​All,
 
Jake and I attended the Watershed Lake Association Summit last Thursday.  The slide deck they presented is attached.  Representatives from Lotus, Duck, Red Rock, Silver, Mitchell, Lucy were also there.
 
The big topic at the meeting was that watershed staff interns have gone around every lake by boat and did a shoreline assessment, assigning a numerical score to every individual lot on how it is landscaped for water quality based on criteria published by the DNR.  The example they used on slide #22 was Lake Riley. As you can see in slides 23-25, Lake Riley had the lowest average score of all the lakes evaluated.  They are still in the process of deciding how and when this information would be made public on their website.  Presenting the data at this meeting was part of that process.  Terry Jeffrey said several times that the motivation for this project was not to shame lakeshore residents, but to provide information and suggestions.  However, by rating each lot individually they made it personal.
 
Thanks,
 
Scott
 

Laurie Hable gets the win! Congratulations!

To those of you looking at the open water and wondering why I didn't call it several days ago, we've had a stubborn rim of ice all along our whole shore going out about 100 feet, from the park stretching almost all the way to the bay. I believe it was the first to freeze, and remained frozen during the thaws in December, so it was probably the thickest ice on the lake this year. To be honest about it, some ice remains from Richardsons to Adzicks, but it's being pummeled by the wind and breaking up quickly. It's one of the few times I'm grateful for a strong north wind!

This date ties the earliest ice-out date of March 8, 2000. Laurie Hable wins the pool by a mile - hers is the earliest guess, with the next guess by Josh Vogel for March 17th. Bob Adomaitis called the ice-in on January 15th - that's 53 days, folks. 53 days of ice on Lake Riley this year. Unbelievable.

Happy Spring, everyone!
Anne Florenzano

Thanks to everyone that attended our annual meeting on Monday night.  We had an outstanding turnout, and it was great to get together and socialize with neighbors in person.  For those of you unable to attend, below is a summary of key topics.  The slides from the meeting are also attached for reference.  Please feel free to reach out with any questions or comments.
 

• THANK YOU to our Officers and Volunteers

A big shout out to Bryan Maloney, Dave Vogel, and Chad Henfling for serving as our officers over the last year, and to our key volunteers Jake Petersen and Greg Hastings for their contributions.  Your willingness to donate your time to help our small but impactful association function is very much appreciated.  
 

• New Officers

Scott Bryan was elected as the new President and John Richardson as the new Vice President of the LRIA.  Thank you Scott and John for volunteering to serve in these roles and congrats on being elected!
 

• Association Business
  The following additional actions were approved by the voting members at the meeting:
  • Approved minutes from 2022 Annual Meeting
  • Approved Treasurer’s Report and 2023 Budget
  • Authorized Board to donate up to $750 from General Fund to Fish Fund in 2023

 

• Guest Speaker:  Terry Jeffery, District Administrator, Riley Purgatory Bluff Creek Watershed District

This year we were privileged to have Terry Jeffery, District Administrator from the Riley Purgatory Bluff Creek Watershed District, as our guest speaker.  Terry overviewed the water quality and project plan for the entire Riley Creek Watershed, which includes Lake Lucy, Lake Ann, Lake Susan, Rice Marsh Lake, as well as the streams that connect these lakes and ultimately flow into Lake Riley.  The health of these upstream waterways all play a vital role in the health of the entire Riley Creek, and ultimately what flows into Lake Riley.  Lake Riley currently does not have any impairments not meeting water quality standards and boasts the best water quality in the watershed district.  Terry also overviewed AIS monitoring and treatments.  AIS on Lake Riley currently include zebra mussels, eurasian watermilfoil and curlyleaf pondweed.  Herbicide treatment for curlyleaf pondweed in 2023 is planned and for Eurasian watermilfoil is yet to be determined and will be based on surveys as we get into the summer.  Terry’s slides are attached to this email.  If anyone would like to get in touch with Terry, his contact info is: 
              
              Terry Jeffery 
              District Administrator
              Riley Purgatory Bluff Creek Watershed District
              952.607.6512
              [email protected]
 

• Lori Haak, Water Resources Coordinator, City of Eden Prairie

Lori Haak, the new Water Resources Coordinator for the City of Eden Prairie, also joined us at the meeting and introduced herself.  She spoke about her responsibilities, which include overseeing the boat ramp AIS inspection program.  She reminded us to please provide her with any feedback on the program and to give the inspectors positive reinforcement as it can be a difficult job.  If you have any questions or concerns for Lori, her contact info is:
 
              Lori Haak
Water Resources Coordinator
City of Eden Prairie
952.949.8327
[email protected]
 

• Fish Surveys

Thank you to John Roemer for obtaining and sharing key data from the 2021 Lake Riley fishing survey.  I will forward this information to the general membership in a separate email.  It was encouraging to hear that the LRIA’s walleye fish stocking program is working, with a variety of lengths measured in the survey.  The membership discussed concerns about the quality of the fishery declining over the past few years and potential mitigations.
 

• Adopt-A-Dock

The Watershed will once again be organizing zebra mussel monitoring via its Adopt-a-Dock program.  This involves hanging a set of plates off the end of your dock into the water and every few weeks pulling it up out of the water, taking a picture, and submitting an online form.  If you have an interest in participating in this program this year, please reply to this message and let me know or reach out directly to Eleanor Mahon <[email protected]> at the Watershed.  Our goal is to get a representative sample from multiple parts of the lake so the Watershed can more accurately track and trend the zebra mussel population.
 

• Adopt-A-Drain

The City of Chanhassen and City of Eden Prairie are both participating in and promoting the “Adopt A Drain” program.  The idea here is to prevent trash and debris from area roads reaching Lake Riley and other waterways through the storm sewer and holding ponds.  There is a slick online map where you can view neighborhood drains and sign up to “adopt” one or more.  It doesn’t need to be next to your property, you can pick one anywhere in the area.  Consider adopting one in a park or somewhere you like to walk.  Drains can be adopted by individuals and families, but also businesses, book clubs, scout troops or other groups that would like to contribute positively to the neighborhood.  The website will send reminders periodically to check and clear the drain:  Adopt A Drain.  Please consider “adopting” an area drain, and let’s turn this map from orange to purple.   Also, here are some drain cleaning tips:  Drain Clearing Tips.   Thanks in advance for your help with this!
 

• Boat Launch Inspection

The AIS boat launch inspection program at the public access remained robust in 2022, with 4,302 inspections performed over 1,957 of staffed hours.  We have continued to stay connected with the City of Eden Prairie and Watershed on this program, and are pleased that the program has operated well over the past few years.  The City of Eden Prairie plans to staff the boat ramp inspection program for similar hours in 2023 as was done in 2022.
 
Mid May to Labor Day:  Sa-Su from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm
Memorial Day to Labor Day:  M-Th from 6:00 am to 7:00 pm; Fr-Su from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm
Labor Day to Late Oct:  Sa-Su from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm
 
As a reminder, we are committed to a “neighborhood watch” of the boat ramp inspection.  Please alert the LRIA officers via the website (www.lakeriley.org) if you observe the boat ramp not being staffed or operating properly during these hours.
 

• AIS Prevention

Please remember that in addition to the boat ramp inspection program for the public access, there are additional ways we can all help mitigate the spread of AIS.  These include controlling equipment / watercraft that enter Lake Riley from private shorelines and carefully choosing Lake Service Providers and ensure they are following best practices.   
 

• LakePledge.com

As we gear up for the summer season, a reminder that you can refresh your knowledge of AIS vigilance through the Hennepin County AIS Prevention office’s short (1-2 minute) educational videos at www.lakepledge.com.  Every person who identifies as being from Lake Riley helps improve our stats on the site, which helps demonstrate lakeshore owner vigilance to prevent AIS and reinforces the value of the investment to fund the boat launch inspection program.  Please invest 15 minutes to go on the website and “take the pledge”.  Also, please forward the link to family and friends.  The more people in our area who are educated on the simple practices we can all follow to limit spread of AIS, the better!
 

• Financial Summary

The association ended 2022 with $7,615 in the General Fund and $827 in the Fish Fund.  2022 spending was “flat” with the combined totals in these accounts landing within $5 from where we started the year.  Key expenditures were for walleye stocking, purchasing replacement shallow water marker buoys, and the social events.  There were 55 households that contributed an annual membership in 2022, which is our highest participation since 2018.  Full financials are included in slide 8 of attached deck.
 

• Membership and Fish Fund Donations

If you haven’t done so already, please pay your Annual Membership and make your Fish Fund donation at this time.  This can be done via Zelle (preferred), cash or check.  Zelle is super easy to use and available at every bank we’re aware of (https://www.zellepay.com/get-started).  Simply go onto your bank’s app, find where you can send money via Zelle, and send to the email:  [email protected].  If paying by cash or check, please mail or drop in the mailbox of our Treasurer, Chad Henfling (9247 Lake Riley Blvd, Chanhassen, MN 55317).  Please include a note to state how you would like the funds to be allocated between Membership ($20), Fish Fund Donations, and General Donations.
 

• 4th of July Boat Parade

Mark your calendars for the annual 4th of July Boat Parade, planned for Tuesday, July 4, 2023 at 12:00 pm.  Time to start thinking about patriotic and/or creative themes for your boat and crew.  We will once again have judging and awards for Most Creative, Most Patriotic and Fan Favorite.  Dave Vogel will be leading the Parade Planning, please reach out to him if you’re able to help ([email protected]).  We need a few folks to volunteer to be judges, be the lead parade boat, etc. 
 

• Annual Party

Due to an outstanding turnout the last few years, we will once again do the Annual Party on a Sunday afternoon in August at the Riley Lake Park Pavilion.  This year it will be on Sunday, August 27, 2023 from 4:30 to 6:30 pm.  Please mark your calendars!  Bryan Maloney will be leading the Annual Party Planning, please reach out to him if you’re able to help ([email protected]) .  We need a few folks to volunteer to bring drinks, coolers, etc.  There will also be a sign-up closer to the event date to bring side dishes and desserts.  
 

• T-Shirts

Jake will be reaching out soon with ordering instructions for the new Lake Riley t-shirt.  Looking forward to seeing the new design!
 

• Website and Email Group

As always, keep an eye on our website (www.lakeriley.org) throughout the year for updates on LRIA happenings.  We will also continue to use email as a primary form of communication with members.  Members should feel free to use the email group ([email protected]) as a community forum for questions or information pertaining to LRIA members. 
 
See you on the lake.
Ryan

As we've discussed in the past, calling the ice-in and ice-out is not a science. There is the technical aspect of the presence or absence of ice. But today is the perfect illustration of the PRACTICAL aspect of calling ice-out.

I can see that there is still some dark ice floating in the north bay and along the north shore, but with the loons back and calling to each other and then a fishing boat motoring from the launch all the way across the lake, it's game over! I call ice-out today, April 14, 2023. Scott Bryan wins! Ed Goff (guessed 4/13) and Norm Kruse (guessed 4/15) just missed out. I suspect that what little ice there is left will be gone by the end of the day.

Star Tribune's Tony Kennedy wrote in an article yesterday about MN lake ice-outs, "Minnesota's long, snowy winter has delayed the onset of spring, but this week's blowtorch of warmth has eased some anxiety felt by anglers and resort owners who count on northern lakes to be open in time for the state fishing opener." 

Wow, wasn't it a blowtorch of warmth? That is the perfect description. No question it sped up the Lake Riley ice melt.

The latest ice-out on record was on May 1st, 2018. The earliest was on March 8th, 2000. 1997 is the only other year it went out on April 14th. 

Enjoy the lake, everyone!

Anne Florenzano

​Thanks to those that attended our annual meeting on Monday night.  It was great to get together with neighbors again in person and spend the evening together.  For those of you unable to attend or who may still be avoiding large gatherings, below is a summary of key topics.  The slides from the meeting are also attached for reference.  Please feel free to reach out with any questions or comments.
 

• THANK YOU to our Officers and Volunteers

A big shout out to Bryan Maloney, Dave Vogel, and Bob Kruempelstaedter for being our officers over the last year, and our volunteers Jake Petersen, Greg Hastings, Deb Bryan and Lisa Adzick.  Your willingness to donate your time to help our small but impactful association function is very much appreciated.  A special thank you to Bob who will soon be moving off the lake and is retiring as our Treasurer.  Bob did an outstanding job of organizing and staying on top of our finances, and he has been a great champion and partner for the Association.  He will be missed!
 

• Social Activity Volunteers Needed

We are still in need of a few volunteers to help out with our 4th of July Boat Parade and Annual Party this year.  If you have any ability to help, please reach out to Bryan Maloney ([email protected]) & Dave Vogel ([email protected]).  This is a great example of where a few people stepping up to pitch in for a few hours can make a huge difference to reduce the workload for others.  Please consider pitching in here if you are able!
 

• Association Business
  The following actions were approved by the voting members at the meeting:
  • Approved minutes from 2021 Annual Meeting
  • Approved Treasurer’s Report and 2022 Budget
  • Authorized Board to donate up to $750 from General Fund to Fish Fund in 2022
  • Elected officers:  Treasurer Chad Henfling and Secretary Dave Vogel.  Thank you Chad and Dave for volunteering to run for these positions and congrats on being elected!

 

• Shallow Water Marker Buoys

Keep an eye out for the new shallow water marker buoys on the West shoreline this spring.  The association purchased new buoys to replace the previous ones that were aging and falling apart.  Thank you to Dave and Jake for managing the buoys.
 

• Boat Launch Inspection

2021 was a record year for boat ramp inspections.  We have continued to stay connected with the City of Eden Prairie and Watershed on this program, and are pleased that the program has operated well over the past three years.  The City of Eden Prairie plans to staff the boat ramp inspection program for similar hours in 2022 as was done in 2021.
 

 
As a reminder, we are committed to a “neighborhood watch” of the boat ramp inspection.  Please alert the LRIA officers via the website (www.lakeriley.org) or email me ([email protected]) if you observe the boat ramp not being staffed or operating properly during these hours.
 

• AIS Prevention

Please remember that in addition to the boat ramp inspection program for the public access, there are additional ways we can all help mitigate the spread of AIS.  These include controlling equipment / watercraft that enter Lake Riley from private shorelines and carefully choosing Lake Service Providers and ensure they are following best practices.  More information on slide 11 of attached deck.  
 

• LakePledge.com

The Hennepin County AIS Prevention office has created a series of very short (1-2 minute) educational videos targeted at preventing the spread of AIS.  Check them out at www.lakepledge.com.  Every person who identifies as being from Lake Riley helps improve our stats on the site, which helps demonstrate lakeshore owner vigilance to prevent AIS and reinforces the value of the investment from the City of EP and the Watershed to fund the boat launch inspection program.  Please invest 15 minutes to go on the website and “take the pledge”.
 

• Dock and Mooring Rules

A reminder that the cities of Chanhassen and Eden Prairie both have rules for the size and placement of docks, as well as the watercraft that can be moored or docked overnight.  There are similar and separate rules for recreational beach lots.  Please reference these if you are considering adding to your setup this year.  In addition, please keep your neighbors and other users of the lake in mind!
 

• Boating Safety Reminders

Now that we are into boating season once again, we ask everyone to please be courteous, respectful and friendly to all fellow users of Lake Riley.  Some boating safety reminders are included on slide 13 of attached deck. 
 

• Guest Speakers:  Carver County Sheriff’s Office and DNR

This year we were privileged to have Sergeant Neil Kuhnau from the Carver County Sheriff’s Office and Conservation Officer Alexander Birdsall from the Minnesota DNR as our guest speakers.  They presented on the lake patrol plan, water safety reminders, and key regulations (many are summarized in the Boating Safety Reminders slide).  They also answered a number of questions from our members.  If anyone would like to get in touch with either officer, their contact info is below.  A reminder that this contact info is for non-urgent questions, and responses may take a few days.  If you have an urgent issue, they encouraged us to call the DNR Tip Line (800-652-9093) or the Carver County Sheriff (911 for emergencies, 952-361-1212 for the Sheriff).
              
              Sergeant Neil Kuhnau
              Office of the Sheriff of Carver County
              [email protected]
              952-361-1895
 
              Conservation Officer Alexander Birdsall
              Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
              [email protected]
              612-240-3948
 

• Financial Summary

The association ended 2021 with $8,128 in the General Fund and $701 in the Fish Fund.  There were 45 households that paid for an annual membership in 2021, which is down slightly from the last couple years where we were in the range of 50-55.  The pandemic and our virtual meeting format last year likely played a factor in this.  Full financials and 2022 budget are included in slide 15 of attached deck.
 

• Annual Membership

Annual memberships can be paid via cash or check.  Membership is $20.  If you are also contributing to the Fish Fund or making a General Donation in the same check, please clarify this in the memo line of the check.  Checks can be mailed or dropped in my mailbox (9001 Lake Riley Blvd, Chanhassen, MN 55317).  Our goal is to reach 55 households as annual members in 2021.
 

• Fish Stocking

Donations to the Fish Fund can also be made via cash or check.  If you are also paying your Annual Membership ($20) or making a General Donation in the same check, please clarify this in the memo line of the check.  Checks can be mailed or dropped in my mailbox (9001 Lake Riley Blvd, Chanhassen, MN 55317).  Last fall, we stocked 2,000 walleye fingerling in the lake.  We would like to stock a similar number this year, and would need about $2,000 contributed to reach this goal.  
 

• 501(c)(3) Status

The LRIA Board once again evaluated converting to a 501(c)(3) during the last year.  The benefits are a potential tax write-off for members and the ability to keep using online payments.  The drawbacks are that it is cost prohibitive (initial cost of $1,000, annual tax preparation and filing expense of $500 to $1,000) compared to the LRIA operating budget of $2,500 to $3,000 per year.  The recommendation is to continue operating LRIA without 501(c)(3) status.  However, with the new IRS rule that online payment systems require tax ID numbers and forms reporting for anything over $600, this does mean that we need to revert to using cash or checks for payments.
 

• 4th of July Boat Parade

We plan to once again have the 4th of July Boat Parade.  It will start at 12:00 pm sharp on July 4.  Please meet in the West Bay.  There will again be 3 categories of winners with awesome traveling trophies.  Further details will be communicated closer to the event date.
 

• Annual Party

Due to an outstanding turnout last year, we will once again do the Annual Party on a Sunday afternoon in August at the Riley Lake Park Pavilion.  This year it will be on August 28 from 4:30 to 6:30 pm.  Please mark your calendars!  Further details will be communicated closer to the event date.
 

• T-Shirts

New for 2022!  Lake Riley t-shirts are once again available!  Please contact Jake Petersen([email protected]) to put in your order.  They are $20 each and pictures of the design are on slide 24 of attached deck. Thanks again to Jake for getting us t-shirts this year.
 

• Website and Email Group

As always, keep an eye on our website (www.lakeriley.org) throughout the year for updates on LRIA happenings.  We will also continue to use email as a primary form of communication with members.  Members should feel free to use the email group ([email protected]) as a community forum for questions or information pertaining to LRIA members. 
 
See you on the lake.
Ryan

​Lake Riley Neighbors,


2020 has been a challenging year for all of us, so I thought I would bring a little good news to the forefront.

For some of you who have been living on or enjoying Lake Riley for years, you will recognize that the water this year has been exceptionally clear.   Some of you who are new to the lake may not realize what a big change this is.  In our first years here, in the mid 80’s, it was not unusual to have nearly opaque lake water this time of year.  On calm days, algae would float to the surface and drift to one side of the lake and the unfortunate residents on that side would be treated to a pretty strong smell.  As recently as August 2012 you couldn’t see your toes when standing in 2 feet of water. 

We have seen some great improvement over the last few years, but this summer is really tremendous.   Attached is a graph of the clarity measurements since 1992.  The red line is this year. What a difference!  

There are several factors that probably lead to this.   The University of Minnesota, along with our Lake Association and the Riley, Purgatory, Bluff Creek Watershed District, did an extensive study of managing carp, and ended up removing most of them.   Rice Marsh Lake now is managed to prevent reintroduction of young carp.    This year, a second application of Alum bound up more of the phosphorus in the water, and it certainly seems to have worked.   Maybe the presence of the early population of Zebra Mussels is helping to clarify the water too.    

Additionally, the lake weed population seems to have diversified, with less solid matts of Eurasian Milfoil. Aquatic plants were also studied by the University and some targeted management has been carried out by the watershed district.   I recall years of only coontail, milfoil and curlyleaf pondweed.  Now I see patches of several native lake plants, a good thing!

Let's hope that the trend continues and all do our best to protect our new clear water.

To all those that contributed over the years, thank you!

-John Bushey 

Now that we are into the summer boating season and with the 4th of July holiday fast approaching, I wanted to send out a reminder about a few key rules related to operating watercraft on the lake.  
 
I’ve gotten some questions / comments from people concerned about people’s safety, and we want to make sure that everyone is able to enjoy their time out on the lake.  Pease remember these rules are intended to help everyone enjoy beautiful Lake Riley – and do so safely.
 
Please keep in mind the following (and remember these are just a handful of the full boating regulations):

• Personal watercraft (i.e. jet ski) operation is allowed only from 9:30 a.m. to 1 hour BEFORE sunset.
• Operation of personal watercraft (i.e. jet ski) within 150 feet of any shoreline must be limited to straight in/out or slow-no wake.
• Personal watercraft cannot jump the wake of another watercraft within 150 feet of the watercraft (often a concern for personal watercraft following wake surfing boats).
• Operation of motorized watercraft within 100 feet of any shoreline must be limited to emerging straight out from and straight towards the shoreline, or slow-no wake operation (Chanhassen rule)
• Pulling someone behind a watercraft (i.e. water-skiing, tubing, wake-surfing, etc.) is allowed only from sunrise to 30 minutes AFTER sunset.  
• When pulling someone behind a watercraft (i.e. water-skiing, tubing, wake-surfing, etc.) the boat and person being towed must stay more than 150 feet from other people or structures (Eden Prairie rule).
• Navigation (if underway) or anchoring (if anchored) lights must be on from sunset to sunrise.
• Life jackets are required to be worn for children under 10.  A readily accessible life jacket is required for each person onboard (includes canoes, kayaks and stand-up paddleboards).  One throwable is required on boats 16 feet or longer.
• Structures such as swimming rafts, boat lifts, buoys, etc., which do not extend from shore, cannot be in the water between sunset and sunrise unless allowed under permit issued by county sheriff.

 
The 2019 Minnesota DNR Boating Guide is available at the link below for further reference.
http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/rlp/regulations/boatwater/boatingguide.pdf
 
There are of course pages of rules between Minnesota, the City of Chanhassen, and the City of Eden Prairie.  Probably the most important one of all is to please be courteous, respectful, and friendly to your fellow users of the lake.  Lake Riley is a public resource for all to enjoy, and we all need to do our part to make sure we treat others the way we would like to be treated out on the lake.

If you are looking for a list of plants and flowers that work best for native plantings along the shoreline, in buffer zones, and in rain gardens around Lake Riley to help keep the lake clean and healthy, click on the link below.  The Riley Purgatory Bluff Creek Watershed District periodically provides training and volunteer opportunities for interested citizens.  You can also checkout their website at:  www.rpbcwd.org.
​

​Great news.  The Riley Purgatory Bluff Creek Watershed District will be initiating the first dose of the Rice Marsh Lake alum treatment in the next couple weeks.  As a reminder, Rice Marsh Lake is the first body of water upstream of Lake Riley on Riley Creek.  The alum treatment will reduce the amount of phosphorus in the water flowing into Lake Riley, which will help reduce the frequency and intensity of algae blooms and ultimately contribute to improved water quality in Lake Riley.  
 
As a reminder, Lake Riley had an alum treatment of its own in 2015 (and a second dose is planned in 2020), which has had a very positive impact on water quality in the lake over the last few years. 
 
More info on the Rice Marsh Lake treatment is available at:  https://ricemarshlakealum.wordpress.com/ (thanks Bob Adomaitis for the link).  A Project Demonstration Day is being held on September 26 at 1:00pm on Erin Bay Rd for anyone interested in seeing firsthand what this is all about.