Maple Lake is very fortunate to have the opportunity to improve our lake quality by installing a fixed height weir at Mill Creek.
What’s the Purpose of the weir?
Maintain a water level that will minimize lakeshore erosion while maintaining proper navigation for people to use and enjoy the lake.
The Maple Lake Improvement District Wright County (MLIDWC) and Maple Lake Lake Property Owners have been working together along with various County agencies to bring a whole new level of Lake Quality Management to our lake.
The goal of the weir is to bring more consistent lake heights during our prime summer months. The 20 year lake height average for July is 1000.73 ft. This is also our target height for July with the weir project. The goal is to maintain the normal, average lake height for Maple Lake.
Right now the current lake height is 1000.37 ft which is 4.3 inches below our average and lake will continue to drop thru August.
Vote YES to better Lake Quality!
Key Benefits of the proposed fixed height weir:
- High water level/flood periods, improves water flow out of Maple Lake to quickly reduce flood like conditions to acceptable levels and limiting lakeshore erosion.
- In drier, drought periods, maintains better water levels longer to allow navigation in certain areas, keeps weed growth in check and reduces the need for dock and lift moving to deeper water
- Overall, it will allow for a more consistent lake height during the summer and year to year.
Vote Yes on August 5th!
Join us at the Annual Maple Lake LID meeting Saturday August 5th at 9am at the Maple Lake Township Hall and Vote YES for the weir. Voting yes helps keep our lake the beautiful natural resource that it is.
M E M O
DATE: August 25, 2020
TO: Maple Lake Improvement District Members
FROM: Mike Raiche, President
SUBJECT: Mill Creek Culvert Lake Height Project Proposal
2021 Culvert Project Assessment -$20,000
This email is intended to keep Maple Lake LID members up to date regarding efforts to stabilize the lake level.
Since the spring of 2019 members of the Maple Lake – Lake Property Owners Association, and Maple Lake Improvement District Wright County (MLIDWC) members have been working on keeping the Mill Creek culvert that runs under Highway 55 open and flowing. This is being done in response to numerous comments/complaints from lake property owners. Many have been requesting the removal of trees, bogs and beaver dams from Mill Creek that constantly build up and impede the flow of water out of Maple Lake.
In search of a long-term solution, discussions and meetings have been taking place with both the DNR and WCSW (Wright County Soil and Water). Both are recommending the installation of a permanent structure in Mill Creek.
For some perspective, in 2019 Maple Lake water height in the spring through the fall varied as much as 16 inches. In 2020 to date, the height has varied as much as 14 inches.
To address this issue, the MLIDWC Board is proposing a project that works with the DNR, WCSW, and an engineering firm to determine the optimal lake height and construction of a permanent structure in Mill Creek to maintain this level.
For reference, recall the level of the lake in early May when docks and boat lifts were put in the water. The board estimates the water structure will maintain a water level approximately 2 inches higher, or 1001.3 feet ASL (above sea level). This will be the maximum height, though it will frequently be lower due to extended dry spells and evaporation.
Preliminary cost estimates are $14,000 for a DNR required engineering study to determine what the lake water level should be, and $20,000 for the actual structure. There is also a good chance that up to 20% of the project cost would be eligible for a Soil and Water grant.
The LID Directors and water quality team are reviewing available funds, and what can be allocated through LID assessments to this project, and still remain within a reasonable amount to minimize future assessments for weed control.
