Prior Lake Spring Lake Watershed District
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Posts tagged "spring"

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

7 Spring Lawn Care Tips for Clean Water

Posted by PLSLWD Staff - April 24, 2019 - News

Spring is here and winter is behind us.  Finally we are able to get outside and spend some time in the yard.  Along with all the barbeques, games of catch, and playing with the dog comes yard maintenance.  Remember that how we care for our yards affects the health of our rivers, lakes, and wetlands. Water conservation is not only about using less water, but also about keeping that water clean and free from pollution.  Follow these yard care tips for cleaner water this spring:

  • Sweep up extra salt!  If there are places where there is dry salt on the sidewalk left over from winter, sweep it up and save it for next year.  If left on the sidewalk, this salt will get washed away by rain into local waterbodies where pollution from salt is a growing problem.
     
  • Pick up after pets! In addition to containing phosphorus, pet waste contains bacteria which can lead to beach-closings. Bacteria from animal waste is a growing water quality concern, and pet waste is a large contributor.  Collect pet waste in plastic bags and place it in the trash.  Pet waste does not just disappear.  When left on the lawn, rain water will break it apart and carry it to the stormdrain.
     
  • Clean up grass clippings! When mowing, keep grass clippings off of sidewalks, driveways, and streets.  If clippings do stray, blow or sweep them back onto the lawn to be used as mulch.  Please don’t hose them into the gutter and stormwater system!  This wastes water and adds phosphorus to our local water bodies.
     
  • Soak up the rain naturally! Natural landscapes soak up rain like a sponge. Converting excess lawn to native plants means longer roots, allowing rain water to soak in.  Be sure to direct your downspouts onto your lawn and landscaping so the rain water can soak in instead of running down your driveway into the gutter.  If you are adventurous, you can create a raingarden, a landscape bed with a shallow depression designed to capture and soak up rain water.
     
  • Catch the rain! Consider installing a rain barrel.  Rain barrels catch water during while it is raining, reducing stormwater, plus you can use that rain water later to water your garden during a dry spell.  It is a win-win.
     
  • Water wisely! If you have a sprinkler system, make sure it is not running when your lawn already has enough water!  Many automatic sprinkler systems run whether they need to or not. This not only unnecessary, it also creates additional stormwater.  Most lawns need just one inch of water each week, including rainfall, so water less if it has recently rained, or if rain in the forecast.  Also, make sure your sprinkler is watering your lawn and landscaping and not your driveway or sidewalk.
     
  • Keep soil in place! Bare soil from your yard can easily wash away with rain and fill in wetlands, rivers and lake bottoms. In addition to destroying aquatic wildlife habitat, dirt carries phosphorus, the pollutant that turns lakes green with algae. Cover bare areas of your lawn with grass seed or other perennial vegetation to keep the ground covered.

Everything we do on our lawns, driveways and yards eventually ends up in our rivers, lakes and wetlands. Everyday decisions do matter.

View Full Article Inspiring Action, clean water, home & yard, lawn, pets, salt, spring, water, yard

Celebrate Spring! Join us April 28 for Spring Clean-Up

Posted by PLSLWD Staff - April 4, 2019 - News

It’s been a long winter, so come celebrate spring and join us for our Spring 2019 Clean Water Clean-Up Sunday, April 28th at Fish Point Park in Prior Lake from 9:00 – 11:30 am! 

Bring the whole family to this fun event and help us remove buckthorn and rake leaves at the park. Registration is now open and takes just a minute or two. Please register here for this free, family-friendly event!

Don’t forget to bring your own rake! Volunteers will receive a bandanna & snacks and be entered to win some great door prizes donated by local businesses. 

In case of inclement weather, the clean-up will be rescheduled for the following Sunday on May 5th. If the event needs to be rescheduled we will send out an email and post it on our website.

Don’t forget to invite your friends & neighbors!

View Full Article Fish Point Park, clean water clean up, event, spring, volunteer event

Keeping an Eye on Springtime Lake Levels – UPDATE 5/2

Posted by PLSLWD Staff - May 3, 2018 - News, Flooding Updates, Prior Lake, Spring Lake

The City of Prior Lake and Prior Lake-Spring Lake Watershed District (PLSLWD) staff continually monitor local conditions including winter snowpack, precipitation, and lake levels to assess flooding risk. Early spring is one time of year when flooding potential receives some extra attention. According to the National Weather Service office in Chanhassen, the weather outlook and the potential for snow or rain are the biggest wild card every year. At this point, additional rainfall would be the main spring flood driver.

Based on an analysis done by City staff, there isn’t a strong correlation between the lake level at ice-out and the eventual high-water elevation for Prior Lake in any given year. For example, in 2014 the early spring level for Prior Lake was very close to the long-term average of about 901.6 on April 20; the record flooding level of 906.17 recorded on June 30 was caused by above-average rainfall events over a period of a few weeks in May and June. Other years, such as 2001, start out with high lake levels (902.75 on 4/15/2001) but the lake’s high-water level for the year is recorded shortly thereafter (904.33 on 4/30/2001); in that case melting snow likely contributed to the high-water levels.

CURRENT CONDITIONS AS OF MAY 2, 2018:  Ice-out occurred this week and there is no longer any snowpack in the watershed above Spring Lake and Prior Lake. Spring Lake levels have been declining for about a week, although it continues to discharge to Prior Lake. Prior Lake appears to have View Full Article →

View Full Article Prior Lake, Spring Lake, flooding, lake levels, spring

Keeping an Eye on Springtime Lake Levels

Posted by PLSLWD Staff - April 23, 2018 - News, Flooding Updates, Prior Lake, Spring Lake

The City of Prior Lake and Prior Lake-Spring Lake Watershed District (PLSLWD) staff continually monitor local conditions including winter snowpack, precipitation, and lake levels to assess flooding risk. Early spring is one time of year when flooding potential receives some extra attention. According to the National Weather Service office in Chanhassen, the weather outlook and the potential for snow or rain are the biggest wild card every year. At this point, additional rainfall would be the main spring flood driver.

Based on an analysis done by City staff, there isn’t a strong correlation between the lake level at ice-out and the eventual high-water elevation for Prior Lake in any given year. For example, in 2014 the early spring level for Prior Lake was very close to the long-term average of about 901.6 on April 20; the record flooding level of 906.17 recorded on June 30 was caused by above-average rainfall events over a period of a few weeks in May and June. Other years, such as 2001, start out with high lake levels (902.75 on 4/15/2001) but the lake’s high-water level for the year is recorded shortly thereafter (904.33 on 4/30/2001); in that case melting snow likely contributed to the high-water levels.

CURRENT CONDITIONS AS OF APRIL 23, 2018:  There is currently very little snowpack in the watershed above Spring Lake and Prior Lake after the warm weather this past weekend. Lake levels are rising and will continue to rise as the last of the snow melts.  The water level of Prior Lake was 902.89 on April 23 which is slightly above the long-term early spring average of about 902.6. The lake continues to discharge through View Full Article →

View Full Article Prior Lake, Spring Lake, flooding, lake levels, spring

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

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