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7.0 Goals, Objectives, and Action Plan for land and water conservation
Goal 1: Improve the water quality in Big and Little Chapman Lake within ten years by lowering sediment and nutrient concentrations in the lakes and streams.
Objective A: Maintain or improve the Big and Little Chapman Lake average Secchi disc readings (increasing water clarity) by lowering the average mid-lake total phosphorous reading in both lakes.
Actions:
· Continue frequent CLCA Scientific monitoring of both lakes and incoming streams to determine accurate baseline secchi depth and phosphorous values for each lake and to establish whether or not improvements have occurred.
· (Detailed instructions on how to calculate baseline secchi depths are listed in Minnesota Lakes Association Sustainable Lake Workbook. Available online at http://mnlakes.org/main_dev/workbook.cfm)
· Complete proposed dredging projects.
· Implement the proposed watershed projects from LARE feasibility studies including projects on the storm drains to the lake, Lozier and Highland Drain, and the upper end of Crooked Creek.
· Use the display board at the public landing, newsletters, website, handouts, and road or yard signs to educate property owners and lake visitors about phosphorus sources (fertilizers, pet waste, wildlife, and detergents) and the effects that phosphorus has on the lake water quality.
· Insist that all local residents maintain septic systems on a regular schedule until a public sewer system is installed.
Objective B: Promote natural shorelines and ecosystem protection zones for sensitive areas while controlling invasive species in the lakes.
Actions:
· CLCA to encourage natural shorelines using newsletters and programs.
· Appoint individual to work with IDNR on identifying and implementing an appropriate Ecosystem Protection Zone in naturally shallow areas of the lakes.
· Implement Aquatic Plant Management Plan.
Objective C: Maintain current wetland and woodland acreage in the watershed.
Actions:
· Create a map of all existing woodlands and wetlands in the watershed.
· Identify potential areas for woodland and wetland restoration on the same map.
· Defend attempts by landowners to convert these areas to other uses.
· When areas are lost attempt to restore one of the potential sites identified.
Goal 2: Consistently meet the state standards for concentration of E. coli bacteria within the Chapman Lakes and within the streams that flow into the lakes.
Objective A: No net gain of livestock in the area.
Actions:
· Create map showing existing livestock area(s).
· Update map as land use changes in the watershed.
· Seek out advice and assistance from SWCD or NRCS staff if new livestock operations are begun.
Objective B: Educate watershed residents on E. coli sources and how they can reduce E. coli levels.
Actions:
· Use education material to convince watershed landowners to clean septic tanks regularly.
· Educate watershed landowners on proper methods for disposing of pet or other animal waste.
Objective C: Encourage the County Health Department to regularly check septic systems located within the watershed of Big and Little Chapman Lake (Neal Brown, is the current septic inspector for Kosciusko County Health Department).
Actions:
· Appoint a representative to get to know the local health inspector
· Develop incentives for residents to clean their septic tanks
Objective D: Follow the Kosciusko Development, Inc. (KDI) 1990 Sewage Advisory Commission Report recommendations (see below).
Summary of Recommendation:
1. The county should be involved in development of sewers in unincorporated areas. The county should adopt the "regional authority" approach to provide a coordinating umbrella organization. (CLICK FOR NEXT PAGE)
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