How do aquatic invasive species (AIS) get introduced and spread?

Aquatic invasive species don’t usually enter a waterbody on their own, they are transported with the help of humans. In some cases, it only takes one individual organism or plant, such as a small plant fragment, to result in an infestation. An infestation can be devastating for lake recreation and aquatic life and can cost lakeshore property owners a lot of money to manage AIS to maintain use of the lake.

AIS can be introduced directly or hitchhike on a lot of different surfaces:

This is not a complete list, which makes it clear that it takes all of us when it comes to AIS prevention.

• Attached to or on watercraft, trailers, motors, fishing gear, anchors
• In ballast water, bilge, live wells, and other areas and devices that hold water
• In with bait and water that is dumped out
• On fishing lines and downrigger cables
• On the soles of waders
• Attached to seaplane pontoons
• On harvesting equipment
• In mud on a dog’s paws or person’s shoe soles
• Direct release of unwanted pets or plants
• In aquarium water dumped where it flows to a storm drain

 
Goldfish or koi released into a natural Minnesota pond.

Watercraft AIS prevention reminders

Clean off any plants, animals and mud from your prop, boat, trailer, and equipment.

Drain the motor, bilge, live well, ballast tanks, and other water-containing devices. This includes draining water out of canoes and kayaks.

Dry everything for a minimum of five days or towel dry to make sure organisms can’t survive.

Dispose of unwanted bait in a designated area or trash, not in the water. Drain bait bucket water on vegetation or in designated can or area, not hard surfaces.

AIS can be transported in ballast water from wake boats.

Run boat motor and personal watercraft engine out of the water for a few seconds to discharge water before leaving a water access.

If you have been on a lake for 24 hours or more, go to a decontamination station and get your boat decontaminated before entering another lake. Three Rivers Park District and the Minnesota DNR have hot water decontaminations stations available in Hennepin County. Find a Three Rivers Park District station or a Minnesota DNR station.

To decontaminate a boat yourself: Spray the boat, motor, and trailer with high pressure water. Rinse with 120°F water for at least 2 minutes or 140°F water for at least 10 seconds to kill zebra mussels and some additional AIS. As an extra precaution, dry for at least 5 days.

Lake Pledge

Where does your lake stand on the leaderboard? Here are the top five lakes. Get more members to pledge and move up the ranks.

Hennepin County encourages all lake lovers to pledge to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species

Hennepin County is a unique urban area. With 200 lakes, 640 miles of streams, three major rivers, 45,000 acres of wetlands and 50 public water accesses, there are so many opportunities to enjoy being on and around water.

But that also means it takes everyone, including people fishing, boating, kayaking, or sailing, those who live on lakes, and those with aquariums or ponds, to help keep our lakes clean and healthy by preventing the spread of aquatic invasive species. That’s why Hennepin County is encouraging anyone who enjoys our lakes to sign up for Lake Pledge.

On the website or app, you select what lake you visit most and what activities you enjoy doing on and around the water. You then learn how those activities may introduce aquatic invasive species, pledge to take actions to prevent the spread, and see how well your favorite lake is doing compared to others in the county.

Sign up for Lake Pledge.

In mid-April through late-July, Hennepin County crews will close County Road 19 between Highway 55 in Loretto and Main Street East in Maple Plain. Local access to Loretto businesses will be maintained throughout construction. Through traffic will be detoured to use Highway 12, County Road 92 and Highway 55.

Follow the link for more detailed information on the county’s dedicated page for this project: https://www.hennepin.us/residents/transportation/county-road-19-improvements

Or reach out to the project leadership team with questions:

Hennepin County

• Joshua Jansen
  Construction engineer
  joshua.jansen@hennepin.us
  612-596-0316

City of Loretto

• Jake Leuer
  Loretto public works director,
  jakeleuer@ci.loretto.mn.us
  763-479-4305

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently completed a multiyear project to re-examine flood risks throughout Hennepin County and develop electronic flood hazard maps, which will become effective on November 4, 2016.

Federal law mandates that any federally regulated or insured lender require any property with a structure within the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) on these maps to carry flood insurance.

Most mortgage lenders will check their loans when the updated maps become effective on November 4, 2016. Lenders will likely send a letter to all properties in SFHA, and other properties that are even close to the SFHA, to notify them that they must purchase flood insurance within 45 days. If a policy is not purchased within this time period, the lender will “force place” a policy, which is normally much more expensive.

Flood insurance is available through your agent or one of the agents listed by searching the “Agent Finder” section of FEMA’s Flood Insurance website, FloodSmart.gov. If you have any kind of risk for flood damages, both in or out of the floodplain, the city encourages you to purchase flood insurance.

If you live near a lake, stream, or large wetland, you are encouraged to investigate whether your property may be “newly mapped” within the SFHA. View the floodplain map  to find your property on the map.

What to do if you believe you’ve been inadvertently included in the Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHA)?

There are often scenarios where the boundaries of the floodplain do not accurately reflect the true topographic characteristics of a site. In addition, it is likely that lenders will be fairly conservative when determining if a property may require flood insurance.

In much of the county, the boundaries of the floodplain have not been updated with better elevation information since they were originally mapped in the early 1980’s. This newest map update merely digitized these areas – making them easier for everyone to view. If you believe your structure and/or parcel is higher than the actual flood elevation, there is a procedure for appeals known as a Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA). Traditionally, a LOMA involves hiring a surveyor to verify the lowest ground touching the structure, deck or stairs is above the 100-year flood elevation.

Under the right circumstances, the city may be able to assist with collecting data rather than hiring a surveyor. City staff may be able to use LiDAR-derived contour elevations from the Minnesota DNR to verify that a structure is above the 100-year flood elevation.

If you have any questions, please contact City Planner Dusty Finke at 763-473-8846 or dusty.finke@ci.medina.mn.us.

The City Council meets on the first and third Tuesday of each month; everyone is welcome to join. City Hall is located at 2052 County Road 24, Medina, MN 55340. 

Meeting Schedule of City Council

Work Session Meeting: Tuesday, June 18, 2024 at 6:00 PM
Regular Meeting: Tuesday, June 18, 2024 at 7:00 PM
Location: Council Chambers

Meeting Packet

Council agendas and packets are typically available the Friday prior to the meeting.

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