News from the Board of the
Lake Shamineau Lake Improvement District
As a subscriber, you are receiving this edition of the Electronic Newsletter for the Lake Shamineau Lake Improvement District (LSLID). The LSLID Board of Directors issues a periodic newsletter to provide updates on LSLID activities. Check out our website for detailed information, announcements and documents.
Message to Subscribers

To Lake Shamineau Property Owners, Neighbors and Friends:

We hope this newsletter finds you all healthy and safe. As we look forward to summer we are concerned for high waters and our flooded neighbors. The current lake level reading is 1278.04 which is 2.94 ft. above the Ordinary High Water Level (OHWL), as compared to a reading of 1277 in June 2019. We know that many of the properties around the lake have water in or surrounding their homes. Many properties adjacent to the lake area are also experiencing wet conditions. Tours of the lake are simply heart breaking.

Please know that the LID Board of Directors continues to work long hours to determine a solution. While we have some disappointing news to share we continue to move forward to work on a permanent long-term solution. See below for detail information but we want you all to know that t he LSLID Board has not abandoned the High-Water Outlet project.
Background on High-Water
Outlet Project
Following is background on the High-Water project from the last several months:
  • Last summer (2019) the LSLID announced a plan to pump water to an infiltration site at a gravel pit to the NE of the lake. Infiltration held many advantages with cost and viability for permitting.
  • After approval at the Annual Meeting and through the Fall, the LID, through the engineering firm of Widseth, developed more detailed plans, including a route from the lake to the infiltration site. Letters of Intent were obtained from the property owners at the pumping site and along the route to the infiltration site.
  • This past winter we learned that there was a lack of consensus with the owners of the gravel pit for the use of the infiltration area. Given this lack of consensus, and at the suggestion of an adjacent property owner, we moved the design of the infiltration basin to an area east of the gravel pit (East Site).  Drafting of documentation for permitting began and an initial draft of the Operations and Maintenance Plan was completed. The LID and Widseth held meetings and corresponded with neighboring property owners to the project.
  • The LID issued a discretionary Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) on February 24, 2020 regarding the need for an Environmental Impact Statement, which included hundreds of pages of detail on the high-water project. During a 30-day comment period thirteen written comments were received from agencies and from the public. 
  • The LID and Widseth met and corresponded with neighboring property owners to the project and worked to obtain flowage easements. This was made more difficult with increasing wet conditions on their property.

The article in the next column provides project information on actions in the past few weeks.
Project Update and
Recent Board Actions

On April 10, 2020, the LSLID Board voted to delay the issuance of the Finding of Facts, Conclusions and Record of Decision for the EAW to no later than June 30, 2020.

With further meetings with down gradient property owners, it was then determined that the LID would not be able to obtain needed flowage easements from key property owners for the East site. For this reason, we believed that the infiltration site to the east of the gravel pit was no longer viable as a primary infiltration location. At this same time, we received contact from the owners of the gravel pit and we were informed that they were now in agreement for the use of the gravel pit for infiltration.

On May 16 th at the LID Board Meeting, the LSLID voted to withdraw the EAW. The reasons for withdrawing the EAW included: 1) the LSLID would be exploring another water deposit site (i.e. gravel pit); 2) the LSLID needed to gather more data and conduct more testing in the area and 3) the LSLID would be working with adjacent property owners.

In the weeks following the May 16th Board action, we held meetings to explore the gravel pit again as an infiltration site. The LSLID had positive conversations with the owners of the gravel pit infiltration area. However, we unfortunately were not able to obtain agreement with other property owners that were necessary for the use of this site.
       
At the LSLID Board meeting on the evening of June 1, the Board approved action to 1) alter the High-Water Outlet project away from infiltration in the NE part of the lake and 2) determine alternative water deposit locations. Specific steps will be developed over the next weeks.

With this action, t he LSLID Board has not abandoned the High-Water Outlet project, but will instead be determining an alternative water deposit location.

The minutes of the June 1st meeting and other Board meetings can be found on the website. In addition, announcements of Board meeting dates can be found on the website.

The EAW comments and the LID responses to the EAW comments have been posted on the LID website. The responses have also been sent to all commenters.
Project Next Steps

Where do we go from here?
  • The LID Board is discussing options for alternative deposit sites. We are meeting with a project team made up of property owners, and having discussions with the DNR, Soil and Water and others. 
  • We have received many good ideas and options that will be explored over the next couple of weeks. At that time, viable options will be vetted against our goals of determining a solution that is most feasible, cost-effective and timely and will minimize ongoing maintenance and future operating costs.
  • We have tried hard for an emergency pumping or gravity/siphon system to the NE, but have been blocked by property owners on that side of the lake. While we also continue to explore emergency pumping options, we are focusing most of our efforts on a long-term solution for timely reduction to lake waters.
  • We will be working hard on a solution as well as updates on the project, cost and schedule information for our Annual Meeting in August.





LID Schedule and Timeline

Following is a schedule of meetings and activities for the LID over the next several months.

  • In the next weeks, a letter will be mailed to lake property owners advising them that nominations will be open for three Director seats and providing and update on LID Activities. Nominations for the Board of Directors will be due in July.

  • At the end of July or early August, a letter will be mailed to property owners advising them of the Annual Meeting, providing an agenda, and voting information.

  • It is anticipated that an online informational meeting will be held in early August to provide an update on the High-Water Outlet project. No date has yet been established.

  • The Annual Meeting will be held on August 29th. At the Annual Meeting, a presentation of LID activities will be provided, voting will occur on the 2020 budget, and for three Director seats. It has not yet been determined if the meeting will be held in-person or online.
Legislative Update

When the legislature adjourned May 18th the House and Senate had not reached agreement and issued no conference committee report. However, the Legislature will meet in a special session on June 12th or later to consider bonding and other legislation. It is also possible that they may well hold special sessions over the course of the summer and fall. The DNR Flood Mitigation Grant remains in the bonding bill, which could provide well needed funding for our High-Water Outlet project. The LSLID Board will be sending a letter to local legislators to urge their support.
 
The Board is also urging property owners around the lake to contact their legislators for support of the bonding bill which could provide needed funding for the flooding problems on Lake Shamineau.
AIS Information and Update

You may have noticed that the trained Ambassadors who worked for us last year are working again this year. The DNR West Access is closed because of flooding, so our Ambassadors are working at the East Scandia Valley Township Access. They will be working am. and pm. shifts, Fridays through Sundays over the summer.

This year we are scheduled to do a lake wide delineation for Eurasian Water Milfoil (EWM).
This lake wide survey will take place in late summer. This will allow for the EWM to be more easily identified. Once the survey is completed and we have identified areas where EWM is present, we will complete a seasonal herbicide treatment.

Two to four weeks after the herbicide treatments are completed, we will follow up with scuba divers checking the same areas to remove any stalks of EWM that may have been missed.

DNR Update

Cindy Kevern and Rick Rosar had a recent online meeting with Bob Meier, DNR Assistant Commissioner, and Dan Lais, Regional Hydrologist. The Assistant Commissioner arranged the meeting to discuss how the DNR and LID can work together. The DNR officials communicated that they want to work with us and be advocates. In addition, they stated that they are committed to remaining engaged for an effective solution and assist with hurdles.

We have received information that the DNR may be able to provide additional grant funding for pre-construction services. In addition, we remain hopeful that we will be able to obtain grant funding through the State Flood Mitigation Grant if the legislature approves funds in the bonding bill.
Updates from the Board of Directors
Emergency Task Force

The task force has voted to continue work on the ditching process that started with the three miles of ditch cleaned earlier this spring.

The task force is working with Morrison County and Soil and Water to create a plan for an impoundment area on County road 203 that will direct water away from Culverts 1 & 2 and pump the water to the newly cleaned ditch on 30th avenue.

The task force, wants everyone in Scandia Valley to understand that restoring the watershed to its original flow entirely impacts Scandia Valley Township. This is not just a Lake Shamineau issue. At this time, the Scandia Valley Township has identified that the watershed effects the whole township and has dedicated funds in the past and for a future project. Farmers have fields that have standing water and cannot be tilled and have voiced concerns of the water backing up in their fields. The three miles of ditching completed from 30th Ave to the west has flowed the spring melt away from Scandia Valley and alleviated flooding in nine landowners’ properties. Crookneck Lake Improvement District stated in their recent board meeting that the ditch has effectively stopped the flow of water into Crookneck Lake this spring which has helped with their flooding issues.

The Task Force is asking Morrison County to mirror Scandia Valley’s commitment to addressing the watershed and the manmade damage to this wetland. This includes funding support, expertise in creating a viable project and possibly support through materials that will help the project come to a successful finish.




No Wake Zone

The Morrison County Sheriff's Office made a decision to continue the 300' no wake zone on Lake Shamineau. We are asking all to slow down this summer and for all boaters to be considerate of flooding properties. Don't boat too close nor too fast.

In addition, be cautious when driving near properties to view the flooding. Many around the lake are dealing with unfortunate circumstances so be respectful of private driveways and private property.
DNR West End Landing

The DNR has closed the West End Boat Landing due to flooding.

There has been an inquiry as to whether a kayak could be launched at the West Access. It was clarified that carry-in of non-motorized watercraft at the West End Landing could be done, but no trailer/vehicle launches.
Survey

The Lake Shamineau Association (LSA) recently sent out a survey to Lake Association members to gain information on the amount of damage and costs that have been incurred due to flooding. To date over 100 responses has been received and the LSA will complete an analysis and report.
A Message from the LID Board
The LID Board of Directors are continuing to work hard on the High-Water Outlet project. We will keep you up to date on progress in determining an alternative water deposit location.

We will also be soon sending a letter to all property owners to provide an update on the high-water project and other LID activities. Continue to let us know your comments and questions. We welcome your input.

If you know of someone that would like to be added to our newsletter subscriber list, have them send a text to 22828 with the message LAKESHAMINEAU or send an email to LSLIDBD@gmail.com . You may want t o add this email address to your white list to ensure that you will receive future newsletters.

Thank you for your support,

Cindy Kevern, Bob Koll, Rick Rosar, Fred Comb and Ardis Sandstrom
Lake Shamineau Improvement District Board of Directors