August 16 MCWD Internal Highlights
Welcome to our highlights email for staff! Have a photo or notable item you'd like to share so we can help celebrate your success (think grant awards, project updates, published papers, presentations, etc)? Let us know so we can include it in a future highlights email!
Due to the transition in Communications, this will be last staff e-newsletter until a new person is hired.
A few brief updates to pass along for you:
Staff News
|
|
NEW: Guess your coworker! Each month, we'll feature a fun fact about one of your coworkers. Scroll to the bottom of the email to see if your guess is correct and to learn more about that individual. This month's clue: this person founded an "underground" four-square league in college.
Welcome to Gabe Sherman (Planning)! We're excited to have you join the MCWD team.
|
|
Congrats to Deb (1 year) on her work anniversary this month.
Shout out to Will, Cole, and Erin for passing their wetland delineation certification!
|
|
Shout out to Alex for being appointed as a member of the MN Geospatial Advisory Council! The council acts as a coordinating body for the MN geospatial community. It represents a cross-section of organizations that include counties, cities, universities, businesses, non-profits, federal/state agencies, tribal governments, and other stakeholder groups that benefit from geospatial technology.
Continue to visit R&M for poll questions. If there isn't a question on the board, ask your own.
Continue to submit answers to Tom's Trivia. Congrats to Will for winning the last round!
|
|
Project Updates
Arden Park construction is nearing completion (anticipated this fall)! In early August, installation of most trails will be complete and over 35,000 native flowers, grasses, shrubs, and trees will be planted. Construction of the new park shelter and playground will continue into September and October, after which the final trails and landscaping will be completed. Questions? Please see Laura, and sign up for our Arden project update emails.
|
|
Carp management update: R&M staff have been busy in the SMCHB!
- Staff are completing electrofishing surveys and seeing changes in densities and abundances across SMCHB
- Staff have completed most trap net surveys for young of year carp and have not observed any this summer
- R&M staff continue to monitor barriers and are looking to develop operation plans to maximize carp management strategies
- Box-net trapping is beginning to occur on the Auburn Lakes, Parley Lake, and Halsted Bay
Questions? Please see Tom L.
|
|
The Long Lake Subwatershed assessment is underway. R&M staff continue this work, including:
- Tracking carp movement throughout the watershed and conducting carp biomass estimates
- Compiling water quality and flow data for the subwatershed to inform the watershed and lake modeling
- Working with Wenck to identify a subset of wetlands that will receive in-depth assessments
Earlier this month, R&M staff also provided a demonstration for Long Lake Waters Association members of some of the carp assessment work on Long Lake. Another demonstration will occur in another month or so. Questions? Please see Brian.
|
|
|
Shout out to Jill for identifying this native Bearded Stonewort during a plant survey in Holy Name Lake! Bearded Stonewort has only been found in 16 lakes between MN and WI, which is more than what is known to exist in the rest of the world combined, so it was sent to an aquatic plant expert in Wisconsin for pressing. The specimens will preserved at the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point Herbarium and at the New York Botanical Garden!
|
|
IT, Website, and Strategic Communications Update: The research phase of the strategic communications and engagement plan process is underway. The research phase involves interviews and focus groups with our primary and secondary audiences (including our CAC) and an online survey of the public. The insights gathered from the research will inform both the strategic communications and engagement plan and the website redesign. Questions? Please see Telly.
The IT update work is moving forward into phase two, which will include narrowing down new systems and vendors for implementation. Implementation will focus on GIS first, then a new permitting system, integrating and improving WISKI (R&M's data management software), and finally an ERP (enterprise resource planning) system. Questions? Please see Cathy.
|
|
Upcoming workshops and events:
- August 20 - Winter Maintenance Training, Minnetonka
- August 20 - Secondary Audience Focus Groups, Minnetonka
MCWD in the news:
|
|
Gray's Bay Dam:
Water levels are finally returning to normal after record precipitation this spring. Lake Minnetonka is below the ordinary high water level, and Gray's Bay Dam discharge is at 50 cubic feet per second (cfs). While discharge is lower than our recommended paddling flow (which is 75 - 150 cfs), the creek is flowing faster than 50 cfs because of draining wetlands. There are still a number of obstructions along the creek, mostly around St. Louis Park. More info is available on our paddling page.
Lake level, dam discharge, and creek flow information can all be found on our website using the links in the water levels block in the left-hand menu on the front page. If you have questions, please see Janna or Tiffany.
|
|
Get to know your coworkers:
The person who loves to play four-square is Grace! Some other fun facts about Grace:
- She can't pass a dog on the street without stopping and asking if she can pet it
- She would definitely pass up a 5-star meal in favor of chicken wings
- If she had to pick a superpower, it would be the ability to stop time
|
|
|
|
