Meadow Lake Management Plan

Meadow Lake in the City of New Hope is a small (12 acres), very shallow lake with an average depth of just under two feet and a maximum depth of about four feet. It has very poor water quality and low biotic integrity. It experiences significant summer algae blooms and is occasionally infested with invasive curly-leaf pondweed. The fishery is almost entirely composed of fathead minnows, bottom feeders who disturb the sediments and prey on zooplankton who would ordinarily keep algae in check.
 
The City, residents, and Meadow Lake Watershed Association (MLWA) have all been active in restoring the shoreline and reducing the nutrients and sediment reaching the lake from its drainage area. However, overall water quality and biology in the lake has not improved. In 2021, the Watershed Commission and City with the help of MLWA began a multi-year project called the Meadow Lake Management Plan, a series of actions over the next four-six years to restore the lake. The specific actions and schedule are guided by a decision tree showing the various potential lake responses to management actions and the follow-up actions that would be appropriate. This work is funded by two grants from the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources thought the Legacy Amendment, and by the Shingle Creek Watershed Management Commission.

Lake Drawdown

The first major management action is a whole-lake drawdown to consolidate sediments, eliminate fathead minnows and prevent recolonization, and reduce curly-leaf pondweed growth. Following a lengthy permit process with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, a large pump was installed on the northwest shoreline and a 700 foot intake pipe extended to the deeper part of the lake, outletting to storm sewer. Pumping began on November 18, 2021 and was expected to continue for about 14 pumping days. The lake will remain drawn down though the winter and early spring, when it will be allowed to naturally refill.

** News **
5/6/222: Staff observed hundreds of painted turtles sunning themselves, a good sign that the ecosystem is in healthy condition.

3/25/22:  CCX News did a short story on the drawdown: Meadow Lake Almost Full Again After Winter Drawdown - CCX Media

3/18/22: Site visit showed good conditions. Staff will be observing the lake on a regular basis for changes. The lake is expected to fill up again by late April or early May, depending on snowmelt and rainfall. 

1/12/22: Site visit showed good frost depth. No additional follow-up work until spring.

12/14/21: The contractor has removed the pumps and most of the piping for the winter. Approximately 75% of the lake's surface area has been completely drawn down, with 3-6 inches of standing water in the remaining area. The contractor will periodically revisit the site to determine if any additional pumping is achievable.

12/6/21: Pumping stopped Sunday December 5, 2021 as the maximum amount of water has been pumped, causing cavitation in the pump.  The contractor plans to pull equipment sometime this week. We will let it sit until early January and then, assuming good freezing conditions, will go out and ensure there are no deep pools left. If there are  the contractor will go out and pump those out to ensure fish kill and turions freeze.


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Painted turtles sunning themselves on 5/6/2022