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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-25-1994 City Council Workshop-The Lake MINUTES CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION THE LAKE CITY OF LAKE ELSINORE 183 NORTH MAIN STREET LAKE ELSINORE, CALIFORNIA THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 1994 *************************************************~*************** - CALL TO ORDER Mayor Washburn called the study Session to order at 8:40 a.m. ROLL CALL PRESENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: ALONGI, BENDER, PAPE, WASHBURN ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: CHERVENY Also present were: city Manager Molendyk, city Planner Leslie, Communi ty Services Manager Best, Manager of Special proj ects Watenpaugh, Public Services Director Tecca, and city Clerk Kasad. DISCUSSION ITEM (F:92.1) city Manager Molendyk introduced Dr. Barry and explained that he was introduced to him through the LEMA meetings and through Black and Veatch. Manager of Special Projects Water.~augh ~tated that Dr. Barry was introduced to Lake Elsinore through Black and Veatch when they were considering using a pelican boat to harvest algae from the Lake. He explained that Dr. Barry was consulted because he is an algae specialist and he is known as the "dirty water" specialist. - Dr. Barry gave an overview of his background and stated that lakes have had the same problems since the 1880's. city Manager Molendyk asked Dr. Barry to explain to Council the type of contaminants that are in the Lake and how the city can solve the problem in the next two years. He suggested the use of a combination of several techniques to address the problems the Lake is experiencing. He noted that there is a high phosphate level, but some phosphate is necessary for the balance and health of the Lake. Dr. Barry suggested the use of aeration, done by city employees through a diffusion method which will help to prevent fish kill, as well as the use of macrophites (a large plant native to this area and the Lake). Dr. Barry emphasized that he doas not work for any company nor does he recommend any company. -- Dr. Barry explained other ways to treat water and how dangerous they are to humans and fish alike. He noted that through aeration, the use of vegetation and the harvesting of the vegetation; and keeping the lake level stable through the addition of water, the Lake can be brought Lack to heal th. He explained that the suspended solids are blocki.ng the light and retarding the growth of green algae which is necessary to the fish and the Lake itself. He noted that evaporation is a real problem and should be addressed as soon as possible. llayor Washburn questioned Dr. Barry regarding alum treatment and stated that while he understands that Dr. Barry is opposed to this type of treatment, the alum treatment would settle out the suspended particles; and asked what other methods are available. Dr. Barry stated that the reason that he is opposed to alum treatment is because it does not work. He stated that it is still a heavy metal and can cause more damage than good. Dr. Barry PAGE TWO - LAKE STUDY SESSION - AUGUST 25, 1994 stated that heavy metal does not harm animals, plants and humans as long as it is in elemental state, but when it is in solution form it can do severe damage. Dr. Barry stated that the bottom of the Lake is sludge which contains acid and will convert the treatment into solution that can be picked up by plants, animals or humans and do damage. He explained that these methods do not work and in a season or two the problem will be back. Nancy Shafer, Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District, asked Dr. Barry to be more specific in regard to the form of aeration that he would recommend for this Lake. - Dr. Barry explained that a similar aeration technique as proposed by Black and Veatch, but done by City employees. He stated that pollutants that are generated from up-stream must be stopped and should the City have to use litigation, as other cities have in the past to effect change, then so be it. Dr. Barry reiterated that this is not a new problem, but it must be addressed. City Manager Molendyk asked just what type of aeration system would be best for this Lake. Dr. Barry stated that atmosphere air should be pumped to the areas that need the aeration such as areas that are 10' deep or deeper and area that are experiencing fish kills. He stated that it is necessary to use plants. City Manager Molendyk asked if this would be done by using, for example, 6 gas engine with hoses going into different parts of the Lake to pump air. Dr. Barry stated that it would be accomplished in just such a manner. Mayor Washburn inquired whether the ci ty would need portable systems and not a permanent system. Dr. Barry stated that portable __ is better because it can be moved from place to place as needed. City Manager Molendyk suggested that during the hot summer months the air would have to be pumped into the Lake, but not as much in the winter. Dr. Barry stated that in the winter the water is cold and has gas holding abilities, but in the summer it would be necessary. Manager of Special Proj ects Watenpaugh stated that the Water District had recently taken some thermal tests and the surface is reading 88 degrees. Mrs. Shafer stated that they had also found thermalcline conditions 20 feet and lower, and because of this condition the water in the bottom of the Lake lacks oxygen. She stated her concern regarding a possible conversion. Dr. Sutton stated that there was the same condition last year and in the fall there was a turn over and explained the conversion process. Dr. Barry stated that if the water is aerated, then it will be independent of the situation. He explained that the Lake will turn over and not be as effected. ..... City Manager Molendyk asked what it would cost to establish an areation system in six different locations during the months that the Lake needs it. Mr. Otway, Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District, inquired whether this would include 6 boats with generators pumping air into the Lake. Dr. Barry stated that it could be done from a barge or a boat. - - PAGB THRBB - LAKB STUDY SBSSION - AUGUST 25, 1994 city Manager Molendyk asked if the aeration could be done from the shoreline or does it need to be done from a boat. Dr. Barry stated that it can be done by both methods. He stated that Engineers would be of great assistance in this matter. Mayor Washburn asked if there were two barges, approximately 200 yards apart with hoses in the water, would they need to be run for 24 hours to be effective and get results. Dr. Barry stated that they would not. He further explained the type of hoses that would need to be used and explained that it could be done in approximately eight hour periods daily during the times needed. Dr. sutton stated that he agreed with Dr. Barry in regard to his objections to using Copper sulfite or Alum in the water and agreed that aeration is one of the answers. He stated that he is not sure how aeration will react with phosphates that are tied up in the sediments and he wondered if that action would have a negati ve effect on blue green algae. Dr. Barry stated that in his report on page 17, it explains what aeration will do and how it will affect the phosphates. He explained that if the Lake is aerated it will reduce the total dissolved solids, then introduce infrared deeper into the Lake, decrease temperatures, increase plant growth, acquire green algae and get rid of the suspended particles which in the end will clear the water. He stated that he would get back to Mr. Watenpaugh with a list of the different lakes that use the aeration systems to control algae. City Manager Molendyk stated that the aeration system is a short term solution and asked Dr. Barry what the second step would be to effect a long term solution. Dr. Barry stated that the next step is to keep the phosphorous from being put into the Lake and the City may have to sue the persons who are responsible. He explained that the people in the county are contributing to the problem each time they flush their toilet or drain their sink. He noted that there are septic tanks that are in the Lake as well and must be removed. Dr. Barry stated that this is the first step in the long term solution to the Lake balance. Mayor Washburn requested confirmation that aeration as well as plant life will be of great assistance to the health of the Lake. Dr. Barry concurred. Councilman Pape asked about dredging. Dr. Barry stated that he felt that dredging would be a mistake because it increases the phosphates in the water. Dr. Barry stated that a question had been posed that "wouldn't aeration stir up the phosphates". He explained that the employees doing the aeration would have to be careful not to go down to the mud. He explained that the bottom should not be disturbed and left alone. Mayor Pro Tem Bender questioned the use of macrophites on the other side of the levee to clean the reclaimed water and then pump the clean water back into the Lake. He stated that this could be used as a filtering system. Dr. Barry agreed that this would be a great idea. He stated that the City should approach the different state and Federal agencies to fund a system using macrophi tes. He explained that there should be macrophites in the Lake as well and this program would have some very positive spin-offs. Public Services Director Tecca explained that there is a lot of vegetation between Canyon Lake and Lake Elsinore in the San Jacinto River Channel, and the theory is that all the vegetation is PAGB FOUR - LAKB STUDY SBSSION - AUGUST 25, 1994 supposed to take out the majority of the phosphates. He stated that the Water Quality Board is doing a study right now to determine how efficient that this theory will be in practice. Mr. Tecca stated that there will be a report on the findings of this study at the end of the month. Councilman Alongi stated that he feels that what man destroys, man can fix most of the time; and what concerns him more are the causes. He stated that he cannot see treating water that is being contaminated everyday and he asked about the removal of contaminated fish. - Dr. Barry stated that as he mentioned before, people must go on sewers and not utilize septic systems and the method of stopping that is to sue them. He explained that he advocates harvesting of fish, but not total removal. He stated that once the City has addressed the local problems, then it is time to go after the persons who are contributing from up-stream drainage. He stated that it is important to be sure that the persons up stream do not release waste in the water ways. He explained that any outflow of anything going into the water that is not natural must be abated. Councilman Alongi asked if there were any state or Federal laws to prevent keeping horses within 300 feet of the Lake or growth of lawns up to the Lake edge. Dr. Barry stated that he cannot answer about the horses, but he can about run-off and sewage. He explained that there are Public Health laws that might address this and the County should be advised of this issue. He gave some examples of what has been done in the past to stop the run-off of waste. Mrs. Shafer noted the section of the report regarding the control of phosphates in the watershed. She explained that there is a meeting regarding Mystic Lake and asked if we should be involved in _ these meetings. Dr. Barry stated that the City should. He explained that the Lake belongs to everyone and that it is one of the reasons why people move to Lake Elsinore and that is why the City needs a clean lake and should be involved in anything that has an impact on the Lake. Mrs. Shafer asked how Dr. Barry would deal with the issue of increased population and increased use of the Lake itself. Dr. Barry explained that the public needs to be educated and Council needs to get tough with restrictions. Councilman Alongi asked about micro-organisms. Dr. Barry stated that he does not approve of micro-organisms since they increase the phosphorous count. He stated that phosphorous loading is the problem of this Lake and he feels it is wrong to contaminate the Lake with microbes since it raises the phosphate level as an end result. Scott Wisdom, Sun Tribune asked about importing fish into the Lake that eat blue green algae. Dr. Barry stated that exotic fish should never be introduced into the Lake. Mr. Wisdom then questioned the introduction of plants into the Lake and asked if there could accidently be the introduction of plants from the boats using the Lake. Dr. Barry stated that it is a possibility. Mr. Wisdom asked if there were any steps to prevent that type of introduction. Dr. Barry stated that there is no way to control that. He explained that he could spend hours sharing the types of problems that occurred from introducing a species and then the problems that the introduction caused. ..... PAGE FIVE - LAKE STUDY SESSION - AUGUST 25, 1994 - Mr. otway, Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District, asked about the algae count and stated that it is down from what it has been. Manager of special Projects Watenpaugh stated that it is better than last year. Mr. otway asked Dr. Barry if he could explain that. Dr. Barry stated that it is not blooming on the surface, but it is thick in the water. Manager of Special projects Watenpaugh stated that the Lake is much better than it was in May and better than its been in a year and a half, but there has not been a recent bloom. Mayor Washburn stated that he grew up with the Lake and there has never been a defined bottom in the Lake. He explained that there has been so much sediment graduation that the bottom is difficult to define. He asked if the Lake will ever be clear. Dr. Barry explained that there are organic solids which are suspended in the water, but there is a quantity of sludge on the bottom of the Lake and he stated that he feels that this should not be disturbed. He explained the ecosystem of the Lake with the addition of oxygen. Councilman Alongi asked if the movement of water from the addition of water from the basin behind the levee to the Lake could have created a situation where the algae did not bloom. Dr. Barry stated that he does not feel that it created any change. Mayor Washburn asked if Dr. Barry would be more in favor of aeration done from a barge which can be moved around or from the shoreline and left for a period of time; and then moved to a different location. Dr. Barry stated that he favored the use of a barge to allow aeration to be done where it is most needed. - Dr. Sutton asked how the areation favored the growth of green algae over blue green algae. Dr. Barry stated that blue green algae does not do well in strong light and green algae does. He explained that blue green algae is a dirty water organism and does not do well in clean water. Dr. Barry explained that the aeration will break down the suspended particles and allow sunlight to go deeper and make it a hostile environment for blue green algae. Manager of Special Projects Watenpaugh asked how the sunlight will penetrate the film that will develop on the surface of the Lake. Dr. Barry explained that through aeration the green film will not occur on the Lake surface. He noted that by interruption of the cycle there will be less and less blue-green algae to form. He explained the food chain of the Lake and how aeration will assist the digestion of the flora and fauna. Mayor Pro Tem Bender stated that one of the effects of alum treatment is to seal the bottom of the Lake. He asked if there was any other product that would do the same type of thing and make it possible to seal the Lake bottom and prevent the phosphates from entering the water from the bottom. He asked if there was a possibility that a new bottom could be created which would provide a proper environmental balance. Dr. Barry explained that Calcium Magnesium which is natural can seal the bottom, but he does not recommend this treatment for the Lake, but prefers the natural growth of plants and use of aeration. Councilman Pape asked Dr. Barry if the next step that he will take is to figure out how many pumps will be needed and where they will be placed. Manager of special Projects Watenpaugh explained that Dr. Barry was asked to come and evaluate the Lake and report to the city if the Lake is fixable. He stated that it is Dr. Barry's opinion that the PAGE SIX - LAKE STUDY SESSION - AUGUST 25, 1994 Lake can be fixed. He explained that this will be done on a trial and error type basis to find the proper solution regarding plants and where to place the hoses for aeration and how deep they should be placed. Dr. Barry explained that aeration is only a temporary fix and more will have to be done to address the entire problem. City Manager Molendyk explained that this meeting is to discuss short term and long term solutions for the health of the Lake. __ There was general discussion regarding using macrophites in the back basin and the responsibility of the watershed. Dr. sutton explained the cause for the odor from the Lake as well as the cause of the fish kill. He asked Dr. Barry why there are not the problems with algae blooms this year that occurred last year. Dr. Barry explained that the algae is the barometer of the health of the Lake and this Lake is sick. He stated that the temperature of the Lake has had a great deal to do with the bloom of the algae. There was general discussion in regard to the weather and its effect on the algae blooms. City Manager Molendyk explained that the City is fighting a situation where the City would like to move quicker, but is faced with a timely process that cannot be hurried and acquisition of enough money to do the job properly. He asked if the City developed a plan of action, would funding be available through the Bureau of Reclamation or Outdoor Bureau of Recreation. Dr. Barry explained that the whole program could take as much as six or eight years and will involve a lot of money. He stated that there are several interested parties and there are grants available. He __ explained that after the City has an honest proposal then the grant application can be walked through. Dr. Barry explained that the help of the local Congressman can speed the process since they know where the money is and also know the right people to contact. City Manager Molendyk explained that there are certain funding cycles and this should be taken into account when the Ci ty is seeking money for the Lake. Mayor Washburn stated that public opinion sometimes states "The City studies the issue to death, now do something about it". He asked Dr. Barry based upon the information from Black and Veatch, Dr. Sutton, and staff; if the City has done a good jOb in the study of the problems and knows enough to callout the next steps. Dr. Barry explained that the City has done enough analysis and does not need to do more. He stated that the City needs current data on the condition of the Lake to write the grant and that is all. There was discussion regarding the use of volunteers to help aerate the Lake. Mayor Washburn stated that sometimes drastic measures must be taken, and the City could suggest to the County that a moratorium be placed on future development unless that development will go on sewer, to prevent further impact to the Lake. ~ There was general discussion regarding the data necessary to provide information for grants and how ef.lective the method of aeration is. . PAGE SEVEN - LAKE STUDY SESSION - AUGUST 25, 1994 - Councilman Alongi stated that he does not want to see private citizens outfitting their boats to aerate the Lake. He explained that this should be done according to the study and controlled to be able to properly test the effectiveness of the methods used. He asked Dr. Barry to confirm the fact that there should be no chemicals or additives used in the Lake, and only natural flora and fauna should be introduced. Dr. Barry concurred. Manager of Special Projects Watenpaugh stated that there is great care and consideration being taken in adding reclaimed water to the Lake. He explained that the Water District and city are currently working on the phosphate problems with reclaimed water before the water will be allowed to enter the Lake. Mr. otway asked about a Watershed Wide Education program and how it would fit into the solution of the problems with the Lake. Dr. Barry stated that it would be excellent tool, because it will bring cooperation without giving issue. - Mayor Washburn stated that the Chamber of Commerce has a committee called "Save our Lake" which can assist in the education of the public in regard to waste and how to aid in a clean water program. Mr. otway explained a program that EVMWD is working on to allow teachers to utilize a speaker who would address water, where it comes from and what different actions cause and how it can affect the watershed. He stated that this would be done through the University of Riverside and a person would be assigned to go to classrooms and work with the students. Mr. otway explained that this program would cost $120,000. City Manager Molendyk stated that he felt that this was a good idea, since this is a community problem and impacts the entire community. Manager of Special Projects Watenpaugh explained that the timing cycle for grants just ended for Water Resource Wetlands Habitat, but there was a potential of funding from that source and can be considered for the future. ADJOURNMENT - 10:40 A.M. THE CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION WA