Agenda - Environmental Policy Board - 10/17/2016

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Environmental Policy Board (EPB) 5. 1. Meeting Date: 10/17/2016 By: Chris Anderson, Community Development Information Title: Consider Fact Sheet for Rogers Lake Purpose/Background: In both 2015 and 2016,the City received a request from a Ramsey resident,who owns a riparian lot on Rogers Lake,to implement restrictions on both motorized watercraft and hunting on Rogers Lake. The resident states that motorized boats on Rogers Lake are creating a nuisance due to the noise generated. Allegedly,boaters are using boat propellers to remove vegetation in the Lake. Additionally,the resident is concerned about noise and safety related to hunting on the lake. Notification: Notification is not required at this stage. Observations/Alternatives: Staff met with representatives of the cities of Nowthen and Oak Grove, as all three (3)communities have jurisdiction over Rogers Lake. In reviewing the solution proposed by the resident,the group arrived at a consensus that a better approach may be to provide better education on regulations that already exist, rather than create a new regulation that would be very difficult to enforce. In discussions with staff at Nowthen and Oak Grove, it is not likely that these communities will support an ordinance restricting motorized watercraft or additional hunting limits beyond State Statute. Additionally,there is no public access to the lake to allow any of the affected jurisdictions (Nowthen, Oak Grove, Ramsey,Anoka County Sheriff, Upper Rum River WMO, Lower Rum River WMO)access to enforce any limitations on watercraft. Rogers Lake is a relatively shallow lake with a significant amount of aquatic vegetation. The composition of Rogers Lake is closely related to that of a wetland. There were previous issues with excessive vegetation removal on the lake. It is assumed that this could have, at least in part, led to Rogers Lake being designated as "Impaired" by the MPCA for excess nutrients. However, since the DNR was successful in enforcing vegetation removal limits on the lake itself,the water quality has significantly improved. Ultimately, it appears that when the limits and process for vegetative removal are enforced,the issue at hand is resolved. Boaters are not to utilize the boat propeller itself as a vegetative removal tool. Using existing regulations such as this will likely resolve the primary concern. No changes to hunting regulations on Rogers Lake are recommended. Staff feels that the appropriate tools are in place to address this concern. Staff has discussed this educational alternative with the resident, and they are supportive of the approach. This topic was discussed by the City Council on October 11. The Council was not supportive of creating additional regulations that would be challenging to enforce. Rather,the City Council directed Staff to develop educational information for the lakeshore property owners that reviews the existing rules/regulations for Rogers Lake. Staff has prepared a draft Fact Sheet for consideration by all three (3)municipalities having jurisdiction over Rogers Lake. Funding Source: