Everyone has a role to play
The Mitchell Lake Association
MLA’s 3 Prong Lake Clean up Strategy
The Mitchell Lake Association is pursuing a three prong strategy to improve the lake
water quality.
1. Improve the quality of “in-lake” water. The Riley Purgatory Bluff Creek
watershed district has the lead responsibility for this initiative and is focused on
reducing soluble phosphorous levels by eradicating two invasive plant species
(Eurasian milfoil and Curly Leaf Pondweed) and then using a material called Alum to
neutralize remaining phosphorous.
2. Improve the quality of storm water run-off. The City of Eden Prairie has the
lead responsibility for this component. The goal is to reduce the levels of soluble
phosphorous entering the lake through the storm water system (you may have noticed
a series of pipes feeding water to the lake whenever it rains) through holding ponds
and the like.
3. Filter water flowing into lake providing natural buffers. This is the
responsibility of individual land owners and largely accomplished by “Lakeshore
Restoration” using native plants (see below article). We have applied for a grant from
the DNR to help with some of the costs.
water quality.
1. Improve the quality of “in-lake” water. The Riley Purgatory Bluff Creek
watershed district has the lead responsibility for this initiative and is focused on
reducing soluble phosphorous levels by eradicating two invasive plant species
(Eurasian milfoil and Curly Leaf Pondweed) and then using a material called Alum to
neutralize remaining phosphorous.
2. Improve the quality of storm water run-off. The City of Eden Prairie has the
lead responsibility for this component. The goal is to reduce the levels of soluble
phosphorous entering the lake through the storm water system (you may have noticed
a series of pipes feeding water to the lake whenever it rains) through holding ponds
and the like.
3. Filter water flowing into lake providing natural buffers. This is the
responsibility of individual land owners and largely accomplished by “Lakeshore
Restoration” using native plants (see below article). We have applied for a grant from
the DNR to help with some of the costs.
 |  |  |  |  |
Mitchell Lake Clean-up Strategies
| To have a long term impact on clean water we need to clean the water already in the lake as well as the water flowing into the lake |
helping improve the Mitchell Lake water quality. Much of the deterioration of the lake
has progressed as a result of the increased building around the lake over the last two
Board members.
For example, did you know?...
• Water run-off from our lawns washes fertilizer and pesticides into the lake?
Managing and minimizing the water-flow into the lake from our lawns will help the lake
tremendously.
• Water run-off from our driveways and the street in front of our homes washes
directly down the storm drains, straight into the lake. The soap used to wash our cars
and the oil and coolant from the leaks from our vehicles is toxic to the lake
environment and washes straight into the lake. Repairing our leaky vehicles and
having them washed at professional cars washes that recycle their water is
recommended. Another option is to wash our cars on our lawns rather than the street
or driveway for those who prefer not to have their vehicles professionally washed.
• Do your rain gutters direct the run-off from your roof straight onto your driveway
and onto the street? Re-directing the gutter run-off of rain onto your lawn as a buffer or
using rain barrels to capture the rain run off is recommended. Nothing is better for
landscaping and flowers than rainwater.
• Consider creating a natural buffer between your lawn and the lake by restoring
your shoreline with native plants. Information on shoreline restoration can be found
on line @ www.bluethumb.org, http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/lakescaping/index.html,
www.pca.state.mn.us/publications/manuels/stormwaterplants.html, and Fortin
Consulting, Inc. www.fortinconsulting.com can help build a plan and advise the
process into reality.
• Do heavy rains collect in pools and puddles in your yard? The easiest way to help
water infiltrate into the ground rather than run off into storm sewers is by creating a
raingarden. Strategically place your raingarden on a site that will intercept water runoff.
If constructed properly, the garden will drain the water within two days. Information
can be obtained on line @ www.bluethumb.org,
has progressed as a result of the increased building around the lake over the last two
Board members.
For example, did you know?...
• Water run-off from our lawns washes fertilizer and pesticides into the lake?
Managing and minimizing the water-flow into the lake from our lawns will help the lake
tremendously.
• Water run-off from our driveways and the street in front of our homes washes
directly down the storm drains, straight into the lake. The soap used to wash our cars
and the oil and coolant from the leaks from our vehicles is toxic to the lake
environment and washes straight into the lake. Repairing our leaky vehicles and
having them washed at professional cars washes that recycle their water is
recommended. Another option is to wash our cars on our lawns rather than the street
or driveway for those who prefer not to have their vehicles professionally washed.
• Do your rain gutters direct the run-off from your roof straight onto your driveway
and onto the street? Re-directing the gutter run-off of rain onto your lawn as a buffer or
using rain barrels to capture the rain run off is recommended. Nothing is better for
landscaping and flowers than rainwater.
• Consider creating a natural buffer between your lawn and the lake by restoring
your shoreline with native plants. Information on shoreline restoration can be found
on line @ www.bluethumb.org, http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/lakescaping/index.html,
www.pca.state.mn.us/publications/manuels/stormwaterplants.html, and Fortin
Consulting, Inc. www.fortinconsulting.com can help build a plan and advise the
process into reality.
• Do heavy rains collect in pools and puddles in your yard? The easiest way to help
water infiltrate into the ground rather than run off into storm sewers is by creating a
raingarden. Strategically place your raingarden on a site that will intercept water runoff.
If constructed properly, the garden will drain the water within two days. Information
can be obtained on line @ www.bluethumb.org,
