Newspaper Clipping - Newspaper Clipping Scan - Eagan Lakes Clarity and Condition - 6/15/1994
Apple YNIey/RosemounVEpen SuneCurrent/Wednesday, June 15, 1994 3A
Water of Volunteers are stewards o ecosystem
From Page 1A )
1, ,gan.
Quality water means ,
idents can fish, boat, canoe
and swim in beautiful lakes;
that habitats for gamefish and
wildlife is abundant; and that
the value of the property in the
city remains high.
Eagan's lakes and ponds
aren't reservoirs for drinking
water, but that doesn't mean
they're not important.
"Water makes up a big part of
the character of the communi-
ty," said Brasch.
Sandeen has volunteered with
the program for five years, -
since its inception in Eagan. But
he's been the unofficial steward
of Carlson Lake, where he lives,
since he and his wife Melissa ~
e a\a
moved there in 1986. The couple regularly cleans
the bottles, cans and other gar
bage from the edges of the ` ~
water. They remind their
neighbors that everything that IF 11 \11=11
goes into the gutter washes into a did'
the lake.
Sandeen said he's surprised
how many people don't know that everything they send into Bob Sandeen, who lives on Carlson Lake in Eagan, checks the quality of part of Eagan's water quality program.
(Bill Jones/Staff Photographer)
the gutter in Eagan eventually the water Saturday. Sandeen checks the water about once a week as a
washes into a lake or pond.
After a rain, he said, he finds crusade," Sandeen said. "I just The volunteers keep track of Agency. supply.
that tennis balls from a nearby want to keep it clean." how that program, and others Volunteers all over the state Sandeen said he's noticed the
+onnic emirt are floating on the Keening the water elear of Such Ac drertaina and no-w ctnrn rln cimilar ctnrliec which aivec n rurality of (`arlcnn Take hoc im-
surface, and a new batch of fer- weeds and debris is important sewer drain pipes, are affecting broad, state-wide view of what's proved since wide-spread
tilizer has washed into the lake because weeds take oxygen out the water. happening with the state's development has slowed down
and turned it green. of water, and in the winter, They also keep track of the waterways. and reduced the amount of dirt
The thick, green algae was so when the ice covers the surface, fish and wildlife in and around Brasch said he and Jim flowing into it.
bad one year, Sandeen and his the weeds win out and fish die. the water, which are good in- Storland, water resources
wife took a net out into the Fish in many local lakes died dicators of water quality. technician, have a good idea of Now, Sandeen can watch a
water, corralled it, and dragged in large numbers last winter for Volunteers attend one training which lakes have problems. boy standing on a pier with a
it to the edge, eventually clear- that reason, and it will take session each year for the pro- They said the volunteers are in- fishing rod and know he played
ing it off. about two years to rebuild the gram, sponsored by the city and valuable for the long-term, in- an important part in making
"I'm not necessarily on a populations. the Minnesota Pollution Control depth information they can that possible.