Phone: 952,227.1120 Fax: 952,227.1110 Recreation Center 2310 Coulter Boulevard Phone: 952,227,1400 Fax: 952,227.1404 Planning & Natural Resources Phone: 952,227,1130 Fax: 952,227,1110 Public Works 1591 Park Road Phone: 952,227,1300 Fax: 952,227.1310 Senior Center Phone: 952,227,1125 Fax: 952,227,1110 Web Site www.ci.chanhassen.mn.us ;l MEMORANDUM TO: Todd Gerhardt, City Manager Todd Hoffman, Park & Recreation Director ~ August 10, 2009 O~ FROM: DA TE: SUBJ: Request for Permit to Operate Motorized Watercraft on the Surface of Lake Ann; University of Minnesota and Riley Purgatory Bluff Creek Watershed District Carp and Aquatic Vegetation Studies PROPOSED MOTION: "The Chanhassen City Council approves a temporary permit to allow the University of Minnesota to operate motorized watercraft on Lake Ann as a part of a carp and aquatic vegetation study. This permit is effective for one year, but may be administratively extended for one additional year for a maximum duration of two years." Approval requires a simple majority vote of the City Council. Since 2006, the University of Minnesota Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology has been working with the Riley Purgatory Bluff Creek Water District and others to conduct research on Lakes Susan, Riley and Rice Marsh. The intent of this work is to develop management guidelines for common carp in this watershed. If successful, these guidelines will resonate nationally and internationally. Recently the University added Lake Ann and Lake Lucy, the remaining lakes in this watershed, to their study efforts. Some initial work has begun on these water bodies; however, the University is seeking a permit to operate motorized watercraft on Lake Ann through October of this year and possibly into future years. Lake Lucy is not governed by any motor restrictions, but the lack of a public access will require that the researchers utilize the creek between Lake Ann and Lake Lucy for access or make arrangements to gain access through private property. The current low water condition in the creek will require that the University work with a homeowner affording access to Lake Lucy. Staff has found the members of the research team to be professional in their methods and courteous when working with the public and staff members. Peter Sorenson, the primary contact for the University of Minnesota research team and Chanhassen is a Community for Life. Providing for Today and Planning for Tomorrow Mr. Todd Gerhardt August 10, 2009 Page 2 others representing this work are looking forward to presenting an overview of their work on August 10th. RECOMMENDA TION It is recommended that the City Council approve a permit for the operation of motorized watercraft on the surface of Lake Ann effective immediately enabling the University of Minnesota to conduct research and other activities related to their studies of the common carp. This permit shall be valid for one calendar year and may be extended administratively for one additional year for a maximum duration of two years. g:\park\th\lakeann\carp study allow motorized boats.doc UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA Twin Cities Campus Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology 200 Hodson Hall 1980 Folwell Avenue St. Paul, MN 55108 College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Science 612-624-3600 Fax: 612-625-5299 http://www. cnr. umn. edy/.fivcb/ July 31, 2009 Chanhassen City Council 7700 Market Blvd Chanhassen, MN 55317 Dear Chanhassen City Council: We are currently working with the Riley Creek Purgatory Bluff Watershed District to research and develop management guidelines for common carp in the watershed. Our primary focus has been on Lake Susan, Lake Riley, and Rice Marsh up but now we would like to develop a management plan for the entire watershed (including Lake Ann and Lake Lucy). The first step in this procedure will be to quantify abundance of common carp and describe the aquatic vegetation communities in these lakes and thus, we will need to gain motor boat access to Lake Ann and Lake Lucy. Our planned activities on these lakes will include electrofishing surveys, monthly radio-tracking surveys, baiting and seining for carp, and monthly plant community assessments. The names of the boat operators on these lakes will be: Brett Miller, Christopher Chizinski, James Johnson, Ken Seemann, Przemek Bajer, and Ray Newman. Operators of the boats will be identified with University of Minnesota clothing. We expect to use four different boats (marked with University of Minnesota logos) on the water and these include: . 20 foot, Aluminum Flat bottom boat 40 hp outboard (Registration #MN 8350FH) . 16 foot, Aluminum Flat bottom boat [Electrofishing], 40 hp outboard (Registration #MN0178XY) . 16 foot, Flat bottom Jon boat, 20 hp outboard (Registration #MN 0331XY) . 20 foot, Grumman Pontoon with 60 hp outboard, large sign indicating Milfoil Research on both sides of the boat (Registration #MN 8355XX) We expect to conduct most of these research activities on the lakes from August to October 2009 and research will likely occur during daylight hours. We thank the City for its past and continued support for our research projects. Ifthere are any further questions or comments do not hesitate to contact us. Sincerely, Peter Sorensen Lake Susan Transplant This project is being implemented at the request of the Riley Purgatory Bluff Creek Watershed District and Mark Enochs, CH2MHill, the District Engineer. The aim of the proposed project is to obtain a preliminary assessment of the feasibility of transplanting to establish native submersed plants in Lake Susan following water quality enhancements. Carp removal in Winter 2009 was hypothesized to result in improved water clarity; indeed water clarity during spring and early summer 2009 was exceptional (2.5-3m) and Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum) and curlyleaf pondweed (Potamogeton crispus) became abundant in depths between 1 and 2m. Water clarity has declined (1.1 to 0.9 m since early July) but plants have persisted. Currently (July 2009) lilies (Nuphar variegata, Nymphaea odorata) and American lotus (Nelumbo lutea) are abundant in depths from 0.3 to 1 m, curlyleaf pondweed (Potamogeton crispus) is common at depths from 1 to 1.5 m and coontail (Ceratophyllum demersm) is occasional at all depths up to 2m. Eurasian watermilfoil is common among the lilies and to depths of 1.5m. Sago pondweed (Stuckenia pectinata) is found sporadically between 0.5 and 1.5m as is the less common small pondweed (Potamogeton pusillus). Milfoil weevils (Euhrychiopsis lecontei) appear to be exerting control on Eurasian watermilfoil, which was quite abundant in June. Establishing native submersed vegetation will be important to maintain water quality and to provide some competition to invasive species. Enhancing native vegetation will also be essential if invasive plants are controlled. Native plants often do not naturally recruit rapidly if they have been absent a long time. Therefore we aim to conduct some preliminary assessments of the potential to enhance highly desirable native plants from transplanting and will use that information to conduct more extensive experiments in 2010. We will examine 5 native taxa transplanted in shallow (0.3 to 0.5m) and deeper (1 to 1.5m) depths with and without caging (to reduce animal damage). Each transplanted plot will include 3 to 5 individual plants. The five native taxa proposed, Chara, Vallisneria americana. Najas guadalupensis, Myriophyllum sibiricum, and Potamogeton zosteriformis are abundant in Lake Ann, are desirable species and are relatively tolerant of water clarity. We originally proposed to transplant Stuckenia pectinata, but is currently too abundant in Lake Susan to justify transplanting. Flatstem may not be as desirable to transplant as Zosterella dubia, but we did not locate Zosterella in Ann and flatstem was abundant. Northern watermilfoil is the native host of the milfoil weevil and is not present in Lake Susan. It is a bit more resistant to the milfoil weevil than Eurasian watermilfoil and will provide a good alternative host if Eurasian is controlled by the weevil. We will collect the plants from Lake Ann from the 4 locations indicated on the map. At each location we will collect entire plants (roots and shoots, between 0.2 and 1 m tall depending on species and site), rinse sediment, algae and other plant material off, and place in a cooler with water. We will collect no more than one plant from among 20 of the same taxa. For Chara, we will consider a clump, 10 cm x 10 cm to represent a plant. We will collect no more than 40 plants of each taxa total. The collected plants will be transported Lake Susan and planted in groups of 3 to 5 in previously marked O.25m2 plots (one taxon per plot). We will have a set of plots that will be caged or fenced to inhibit animal and herbivore access and a set of open plots. We will also plant in two depths: shallow (ca O.3m) and deep (1 to 105m). Plots in Lake Susan (see map) will be set up along the northwest shore (owner is Chanhassen City) and the eastern shore (owner is Lake Susan Apartment Homes). Precise plot locations and depths have not yet been determined. Lake Susan East Area owners: LAKE SUSAN APARTMENT HOMES LLC, 33 SOUTH 6TH ST #4010, MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55402 West Shore owners CHANHASSEN CITY, C/O GREG STICHA, PO BOX 147, CHANHASSEN , MN 55317 Lake Ann sampling area owners: CHANHASSEN CITY, C/O GREG STICHA, PO BOX 147, CHANHASSEN , MN 55317 Lake Susan Transplant loc'ations. ~ APPLICATION TO COLLECT AND/OR TRANSPLANT AQUATIC VEGETATION Please Print or Type Applicant's Name (First, M.I., Last) Home Residence Telephone Number Raymond M Newman ( 612) 625-5704 Home Address (No. & Street, RFD, Box No., City, State, Zip Code) Lake Residence Telephone Number (if different) FWCB, U of MN, 1980 Folwell Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108 ( ) Lake Address (No. & Street, RFD, Box No., City, State, Zip Code) Work Telephone Number (daytime) (612 ) 625-5704 Lake Name Where Plants are to be Transplanted Lake Name or Bay Susan (100013) County Carver Types and Sources of Plants to be Transplanted (attached additional pages if needed) Source of Plants No. Plants & Type Lake Name & County and/or Common Name of Plant Scientific Name (required) of Plant material Company Name & Address Muskgrass Chara Spp. 40 small clumps Transplant Water celery Vallisneria americana 40 plants Transplan't ,Lake Ann, Carver County (100012) Naiad Najas guadalupensis (or f1exilis) 40 plants Transplant Northern watermilfoil Myriophyllum sibiricum 40 plants Transplant Flaststem pondweed Potamogeton zosteriformis 40 plants Transplant " REASON FOR PROJECT (explain why this project is desired) This is a preliminary project to assess the potential for enhancing submersed native plant recovery in Lake Susan after carp removal. Wi~h improved water clarity, Eurasian watermilfoil and curlyleaf pondweed may increase; enhancement of native plants may help restore native plant communities. See attached for additional information. Sketch proposed collection and transplant area on back of this application or on a separate sheets of paper. Indicate compass direction "North"; location on lake (shore, point, bay, etc.); dimensions of proposed collection and transplant areas with names and total frontages of each property owner. Include fire number, noteworthy landmark, and enough detail so that the property can be located for possible inspection. MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE INCLUDED THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION: Sketch/Maps ~ Plant List Ial Source of Plants lED Signature D / hereby make application for a permit to collect and transplant aquatic vegetation as described below. I understand that the collection and transplanting of aquatic vegetation is subject to rules and regulations of the Commissioner of Natural Resources. I understand that an Aquatic Plant Management Specialist may wish to inspect the above areas before, during, and/or after work is completed and that by making this application {give permission to the specialist to enter my property to make such inspection at reasonable times. I understand that an annual report may be required on all work done and results achieved. lAPP''''''''' SI9"''"'' [ D,t.