Laker Pioneer
Long Lake and the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District took another step forward in a nearly decade-long partnership, with the city accepting a project roadmap and supporting advancing a feasibility study that will consider cost-effective environmental projects.
For years, the MCWD has both assisted cities and private companies and spearheaded its own projects aimed at improving environmental factors. In Long Lake, the MCWD supported wetland improvements along Long Lake Creek, developed and enhanced stormwater ponds at Nelson Lakeside Park, and restored shoreline on Long Lake.
These projects were completed after a 2014 Minnesota Pollution Control Agency study deemed Long Lake “impaired” with excess phosphorus, with much of the chemical flowing downstream from northern lakes, that contributes to summer algal blooms, poor fishing habitat, and other concerns.
The accepted road map outlines an additional 34 projects that would reduce the amount of phosphorus entering Long Lake. Of these projects, the MCWD recently approved a pond retrofit project along County Road 6 north of Long Lake that filters phosphorus on its southbound journey to the lake.
The roadmap is split into geographical regions, called Management Units, including the Downtown Long Lake MU. In devising this roadmap, it was determined further work would be required to identify feasible projects in this MU, which includes the commercial and industrial portions of Long Lake, plus some of Orono.
After receiving nearly $180,000 from a state grant, the MCWD is now ready to initiate that feasibility study.
By Max Kappel