Prior Lake Spring Lake Watershed District
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News

2021 Paid Summer Internships: Now Hiring!

Posted by PLSLWD Staff - January 26, 2021 - News

It’s that time of year! The District is once again hiring two Water Resources Interns for the summer.

Interns monitor the District’s conservation easements; assist with projects; support the District’s education and outreach efforts to the public; complete water quality monitoring; and assist with erosion & sediment control site inspections.

The internship is a 10 week, full-time PAID internship ($15/hour). The goals of the internship are to allow interns to gain valuable skills that will prepare them for a career in the natural resources field, learn more about local government and watershed districts and explore career options.

To view the full position description, details and requirements click here.

To apply: Submit a formal cover letter and resume directly to Kathryn Keller-Miller at kkeller-miller@plslwd.org with the position title in the email submit line.

Applications received by 11:59 pm on February 21, 2021 will be given priority. However, rolling applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

View Full Article employment, intern, internship, summer intern

Grants Available for Chloride Reduction Equipment

Posted by PLSLWD Staff - January 21, 2021 - News

Funds are available through the Scott SWCD to help Scott County organizations and private winter maintenance contractors purchase winter de-icing equipment. Reduce your salt use today to save money and help protect local lakes & streams from salt pollution.

Grants provide up to $3,000 to purchase:

  • Salting shields
  • Liquid-based salt tanks and sprayers
  • High precision applicators
  • Changing from granular salt application to brine application

Eligible applicants include:

  • Private winter maintenance contractor
  • Non-profit organization who does their own winter maintenance on parking lots & sidewalks
  • Public & private school districts

Visit www.scottswcd.org/chloride for official application and program details.

View Full Article chloride, chlorides, cost-share, grants, maintenance, pollution, salt, winter, winter maintenance

District Catches Best Program Award for Carp Management

Posted by PLSLWD Staff - December 29, 2020 - News

The District is honored to have been awarded the Program of the Year at the 2020 Minnesota Association of Watershed Districts’ (MAWD) annual conference earlier this month!

The carp certainly kept staff very busy in 2020. From tagging and tracking carp to carp seining and new removal techniques, it’s been a busy year. Check out some of the carp management and see some photos of work the District has done in 2020 in this cool StoryMap here.

Shown above are District and WSB staff (our carp consultant) Mary Newman (WSB), Maggie Karschnia (PLSLWD), Tony Havranek (WSB), Jordan Wein (WSB) and Jeff Anderson (PLSLWD) at a carp seine in 2020.

Since 2015, the District has undertaken a comprehensive effort to reduce common carp in Prior Lake and Spring Lake, creating and implementing an Integrated Pest Management Plan (IPM) to reduce internal phosphorus loading in the lakes which are impaired for excess nutrients including phosphorus.

Besides using traditional techniques of estimating carp biomass and carp seines, the District developed its own traps; herded carp underwater to trapping locations; trained citizens to locate and bait carp; instituted innovative netting techniques and used underwater and stationary cameras to locate carp and improve haul success.

“This is an iterative process, but so far carp removal efforts have resulted in substantial carp biomass removal and progress has been made on meeting the goals,” said Maggie Karschnia, Water Resources Project Manager.

To watch a video of a carp seining event, learn more about the methods used to manage carp, or to find out how residents and lake enthusiasts can help, check out the District’s carp management page here and the Carp Volunteer page here.

View Full Article Best Program, MAWD, award, carp management

How was lake water quality in 2020?

Posted by PLSLWD Staff - December 26, 2020 - News, Prior Lake, Spring Lake

In a bright spot of 2020, both Spring and Prior Lakes saw improved water quality this year which was a boon to everyone who swarmed to the lake this summer for swimming, fishing and boating. This year marked the first time that all three water quality standards – the goal for a healthy lake – were met on either Spring Lake or Upper Prior Lake.

In the graphs shown below you can see how the levels for each of three water quality parameters have generally improved over time for each lake. The dashed lines show the water quality standards – the goal to meet for good water quality.

Water clarity (Secchi disk depth), total phosphorus concentration and chlorophyll-a concentration are the main standards used by View Full Article →

View Full Article Prior Lake, Spring Lake, Upper Prior, Upper Prior Lake, Water quality, alum, alum treatment, phosphorus, spring

Maggie Karschnia lands statewide ‘Outstanding Watershed Employee’ Award

Posted by PLSLWD Staff - December 23, 2020 - News

Carp

The District is pleased to announce that Maggie Karschnia (above left), Water Resources Project Manager, has been awarded the 2020 Outstanding Watershed District Employee by the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR). The award was announced this month at Minnesota Association of Watershed District (MAWD) annual conference which was held virtually this year.

“Local staff is key to effective conservation delivery in Minnesota,” said John Jaschke, Executive Director of BSWR. “Maggie Karschnia’s dedication to preserving our water resources is commendable, and we appreciate all she does to further resource conservation.”

Currently serving as the Interim District Administrator as well as continuing her work as Water Resources Project Manager, Maggie joined the District in 2015 and took off running. She has transformed the the District’s carp management program, growing it into a curve-setting and award-winning program. This year the District’s carp management program was chosen as View Full Article →

View Full Article BWSR, PLSLWD staff, award, staff
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News & Events

  • Ongoing Projects
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Prior Lake – Spring Lake Watershed District

The District covers about 42 square miles in Scott County, MN. Water in the PLSLWD flows mainly from the southwest to the northeast through Spring, Upper Prior and Lower Prior Lakes, and then north through the Prior Lake Outlet Channel to the Minnesota River near Valley Fair amusement park.
Clean Water Land & Legacy Amendment

Prior Lake - Spring Lake Watershed District
4646 Dakota Street SE
Prior Lake, MN 55372

Phone: (952) 447-4166
Email: info@plslwd.org

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