Join our Watershed Advisory Committee!

Posted by PLSLWD Staff - February 26, 2021 - News

The District is currently seeking new members to join the Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC). The committee is comprised of residents who provide input and recommendations to the District’s Board of Managers on projects, goals and priorities aimed at protecting and enhancing the watershed’s lakes and natural resources. Committee members serve three year terms.

The CAC acts as the primary interface for the Board to address current issues and concerns of local citizens and increases community awareness and generate ideas to improve water quality and habitat. CAC members also help educate the community to protect our lakes, natural habitat, wildlife and water resources. This year, the CAC’s priorities are shoreline restoration, aquatic invasive species, fish stocking and water storage.

CAC meetings are held from 6:30-8:00 pm on the last Thursday of the month. Meetings are normally at Prior Lake City Hall but are currently being held virtually.

To apply, interested residents should fill out an application, found here, and submit to kkeller-miller@plslwd.org.

View Full Article CAC, Citizen Advisory Committee, advisory committee, volunteer

Volunteer Clean-Up: Oct 23-25

Posted by PLSLWD Staff - October 6, 2020 - News

This fall’s Clean Water Clean-Up is still on, but will look a little different than usual to give volunteers more flexibility and reduce the number of people present at the same time. The clean-up will be held over the weekend of Oct. 23-25 at Sand Point Beach Park (14349 Crest Ave) and Jeffers Pond in Prior Lake. Volunteers can come any time over the course of the weekend and will have the option of removing buckthorn at Jeffers Pond and/or raking leaves at Sand Point Beach!

We ask that all volunteers sign-up for the event beforehand as event details will be emailed to participants prior to the event. To sign up for the event click here.

As usual volunteers should bring their own work gloves and tools to rake or remove buckthorn. Event is free and family-friendly. Volunteers will be entered into drawing for door prizes from local businesses. View Full Article →

View Full Article CWCU, Jeffers Pond, Prior Lake, Sand Point Beach, clean up, clean water clean up, community event, event, volunteer

Seeking New Carp Volunteers

Posted by PLSLWD Staff - June 24, 2020 - News, Carp Management, Prior Lake, Spring Lake

We are looking for volunteers to assist with several projects:

Training the Carp: Help train the carp with bait and sound.
Baited Box Traps: Check and bait box traps for the carp.
Carp espionage: Keep an eye on a specific location and report carp sightings.
Carp Tracking: Use the Yagi antennae to track the locations of tagged carp in the lake.

Training is provided and no experience is necessary. Materials are supplied.

For more information, visit the carp volunteer page and click on each project for more information.

To volunteer: fill out the sign-up form here.

View Full Article carp, carp baiting, carp management, carp tracking, carp volunteers, volunteer, volunteering

Busting Buckthorn & Raking Leaves – Successful Clean-Up at Fish Point Park

Posted by PLSLWD Staff - April 30, 2019 - News

The weather was practically perfect last Sunday as roughly 50 volunteers gathered for the 2019 Spring Clean Water Clean-Up held at Fish Point Park in Prior Lake. The annual Spring Clean Water Clean-Up was co-hosted by the Prior Lake-Spring Lake Watershed District and the City of Prior Lake.

Volunteers pitched in to remove buckthorn, rake leaves, pick up trash and clean out the park’s iron-enhanced sand filter which catches phosphorus from the 80 acres that funnels through the park before entering Prior Lake. Excessive phosphorus levels can cause algae blooms in lakes and wetlands.

This hard-working group removed 1.8 tons (3600 lbs.) of buckthorn and nearly 1.6 tons (3200 lbs.) of leaves from the park. Volunteers included many neighbors and local community members who helped clean-up the park and protect the water quality in Prior Lake.

Why remove buckthorn and rake leaves? Buckthorn is an invasive, non-native shrub which takes over wooded areas, shading out native woodland plants. Leaves and other organic matter are carried by stormwater into storm drains and end up in lakes and streams. Once in the waterbodies, they release phosphorus, which feeds algae. Algae growth is a serious threat to water quality, aquatic life, property values and water recreation.

Many local businesses generously provided door prizes and volunteers were treated to a variety of refreshments, including hotdogs provided by the Prior Lake Association.

Photos from the event can be found on the Watershed District’s Facebook page. Special thanks to Jen Reinders for sharing her photos from the event with us!

Missed out on the fun? The District and the City will be hosting another clean-up this fall. Stay tuned by checking the Watershed District or City websites or email kkeller-miller@plslwd.org to be added to the email notification list.

Photo credit: Jen Reinders

View Full Article CWCU, Fish Point Park, buckthorn, clean up, clean water clean up, leaves, volunteer

Successful Clean-Up Event at Sand Point Beach Park

Posted by PLSLWD Staff - November 6, 2018 - News, Prior Lake

Nearly 50 volunteers worked up a sweat while cleaning up Sand Point Beach Park in Prior Lake on Oct. 28. The annual Fall Clean Water Clean-Up was hosted by the City of Prior Lake and the Prior Lake-Spring Lake Watershed District.

Volunteers pitched in to rake leaves and pull buckthorn to help keep Prior Lake clean and local Scouts planted over 50 shrubs at the park around the newly retrofitted stormwater ponds and water-cleaning iron-enhanced sand filter. Volunteers included many neighbors, local community members and local Scout Troop 339 and Pack 339. Many local businesses generously provided door prizes and volunteers were treated to refreshments, including donuts donated by Edelweiss Bakery.

Volunteers removed a truckload of buckthorn and raked over 2.5 tons of leaves. Excellent work in only a couple hours, many hands makes light work! Many photos from the event are posted on the Watershed District’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/PLSLWD/

Why rake up leaves & remove buckthorn? Leaves and other organic matter are carried by stormwater into storm drains and end up in lakes and streams. Once in the waterbodies they release the nutrient phosphorus, which feeds algae. Algae growth is a serious threat to water quality, aquatic life, property values and water recreation. Buckthorn is an invasive, non-native shrub that takes over wooded areas, by outcompeting native woodland plants which leads to more soil erosion and degraded wildlife habitat.

Buckthorn is quite obvious this time of year, as it’s one of the few things in the woods that is still green. If you have buckthorn in your backyard that you would like to remove, now is a good time! The City of Prior Lake even has buckthorn pullers available for residents to borrow at no cost. To check out a puller, contact Barb at the Maintenance Center at 952-447-9896.

Missed out on the fun? The District and the City will be hosting another clean-up next spring. Stay tuned by checking the Watershed District or City websites or email kkeller-miller@plslwd.org to be added to the email notification list.

View Full Article CWCU, Prior Lake, Sand Point, buckthorn, clean up, clean water clean up, volunteer