2019 Lake Programs and Improvement Plans

Dear Friends of the Lake;

Here is a list of our upcoming 2019 Programs and Lake Improvement Plans.

1. Your 2019 Membership: A Key Driver of Lake Improvement    

Your $50 annual contribution is the best investment you can make in protecting & improving both your lake and   lake property value. As membership has grown from 7 members in 2008 to over 350 paid members today, so has our ability increased to represent the needs of the lake through collaboration with key funding partners such as the Comfort Lake Forest Lake Watershed District( CLFLWD), the City of Forest Lake , Department of Natural Resources(DNR) and Washington County.

2. Forest Lake Lake Improvement Programs

   A. Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Management

• Watercraft inspections ($53,000 budget). 2650 hours of watercraft inspections at the three boat launches to help prevent other AIS from entering the lake.
• Management of AIS ($125,000 budget). Treatment to control Eurasian Water Milfoil, Curly Leaf Pondweed, and eradicate Flowering Rush (99% eradicated).
• Implement Rapid Response Program ($3,000 budget). Develop plan to prevent Starry Stonewort and Spiny Flea AIS from entering Forest Lake.
• Zebra Mussel ($0) Continue to monitor.          

   B. Water Quality (clarity) Improvement (treating storm water runoff to remove phosphorus(P))

• City street sweeping program ($45,000). Complete the optimized program developed. Implement the actual street sweeping. 168 pounds /year of P removed
• Finalize the Shields Lake storm water harvest and irrigation reuse system (Forest Hills GolfClub). Project was started in fall of 2018. 256 pounds/year of P will be removed from Forest Lake and an average of 26 million gallons of well water/yr will be saved by the Forest Hills Golf Club. Program cost: $1,030,000 supported by a $824,000 state Clean Water Fund grant.
• Define and apply for grant funding for major P reducing projects ($165,000). This involves initial planning and implementation for the three high P contributing sub-watersheds to Forest lake: Judicial ditch #6 (739 pounds P), Hayward Ave (213 pounds P), Castlewood Golf Course(131 pounds).
• New diagnostic study to identify the next P reducing projects on Forest Lake.($30,000)
• Water quality monitoring of all three lakes (4 FLLA volunteers)

3. FLLA Programs and Activities Scheduled for 2019

• Lake Update/Education... timely e-mails sent on lake issues, programs and lake education.($3000)
• Annual Lake Ice Clean-up ( March TBD)
• FLLA Annual Meeting( April 25,2019)
• -Potential Impact of Starry Stonewort (AIS) on the lake: Steve McComas, Blue Water Science .
• Review Of $1.0M Shields Lake/Forest Hills Golf Club Project: Mike Kinney,CLFLWD
• Options for Shoreline Vegetation Control: Rob Dodd, Specialist, DNR
• FLLA "free" Family Barbecue (June 20) $2500
• Weed Harvesting Program ( June - August) $5000
• Pontoon Boat Tie- Up Social Outing( July 13)

The FLLA appreciates your membership and support along with your dues contribution. The great work that is being done could not be accomplished without your support.

Just a reminder... if you change your email address, don't forget to tell us so we can keep you updated.

Forest Lake Lake Association Board of Directors

Jerry Grundtner, President