Meeting of Advocates of A Healthy Lake Winona

Monday, January 12, 2015

County Govt. Center
5:00 7:00 pm.

Attending: Bernadette Mahfood, Tex Hawkins, Pam Eyden, Neal Mundahl, Chris
Meyer, Paul Schollmeier, Anne Morse, Helen Davis, Reggie McLeod, Lew Overhaug,
Eric Nelson, Julie Fassbender, Lynette Power, Laurie Rogers, Jeff Bernardy, Bill
Richardson, Sheila Harms, Caitlin Nicholson, Marie Kovecsi.
Introductions were made, and people made clear that they want to do whatever
they can to improve the quality of this outstanding community resource. Initial
discussions focused on the specifics of the lakes current impairments, and what can
be done. The January 2015 Keseley memo provided a basis for our engagement.
Neal Mundahl passed around one of the few remaining copies of A Lake Winona
Compendium, published in 1986 by Winona State University. Authored by Cal
Fremling and Glen Heins, it is the first and last in-depth summary of the history of
Lake Winona. It was a great starting point for each of us to begin the process of
understanding this resource.
Lew Overhaug reported that the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has
begun monitoring Lake Winona within the context of a Mississippi River/Winona
TMDL watershed analysis. The initial draft of the report shows that Lake Winona is
impaired for nutrients, and cannot adequately support aquatic recreational use.
More on where we are in the MPCA planning process here; note especially pg 32.
West Lake is substantially more impaired than East Lake. The primary excess
nutrient is from phosphorus, and many believe the sediment is the source of much
of the phosphorus. More on nutrients and water quality. Neal described the
dredging of East Lake that took place in the 1990s, and noted that it was effective
in improving the health of the East Lake. Dredging of West Lake is certainly
indicated, but how to fund such is a major challenge. The % sales tax that
funded the dredging of East Lake has since expired.
Without dredging, phosphorus is difficult to remove from lakes, and the algal blooms
that result from high phosphorus levels can be toxic to humans and animals.
Sources of phosphorus in Lake Winona are likely to be both from legacy fertilization
(when phosphorus was in still a component of lawn fertilizers and soaps), and from
current practices, including leaf litter that collects in the street, washes into the
storm sewers, and in turn flows into the lake. The City of Winona will soon be under
a state mandate to act to reduce/resolve the impairment. Examples of Best
Management Practices (BMPs).
The most effective option for reducing the high phosphorus levels is dredging, which
poses a challenge in terms of both cost and process. Results from dredging,
however, could be expected to last for fifty years or more, especially if the root
causes of the siltation, like stream bank and overland erosion, are addressed and
prevented. How to fund the dredging, and where the spoils would go, are key issues
that would have to be resolved. Bill Richardson reported that the recent dredging of

Lake La Belle in Pickwick was very successful.

Contamination from bacterial pathogens is also a problem for Lake Winona. The
waterfowl that frequent the park is the root cause. The birds eat snails, which are
hosts for the larval stage of trematodes, or parasitic flatworms. These flatworms or
flukes in turn cause parasitic infections for those who swim in the lake. The
infection is commonly referred to as swimmer's itch.
The health of the lake would be greatly improved if the ducks and geese were not
fed. A corollary benefit, and one that would be much appreciated by many, is the
reduction in duck excrement that currently covers the Lake Winona walking trails.
Shutting down the aerators at Huff Street, which prevents the water there from
freezing, would cause the ducks to go elsewhere.
Behavioral changes, on the part of residents and farmers all across this watershed
(Gilmore Valley Creek/LakeWinona Watershed), are essential to a healthy Lake
Winona. Nutrient management, ala managing leaves & dog droppings properly as a
homeowner, and ensuring 50 ft buffer strips along waterways for farmers, will be
vital steps to take. But there are other actions that are important as well, including
keeping as much rainwater as possible on the land, rather than having it drain away
into storm drains and ditches.
Control of invasive species is also another important priority for a healthy Lake
Winona. Biological control of the purple loosestrife that had dominated the corner
of Huff and Hwy 61 has been successful. Yet loosestrife is now dominating the
vegetative growth east of the controlled plot, along Hwy 61, as is readily
observable. What is now understood is that the parasitic wasps arent able to
migrate across the tangle of grass and boxelders that separate the two areas.
Clearly, more work is needed here. There are other invasive species that are
deserving of attention as well, including garlic mustard. The idea that residents who
walk the path could learn to identify this invasive, and pull out (the best control
method) as part of their walk, received enthusiastic support. Eric Nelson and Paul
Schollmeier will lead the invasives control effort.
Moving forward, the group resolved to:

Focus on educating ourselves, to become be well-informed, effective

advocates
Refer to our initiative as A Healthy Lake Winona
Begin our public presence with a booth at Earth Day 2015, Saturday, April
18th on WSU campus
Establish a public website for outreach and posting of all data
Organize a storm drain stenciling effort, color coding them to reflect the
neighborhoods that feed the 19 outflow pipes
Arrange for regular sampling of the lakes for bacteria
Promote the use of rain barrels for rainwater capture
Do our best to spur/facilitate an update of the Lake Winona Compendium

Potential Partners

Environmental Clubs at local High Schools & Universities

Professors, Masters Projects & internships at Winona State and Saint Marys
University
The City and County of Winona & their relevant committees
A Healthy Lake Winona will meet next on Monday, February 9th, at 5:00 pm
location not yet certain. We plan to have a presentation at this meeting.