DNR calls for lake management plan

Before granting

dredging permit

for Sleepy Eye lake

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

SLEEPY EYE -- The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources seeks a watershed/ stormwater management plan before it will grant a permit authorizing limited dredging of Sleepy Eye Lake.

In a letter written to Sleepy Eye city Manager Mark Kober dated Friday, April 30, David Leuthe of the Waters Division of the DNR regional office in New Ulm, said the DNR will allow limited dredging of the lake after it receives the plan with specific commitments the City will make toward long-term lake and watershed health.

The letter stated that the DNR recognized that the City has taken some steps to address its watershed concerns, such as a no-phosphorus ordinance and a comprehensive watershed assessment study.

"We believe that we can work with you and your consultant to finalize some specific measures which you will be responsible for in watershed efforts," Leuthe said in the letter.

Almost a year ago, in an effort to get the dredging process moving, the Sleepy Eye Lake Committee hired Sleepy Eye native Stephen C. Hansen of Bonestroo and Associates of St. Paul to prepare an Environmental Assessment Worksheet, in an effort to dredge the lake this year. The City of Sleepy Eye budgeted about $300,000 for the project.

Leuthe recommended the City form a partnership with the Redwood Cottonwood River Control Area (RCRCA) for help in identifying potential grant sources and to gain strategy knowledge to help it effectively implement watershed management measures that will help protect the lake.

"Our mutual challenge is to define tangible practices that can be carried The DNR requested that the City pass ordinances requiring all developments (including the Pelzel addition) to include on-site storm water treatment consistent with current Pollution Control Agency standards.

The DNR required wetland restoration in the northeast part of the watershed that could include a set-aside farm program or included in the City storm water infrastructure via a joint planning process with Brown County.

Dredging permit conditions include:

* adherence to comprehensive watershed/storm water management plan requirements

* surface water restrictions

* dredge spoil effluent treatment

* limited aquatic plant removal

* lake and watershed monitoring

Sleepy Eye City Manager Mark Kober said the City has complied with DNR requirements in a technical memo created by Bonestroo and Associates. Earlier this year, the City Council approved a storm water holding pond for the Pelzel Addition.

"It's good," Kober said. "We're ready to do land stewardship work and begin dredging this year."

The Sleepy Eye Lake Committee initially proposed to dredge 450,000-600,000 cubic yards of lake sediment.

The DNR said in October 2001 that it could not support such a proposal, favoring a 150,000 cubic yard dredging limit.

Two years ago, the Lake Committee, an arm of the Sleepy Eye City Council, hired St. Cloud attorney Kurt Deter of the Rinke-Noonan law firm of St. Cloud to deal with the dredging issue. Deter wrote a letter to the regional DNR office asking that issues be resolved.