Residents urge Lake Jane shoreline protections, cite high water, boat wakes and invasive mussels

Lake Jane residents told the Lake Elmo City Council on Aug. 6 that the lake’s shoreline is eroding due to high water levels and larger recreational boats, and asked the council to pursue no-wake markers and funding to repair damaged shorelines.

Denise Elliott, who said she lives at 9077 Jane Road North, told the council the lake is at “an all time high” and that waves from larger boats are pushing the beach and private docks back toward houses. “Our grandkids can’t play on the beach because they get toppled with waves,” Elliott said. She said her property is now about 10 feet from the shoreline and that “our whole deck’s gonna be in the lake at the rate we’re going.”

Elliott and Tony Zeitner, who identified his address as 9109 Jane Road North, said many newer residents are bringing bigger boats and watercraft. Elliott said residents counted “85 plus between boats, pontoons, and jet skis” and later noted the lake is roughly 152 acres and, by another count cited at the meeting, has “90 boats.” She asked the city whether buoys could be placed to mark a no-wake area and whether grants from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the county or the city were available to repair shorelines.

Jill Lundgren, founder and longtime operator of the Lake Elmo Farmers Market, also urged the council to revisit lake-management policy and to restore the city’s environmental committee. Lundgren said neighboring lakes — which feed into Lake Jane — already have invasive zebra mussels and “those travelers” are likely to spread to Olson and DeMontreville, then into Lake Jane. “Within five years, Lake Olsen and De Montreville will have zebra mussels,” she said, adding residents are worried about mussels fouling docks and hurting children’s feet.

Speakers said they had contacted the DNR and the local water district but were told different things: the DNR told them to call the sheriff, the water district directed them to the DNR, and the sheriff’s office has not consistently responded to wake complaints, the residents said. Elliott said the DNR will not release water from upstream lakes until spring, leaving Lake Jane as the last receiving pond.

Council members did not take regulatory action during the meeting; public comments were directed to staff. Residents asked the council to consider marking a no-wake zone, explore grant options for shoreline repair and reconstitute an environmental committee to monitor invasive species and lake health.

Residents provided detailed anecdotes and local counts but did not present a formal petition or a specific proposed ordinance at the meeting. City staff did not present a technical plan or timeline on how the city would respond; the comments were taken during the presentations/public comment portion of the meeting.

The matter may require coordination with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Washington County and upstream lake managers because speakers said Lake Jane’s water level and invasive species status are tied to upstream flows and infestations.