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Commission backs up to $20,000 local match for DNR grant to finish Sunfish Lake restoration
Summary
Presenters described three phases of invasive‑species removal at Sunfish Lake (about 180 acres cleared since 2022) and asked the commission to recommend a local match. The commission approved a recommendation of up to $20,000 to pair with a DNR/CPL grant and volunteer hours to complete a proposed phase.
The Lake Elmo Parks Commission recommended that the city council commit up to $20,000 as the local match for a DNR/CPL restoration grant to finish invasive‑species removal and stewardship at Sunfish Lake Park.
Verity, who manages the restoration project for the nature center, and Larissa of Stantec described three completed phases that together removed approximately 180 acres of invasive brush and buckthorn. Verity said volunteers logged many hours (phase 1: roughly 800 hours; phase 2: more than 1,300 hours) and city contributions to date totaled about $30,000. Larissa outlined ecological outcomes, including improved native understory recovery, better water‑quality protection, reduced wildfire fuel and increased bird diversity.
Verity and Larissa said the CPL/DNR program can fund up to $1 million for a site and that Sunfish Lake has about $290,000 left before reaching that cap; they asked the commission to recommend a city contribution of $15,000–$20,000 plus a volunteer‑hour pledge to secure the final phase. Verity: “We would be looking for another 15,000, and then we would dedicate 600 hours…we'd estimate about 20,000.”
After questions about maintenance costs and stewardship planning, a commissioner moved to recommend the city commit up to, and not to exceed, $20,000 for the DNR legacy grant; the amended motion passed by voice vote. Staff will present the recommendation to council and explore other grant opportunities for long‑term maintenance.
