Lake Management Plan For

Lake Mary Douglas County, Minnesota

Revised: April 2010 Healthy Lakes & Rivers Partnership Committee Lake Mary Association

Lake Mary Association Lake Management Plan

1 2010

Table of Contents Management Plan for Lake Mary I.

Introduction: Summary of Healthy Lakes & Rivers Partnership Program Physical Description of your lake or drainage a) Watershed size / Water level b) Precipitation c) Soils d) Watershed Hydrology e) Land Use History of development/impacts on your lake

Page - 3 3 4 5 5 6 7 7 9

Organizational history a) Mission b) Structure c) Accomplishments II.

Review of historical and existing conditions for nine focus areas: Water Quality Fisheries Management Plans Aquatic vegetation Wildlife Exotic Species Land Use and zoning Managing water surface use conflicts Public water access Organizational Development and Communication

10 10 14 16 17 17 20 22 23 24

III.

Summary/Conclusion Outcome of Visioning Sessions

25 25

IV.

Priorities and Action Plans

29

Appendices Appendix I: Appendix II: Appendix III: Appendix IV:

2006 Lake Assessment Program study of Lake Mary DNR Fisheries Management Plan for Lake Mary Articles of Incorporations By-Laws of Association

Glossary Guide to Common Acronyms and abbreviations

Lake Mary Association Lake Management Plan

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I.

Introduction:

Summary of Healthy Lakes and Rivers Partnership Program In May 2010 the Lake Mary Association was invited to participate in the Healthy Lakes and Rivers Partnership program along with eight other Lake Associations in Ottertail, Beltrami and Clearwater Counties. Under the coordination of Steve Henry (Ottertail County Soil & Water Conservation District), Emily Siira (Douglas County Soil & Water Conservation District), and Brad Grant (Becker County Soil & Water Conservation District) representatives attended two days of training on strategic planning, communication, and nonprofit group leadership. Representatives of many state and local agencies, as well as nonprofit organizations also attended the training sessions in order to offer their assistance to each group in developing a strategic Lake Management Plan. The Lake Mary Association was represented at the Healthy Lakes & Rivers training sessions by: Tim Ward, Gary Bahn, Sandy Wilkey, Jan Belivue, Arlis Dokken, Linda Dokken-Mcfann & Gertie Wolf. Each Lake Association held an inclusive community planning/visioning session designed to identify key community concerns, assets, opportunities, and priorities. The Lake Mary Association held this planning session August 23, 2008 - facilitated by Marilyn Bayerl, Bayerl Water Resources. Approximately 15 people were in attendance, with about 80 percent of the participants describing themselves as year round residents. Details of the public input received at this session are provided within this plan. On August 21, 2010 the Lake Mary Association hosted a feedback session to affirm priorities. Approximately 60 association members, Dean Beck, DNR and Don Hickman, Initiative Foundation were in attendance. This document is intended to create a record of historic and existing conditions and influences on Lake Mary, and to identify the goals of the Lake Mary community. Ultimately it is meant to also help prioritize goals, and guide citizen action and engagement in the priority action areas. Clearly state agencies and local units of government have a vital role and responsibility in managing surface waters and other natural resources, but above all else this Lake Management Plan is intended to be an assessment of what we as citizens can influence, what our desired outcomes are, and how we will participate in shaping our own destiny. This Lake Management Plan is also intended to be a “living document;” as new or better information becomes available, as we accomplish our goals or discover that alternative strategies are needed, it is our intent to update this plan so that it continues to serve as a useful guide to future leaders. In discussing lake management issues, it is impossible to avoid all scientific or technical terms. We have tried to express our goals, measures of success, and other themes as simply and clearly as possible, but have included a glossary of common limnological terms at the end of the plan to assist the reader. Limnology is the state of lake conditions and behavior. Finally, we would like to thank the funders of the Healthy Lakes & Rivers Partnership program for Becker, Douglas, and Ottertail Counties, including West Central Initiative, the McKnight Foundation, the Initiative Foundation and Minnesota Waters.

Lake Mary Association Lake Management Plan

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Physical Characteristics and location of Lake Mary Lake Mary (#21-0092) is located in Douglas County, approximately seven miles southwest of Alexandria, Minnesota. Lake Mary has a surface area of 2,371 acres with a maximum depth of 40 feet. Approximately 1,020 acres (43 percent) of lake is within the littoral zone (having a depth of less than 15 feet). Water clarity averages 3.5 feet. In 2005 the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency conducted a Lake Assessment Program (LAP) study of Lake Mary which is included as Appendix I to this citizen-based Lake Management Plan and is cited frequently as a source of information.

Lake Mary Association Lake Management Plan

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Water Level: The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Division of Waters has monitored Lake Mary levels in cooperation with volunteer readers since 1955. During the period of record the lake level has varied 5.31 feet based on 336 readings (through November 2009). In general, water levels decline from May through September, with the exception of a slight increase in mid-July in response to storms. Highest Recorded (feet/date)

Lowest Recorded (feet/date)

1,371.3 ft (November 1, 1986)

1,365.99 ft (Jan. 25, 1989)

Ordinary High Water (feet) 1,369.1 ft.

Lake Mary Elevation Ordinary High Water = 1,369.1 feet Lake Elevation (feet above sea level)

1372.00 1371.00 1370.00 1369.00 1368.00 1367.00 1366.00 1365.00 1364.00 1363.00

Precipitation In 2006 the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency conducted a Lake Assessment Program (LAP) study of Lake Mary and noted that in this part of the state average annual precipitation ranges around 24 to 26 inches and evaporation averages around 35 inches annually.

Lake Mary Association Lake Management Plan

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Soils The MPCA’s 2005 Lake Assessment Program (LAP) report included the following summary of soils within the Lake Mary drainage: Lake Mary was likely formed as an ice-block basin in till or outwash deposits characteristic of this portion of Douglas County (Zumberge, 1952). Soils near the lake consist of medium to fine textured prairie soils. This area is gently rolling to hilly, with well to excessively drained soils.

Watershed The LAP study includes the following characterization of the Lake Mary watershed: The total acreage based on this map is about 18,580 acres, which corresponds closely to a MPCA mapping of the watershed (18,112 acres) in 1981 as a part of a statewide Clean Lakes Program study (MPCA, 1982). A review of drainage patterns indicates flows are predominately from the east (Lake Andrew area) and south (Pocket Lake). Lake Mary outlets through Skoglund Slough (under County Road 114) and as such much of the land west of 114 would drain westward (away from Mary) with the exception of land on the northwest corner that is drained by a drainage ditch under County 27 and 114. As a result, the majority of the watershed of Lake Mary lies to the east and south of the lake. Lake Andrew (about 950 acres) is a prominent feature to the east and its watershed comprises about 3,600 acres. Pocket Lake and its watershed to the south account for about 1,790 acres. This leaves about 10,819 acres of direct drainage to Lake Mary from its surrounding watershed. Land use in the watershed of Lake Mary is rather typical for the North Central Hardwoods Forest ecoregion, with a dominance of agriculture followed by water/wetland areas Lake Mary Minor Watershed Land Use and

Lake Mary

Ecoregion Comparison Land Use %

NCHF Ecoregion

Forest

5

6-25

Wetlands/Water

22

14-30

Pasture/Grassland

9

11-25

Cultivated (agriculture)

61

22-50

Urban

3

2-9

Lake Mary Association Lake Management Plan

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Lake Mary is a part of a ditch system as shown in the parcel map to the right. County Ditch #9 enters the lake through four inlets, with an outlet on the west side through Skoglund Slough to Mill Lake. The outlet structure is set at three feet below the OHW of Lake Mary in order to accommodate the drainage needs of the agriculture community within the lakeshed. Other inlets to the lake come from the south end through Pocket Lake and from the southeast meandering through wetlands after leaving Lake Andrews. Nutrients coming into Lake Mary from these inlets contribute to the overall water quality. One effect of the ditch system is that wetlands throughout the watershed have been drained. Wetlands are an important part of a drainage system, holding water during large rain events and filtering nutrients that would otherwise enter the lake.

Lake Mary Association Lake Management Plan

7 2010

The Restorable Depressional Wetlands survey has been developed in cooperation with several State, federal and non-profit agencies. Areas in red on the map below are wetlands that have been drained. County Ditch #9 has facilitated large amounts of drainage in the past. This land has been converted to agricultural use. Restoring wetlands along the ditch will improve the quality of water going into Lake Mary. The immediate lakeshed will benefit greatly from any storage of water prior to running into the lake. Wetlands are protected by the Wetlands Conservation Act. Often developments require wetlands to be filled for building of roads and buildings. Incentive programs through the Soil and Water Conservation District can help farmers keep their wetlands and still get a payment for the land through Conservation Reserve Programs.

Lake Mary Association Lake Management Plan

8 2010

Introduction/History of Lake Mary Association In November of 1991 Lake Mary Association was formed by seven of our neighbors, Tom Roos, Mike Tripp, Dan Gusaas, Al Johnson, Dan Zismer, Harold Skoglund and John Melin. The original leaders and members of the association were instrumental in getting a Lake Mary stocking plan, catching carp and working to improve our fishery. The Lake Association has been very active in the past few years and continues to stand for protecting & preserving the quantity and quality of Lake Mary. We know if we protect the quality of our water not only do we have all the pleasures of a clean lake to enjoy, but a quality fishery as well. The past years have seen declining water quality in Lake Mary and it is our job as lake property owners and concerned citizens to do everything in our power to not just put a stop to the deterioration, but to help the lake improve its water quality by wise environmental decisions. Lake Mary Association is a registered 501 (3) ( C ) organization with the IRS and contributions are tax deductible. The current membership represents local year round residents and seasonal residents, all concerned citizens are welcome to join. We continue to work with local government bodies regarding development around Lake Mary as well other environmental impacts that may affect Lake Mary. Additionally we continue to work with the DRN regarding supplemental stocking on a need to basis as well as rough fish removal. Lake Mary, as with most lakes in Minnesota, has a rich history which likely has an influence on present-day water quality and lake ecology. However we lack many details on this history. A few events are summarized below. 1974 – Estimated that there were 13 resorts and 105 dwellings around the lake; 1980 - Lake Mary was included in an EPA sponsored Clean Lakes Study that was carried out by the MPCA. This marked some of the earliest data collections on the lake. 1992 – Resident on Lake Mary is enrolled in MPCA’s Citizen Lake Monitoring Program CLMP). 1998 – Sewer was installed around Lake Mary as part of ALASD 2000 - County Ditch #9 that feeds and drains Lake Mary was dug out. 2004 – Request for Lake Assessment Program study 2005 – LAP study conducted. 2008 - July 12, Information regarding the upcoming survey and visioning sessions for utilization in the Plan was presented at the Association’s annual meeting. 2008 - July 15, The Lake Mary Association Property Owners Survey was mailed or emailed to approximately 400 part or full-time residents within the lakeshed of the Lake. A response was received from about 79 residents, about 20 percent of the property owners surveyed. 2008 - August 23, A Visioning Session was held at Lake Mary Town Hall. It was attended by 15 concerned citizens and local government. A consensus of priority concerns was reached at this meeting. 2009 - A draft of the Lake Management Plan was presented to the Lake Mary Association board for feedback / approval. 2010 – August 21, A breakfast feedback session was held to re-affirm the priority concerns. It was attended by approximately 60 people.

Lake Mary Association Lake Management Plan

9 2010

II.

Review of historical and existing conditions:

Water Quality Since 1978, citizen volunteers from Lake Mary have participated in the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s (MPCA) Citizen Lake Monitoring Program (CLMP), recording secchi disc transparency – a measure of water clarity. Terry Schmidt, Gary Bahn, Len Carlson, and Tim Bayerl have been responsible for these efforts in recent years. On the MPCA’s web-site link, “Lake Water Quality Database,” additional water chemistry data is reported. The MPCA’s “Environmental Database Access” system also provides additional water chemistry data which includes total phosphorus concentrations, as well as other data. One application of secchi disc transparency data is to convert the clarity measurements into a Carlson Trophic Status Index (TSI) score. The Carlson Trophic Status Index (TSI) is a tool used to summarize several measurements of water quality into one index value, which can be used to compare a lake to other lakes, or to historic/future data as a measure of degradation or improvement. In many ways, the index can be viewed as a measure of the potential for algal productivity. Since most people value lakes with low algae productivity, the lower the TSI value, the healthier the lake. Specifically: TSI Range

Trophic Status

Characteristics

0-40

Oligotrophic

Clean Lake

41-50

Mesotrophic

Temporary algae & aquatic plant problems

50-70

Eutrophic

Persistent algae & aquatic plant problems

Greater than 70

Hyper-eutrophic

Extreme algae & aquatic plant problems

As a result of the visioning session and as part of this document, one of the projects we started in 2010 is monitoring the inlets. Lake Mary has four inlets that the Lake Association started monitoring in the spring of 2010. Those four inlets are located starting on the east side by the carp trap, secondly where Lake Andrew drains to Lake Mary and then under County Rd 4 via Co Ditch # 9 and lastly with where Co ditch #9 runs under hwy 27 & hwy 114 to a slough and then under County Rd 91 to lake Mary on the west side. First in cooperation with the MPCA we began to test the inlets with Transparency tubes. We later added and are beginning to establish a baseline of information by having the water tested for total PH with RMB labs. We are doing monitoring on same dates as lake monitoring, but are also adding a test after significant rain events when possible. Late in the summer we also set a test for water that is coming from a drain pipe on the west side by Elmwood Resort. As noted above the data will be available at the MPCA website and at RMBel.info. Depending on actual data accumulated the intent is to follow any possible issue up stream to the possible point of origin.

Lake Mary Association Lake Management Plan

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Based on the data provided on the MPCA website, an average concentration (or depth) for the key TSI parameters can be determined, and the associated TSI score calculated. Average TSI Measurements for Lake Mary, 1995-2009. Year

Chlorophyll a (µg/L)

Total Phosphorus

Secchi Depth

Average TSI

(feet)

(µg/L) 1995

---

---

6.4

51.2

1996

---

---

7.7

47.8

1997

---

---

7.2

49.0

1998

7.3

29.7

8.7

48.4

1999

7.0

28.0

7.3

49.1

2000

11.5

32.3

4.7

56.1

2001

11.8

34.0

6.2

53.3

2002

6.8

25.6

7.3

49.9

2003

---

---

4.0

57.5

2004

7.4

31.0

6.9

50.0

2005

6.9

28.2

6.9

50.5

2006

16.0

30.3

8.9

47.0

2007

14.0

31.1

5.2

54.1

2008

10.4

31.3

6.3

51.5

2009

9.2

33.2

7.4

51.5

These data suggest that water quality in Lake Mary routinely exhibits conditions between eutrophic range (a score above 50 but below 70) and mesotrophic (a score above 40 but below 50). A graph of all TSI data on record is presented on page 16. In the MPCA’s Report on the Transparency of Minnesota Lakes (2006 edition), these data were statistically analyzed, and Lake Mary was classified as demonstrating a “declining trend” with respect to water clarity.

Lake Mary Association Lake Management Plan

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The graph above shows the long-term trend in Trophic Status Index values the years for which data are available for Lake Mary. The variation observed within a single year reflects naturally occurring impacts of temperature, precipitation and water level; the important ‘take home message” of this graph is that the data suggests range within mesotrophic or lower eutrophic conditions since data were first collected in 1995. A second method of assessing water quality and determining whether your water body is the “best that it can be” is to compare it to other lakes of similar morphology, geology, and land uses. The table below is adapted from the MN Pollution Control Agency “Environmental Data Access” database, and compares observed surface water results in Lake Mary to common water quality ranges for lakes within the North Central Hardwood Forest Eco-region. Average Summer Water Quality and Trophic Status Indicators:

Parameter Total Phosphorus (μg/L)

Typical Range: North Central Hardwood Forest Eco-region th (25 -75th Percentile) 23 – 50

Lake Mary (#21-0092) 30.2 + 9.1

Chlorophyll a (μg/L) mean

5 – 22

9.4 + 5.4

Chlorophyll a (μg/L) maximum

7 – 37

25

4.9 – 10.5

6.6 + 2.5

< 0.60 – 1.2

0.98 + 0.03

Nitrite + Nitrate Nitrogen (mg/L)