LMCD approves funds for Stubbs Bay, Forest Lake AIS work

Amidst a funding transition towards citizen-initiated Lake Improvement Districts (LIDs), the Lake Minnetonka Conservation District approved a funding request from the Lake Minnetonka Association (LMA) for Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) treatment for Stubbs Bay and Forest Lake.

LMA Director Eric Evenson requested $8,750 for bay-wide treatment in Stubbs Bay and $1,050 to help pay for a point intercept survey in Forest Lake that the Friends of Forest Lake completed earlier this year.

The funding will be dispersed on the condition that the LMA provides an informal update next year to speak of the success of the treatment.

The Stubbs Bay Homeowners Association completed a point intercept survey and a Eurasian watermilfoil/curly leaf pondweed survey in 2024 that confirmed homeowner concerns of AIS. After completing these surveys in addition to a small amount of treatment, the LMA is prepared to conduct bay-wide treatment next year with this funding.

Homeowners on Forest Lake have reported seeing Eurasian water milfoil and curly leaf pondweed, which this survey could confirm.

These projects would all but deplete the LMCD’s allocated budget towards AIS, with Interim Executive Director Jim Brimeyer noting at the Sept. 25 meeting that LMCD is not allocating any dollars towards AIS treatment in 2025. The LMCD held $50,000 for AIS in 2024, but had used a portion of those funds towards other budget overages. Prior to these funding requests, the LMCD held roughly $10,000 for AIS.

The LMCD disbanded its AIS committee last June, but has still found ways to support local AIS treatment efforts, including providing kickstarter funding for seed projects like these.

The LMA continues to support the formation of LIDs, with Forest Lake and Crystal Bay the latest to embark towards the creation of one. These LIDs would continue to shoulder the majority of AIS treatment costs, should they finish forming. They must be approved by the majority of homeowners on each lake/bay before being approved by the City of Orono and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).