News

Members,

LLIA would like to thank the New Brighton City Council Members, Mayor Val Johnson and City Manager Dean Lotter for their tireless support of the treatment funding Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) in Long Lake.   They all sat through many meetings to listen and learn of our concerns with AIS in Long Lake and stepped up to fund the treatment for this year.  Their commitment this year is up to $15,000 toward the treatment of AIS.  You can view the City Council Meeting on 2/28/17 here at http://newbrighton.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=632   the LLIA content starts at the 20.50 minute mark and goes through the 34 minute mark.  They did a great job on the overview, discussion and comments of the LLIA.

Moving forward, annual treatment will be required as AIS can be managed but not eradicated.  Therefore, the City of New Brighton will be expecting additional parties to participate in funding for future years.  We are continuing to seek future funding participation with Ramsey County and possibly the State of MN.  Rep. Connie Bernardy has introduced state legislation to fund projects such as this.  LLIA has also applied for limited grant money available this year with the MN DNR.   The LLIA will work with the MN DNR, Ramsey County and the Rice Creek Watershed District to monitor treatment and it’s effectiveness in the years ahead. 

LLIA, as an organization, will be required to participate as well, estimating we will be required to contribute 1/3 of future AIS funding needs.  Therefore, each member’s annual contribution is necessary toward this need, as well as boat monitoring obligations.  You can sign up and contribute www.llianewbrighton.org 

I would like to thank LLIA member, Caroline Beckman for her time and expertise with assisting in preparing our request to the City of New Brighton and Ramsey County.  She assisted in multiple preparatory meetings as well as attended City Council Workshops and City Council Meetings.  I was out of town for a couple of the meetings and Caroline filled in and represented LLIA magnificently on behalf of us all.

Thanks to John Broghammer for all of his work on research, design and implementation of our new website llianewbrighton.org.  We have received many compliments on its looks, content, and ability to collect dues online.  This is a valuable tool for LLIA members as well as community members who want to stay up to date with information and upcoming events available on the website.

Thanks to John Johnson for his collection of dues and email notices for the past year.  We’re hoping the website will replace the need to send out individual emails in the near future.  In the meantime, I apologize for any duplication of information until the conversion is complete.  If you haven’t done so yet, please sign up on the website.

Finally, thank you to all who have, or will be making, their tax-deductible donations to LLIA.  We look forward to the continued growth of the LLIA organization for promoting safe recreational experiences and improved water quality.   We will be able to achieve our goals with your continued support in the future.

Sincerely,

Rich Kusick

President

Long Lake Improvement Association

Despite the short notice, I want to thank those who emailed the Council Members and attended the Council Meeting this evening.  We had approximately 12-14 lake owners in attendance. 

Rich Kusick began the discussion around the needs for lake weed control and several lake owners addressed the Council directly with their concerns on Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) and their impact on the lake. 

Our perception for City assistance is optimistic for initial funding to address the invasive weeds, but we’ll need to develop a long term, sustainable plan that involves LLIA, the City of New Brighton, and Ramsey County to continue the remediation process.

The Council will be meeting on Feb 28^th at 6:30 to vote on funding weed control on Long Lake.  We’d appreciate your attendance or voice your support of funding to: val.johnson@newbrightonmn.gov; gina.bauman@newbrightonmn.gov; mary.burg@newbrightonmn.gov; paul.jacobsen@newbrightonmn.gov; brian.strub@newbrightonmn.gov; dean.lotter@newbrightonmn.gov

We appreciate your support and involvement, 

LLIA

The City Council will be meeting on Feb 14th at 6:30 PM to discuss funding for treatment of AIS in Long Lake.  They will be discussing it and hearing from those in attendance, so please try to attend if you can or email those referenced below with your concerns.  

The City meeting on Feb. 28^th will be to vote on whether to fund it and what to expect moving forward.  The City of New Brighton will be proposing to spend up to $15,000 this year for treatment as they understand time is of the essence and doubtful Ramsey County will have any funding approved that quickly.

After this year, the City will be looking for assistance in funding from Ramsey County as well as LLIA (and any other source we can come up with).

Please see more information in the Events section for the City Hall Meetings and please voice your AIS concerns directly to our Council Members at the following email addresses: 

val.johnson@newbrightonmn.gov; gina.bauman@newbrightonmn.gov; mary.burg@newbrightonmn.gov; paul.jacobsen@newbrightonmn.gov; brian.strub@newbrightonmn.gov; dean.lotter@newbrightonmn.gov

Ramsey County has informed us that the commercial effort to remove carp was unsuccessful due to the net getting snagged on debris.  This prevented them from bringing in any fish.  They’re hoping to give it another try before the end of winter and we'll keep you posted.  

Carp fishermen began setting up today by cutting a trench through the ice where the netting will go.  They've setup thin ice signs around this.  They'll be on the lake for a few days and should be wrapped up before the weekend.

LLIA will be interviewing three Weed Management companies and will provide an update in January.  

After a warm November, the south bay finally froze up on December 8th.  Hopefully we have some cold temps ahead to make it safe.  Remember, 4 inches of ice to safely walk on.  

I've seen bulldozers around the regional park, but couldn't find any information.  I reached out to Ramsey County and received this response.

The proposed Lion's Park in New Brighton is a collaborative park project between the city of New Brighton and Ramsey County Parks & Recreation. The New Brighton city portion of park will be located just to the south of Long Lake Regional Park and will include a softball field, lacrosse/multi-purpose field, play area, trails and related park amenities. Ramsey County is planning park development that will complement the new park, including a park shelter, nature play area, trails, restrooms, parking lot and additional park amenities within the portion of Long Lake Regional Park that is directly adjacent to Lion's Park. As a part of the Lion's Park development project, a shared parking lot, trail connections and associated site grading and utility improvements will be made to allow future amenities to be completed. 

For more information on the project, please click on the attached link: http://www.newbrightonmn.gov/new-park-constructed-new-brighton/

Please let me know if you have any further questions.

Scott Yonke, PLA | Director of Planning and Development

I reached out to Ramsey County and got this info regarding the tree removal.  

The trees that are being removed around the park are all for a natural resource restoration project to promote and restoration of the oak woodlands and conversion of brome field to prairie.  The majority of the material is invasive buckthorn, with other larger trees being removed to decrease the encroachment on the oak trees and field areas that will be converted to prairie. This will allow more sunlight to the Prairie and forest floor to promote growth of native grass and forb plants within the understory.  Clearing efforts will continue this winter and then a prescribed burn through numerous areas around the park this spring of 2017 followed by native seed and oak trees being planted.   

The information about the Long Lake restoration will be posted on our website shortly.

Michael Goodnature | Natural Resources Manager