lake geneva management district 2017 - annual...

Lake Geneva Management District 2017

April 2018

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King County Science and Technical Support Section i April 2018

Acknowledgements The Lake Geneva Management District would like to thank the Advisory Board for their participation in guiding the actions of the District. Resident Board Members are: David Saunders, Chris Tarling, and Joan Mussa. Jurisdiction appointed Members are: David Heimer with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Doug Miller with King County Parks.

Citation King County. 2018. Lake Geneva Management District 2017. Prepared by Chris Knutson,

Water and Land Resources Division. Seattle, Washington.


King County Science and Technical Support Section ii April 2018

Table of Contents Executive Summary............................................................................................................................................. iii

1.0 Introduction .............................................................................................................................................. 1

1.1 Formation of the Lake Geneva Management District .......................................................... 1

1.2 Lake Geneva Management District Advisory Board ............................................................. 2

2.0 Lake Geneva management District operation and actions ..................................................... 3

2.1 Advisory Board Meetings ................................................................................................................ 3

2.2 Public Meeting ..................................................................................................................................... 3

2.3 Aquatic Plant Survey ......................................................................................................................... 4

2.4 Aquatic Herbicide Permit Transfer ............................................................................................. 9

2.5 Email Distribution List ..................................................................................................................... 9

2.6 Website Creation and Educational Materials .......................................................................... 9

2.7 Outlet Cleaning .................................................................................................................................... 9

2.8 Water Quality Monitoring .............................................................................................................12

2.9 Harmful Algal Blooms ....................................................................................................................12

3.0 Budget .......................................................................................................................................................14

4.0 2018 LGMD Plan....................................................................................................................................16

Figures Figure 1. Map of surveyed vegetation and lake transects in 2017. ............................................. 5

Figure 2. Photo of Lake Geneva outlet culvert before cleaning. .................................................10

Figure 3. Map of Lake Geneva outlet location. ...................................................................................11

Figure 4. Outlet culvert of Lake Geneva after sediment and vegetation removal. ...............12

Tables Table of Lake Geneva survey transects and species found at each transect. ........ 7

Lake Geneva Management District budget from 2016 through 2025 (10 year lifecycle). .............................................................................................................................14

Lake Geneva Management District expenditure 2016-2017 ....................................15


King County Science and Technical Support Section iii April 2018

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Lake Geneva is a 29-acre lake located in southern King County. In 2016 the Lake Geneva Management District (LMD) was formed by vote of the District residents. The District is tasked with a variety of action items to improve water quality and habitat at Lake Geneva including:

• Preserve lake water quality• Preserve public health status• Prevent future invasive aquatic plant infestations• Manage current invasive aquatic plant infestations• Educate and involve Lake Geneva community• Manage the LMD• Maintain the lake outlet• Manage excessive lake debris

In 2017 three Lake Geneva residents were appointed to an LMD Advisory Board that also includes one representative from King County Parks Division and one representative from Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife. With the help of the Advisory Board, the LMD completed several key actions in 2017:

• Created a Lake Geneva Website with educational materials and information aboutthe District

• Hosted two Advisory Board meetings and one public meeting• Performed an aquatic plant survey on the lake• Removed sediment and vegetation from the lake outlet• Created an email distribution list for residents to stay informed of District activities• Continued to monitor water quality through the King County Lake Stewardship

Program

This report summarizes significant actions undertaken by the LMD and residents as well as planned activities in 2018.


King County Science and Technical Support Section iv April 2018

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King County Science and Technical Support Section 1 April 2018

1.0 INTRODUCTION Lake Geneva is a 29-acre lake located within a 179-acre watershed in south King County. The lakeshore is predominantly residential development with a King County park located on the northeast shore and a Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife boat launch located on the southwest shore of the lake. Lake Geneva has a variety of state listed noxious weeds both along its shoreline as well as within the lake. Lake residents have expressed concerns about high lake levels due to restricted flow at the outlet, excessive waterfowl, and increasing nutrients in the lake. Starting in about 2014, the lakeside residents around Lake Geneva expressed an interest in developing a comprehensive lake management plan and a mechanism to fund the resultant recommendations of that plan. In order to begin that process, the Lake Geneva Property Owners Association applied for and received a grant from the King County Flood Control Districts Flood Reduction Fund. A plan titled “2015 The Lake Geneva Management Plan” was created with funds from the grant. The plan identified areas of concern for Lake Geneva, and proposed creating a Lake Geneva Management District (LGMD). The primary concerns addressed in the plan are:

• Preserve lake water quality • Preserve public health status • Prevent future invasive aquatic plant infestations • Manage current invasive aquatic plant infestations • Manage aquatic debris • Educate and involve the Lake Geneva community • Manage the LGMD

The management plan called for the formation of a Lake Geneva Management District to fund the recommendations.

1.1 Formation of the Lake Geneva Management District

In March of 2016, the 52 Lake Geneva waterfront property owners, the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife, and King County Parks were mailed a ballot asking residents to vote on the formation of a Lake Geneva Management District. In April of 2016, ballots were counted by the King County Assessor’s office and the residents approved the formation of the LGMD. Of the votes that were turned in, over 85% were in favor of the District formation. The District is scheduled to run through 2025.



1.2 Lake Geneva Management District Advisory Board

The LGMD is administered by King County Water and Land Resources Lakes and Streams staff (currently Chris Knutson) with guidance from an Advisory Board. The LGMD Advisory Board is made up of three Lake Geneva waterfront residents, one representative from King County Parks and one representative from Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). The initial resident board members are serving staggered terms of one, two, and three years, after which newly elected Board members will all serve three-year terms. The Board representatives from King County Parks and WDFW are appointed by those organizations and may be changed at their discretion. The District’s initial task was to recruit residents for the Advisory Board. This was done by creating and mailing postcards to every waterfront residence asking for interested residents to submit an application to King County Water and Land Resources Lakes and Streams staff. An application was created and posted on the newly formed LGMD webpage (https://www.kingcounty.gov/services/environment/water-and-land/lakes/lakes-of-king-county/lake-geneva/lmd-advisory-board.aspx). Applications were due in January of 2017. All applications were reviewed by three King County staff members and scored on thoroughness of application, experience on advisory boards, and history at the lake. After the applicants were selected, they were notified by King County staff, and the process of King County Executive appointment began. King County Executive appointment and King County Council confirmation was complete in late June of 2017. The Advisory Board Members appointed and confirmed; their terms are as follows:

• Joan Mussa – 1 year • Chris Tarling – 2 years • David Saunders – 3 years

https://www.kingcounty.gov/services/environment/water-and-land/lakes/lakes-of-king-county/lake-geneva/lmd-advisory-board.aspx




2.0 LAKE GENEVA MANAGEMENT DISTRICT OPERATION AND ACTIONS

2.1 Advisory Board Meetings The LGMD Advisory Board met twice during 2017. The first meeting was held on July 18, 2017 and was attended by only the three resident Board members. Primary topics of discussion included:

• Roles and responsibilities of board members • Communication of board members • Lake Geneva Management Plan details and tasks of the District • Email distribution list

o Both through postcards and through Lake Geneva Property Owners association

• Upcoming lake vegetation survey • Scheduling of upcoming board and public meetings • Herbicide permit transfer details

The second Advisory Board meeting was held on September 19, 2017. The meeting was attended by all three resident Boar Members as well as representatives from King County Parks and WDFW. Primary topics of discussion included:

• Role of King County in maintaining lake outlet o King County Water and Land Resources Assistant Director John Taylor

attended discussion and clarified King County’s position on maintaining the outlet.

• LGMD budget and expenditures. • Aquatic plant survey results • Canada geese concerns • Upcoming public meeting

2.2 Public Meeting The first LGMD public meeting was held on October 3, 2017 at Lakeland Elementary School in Auburn, WA. The meeting was attended by approximately 25 Lake Management District residents. The focus of the meeting and presentation was to familiarize the community with the plan for addressing the goals stated in the Lake Geneva Management Plan. In addition to the planned actions of the LGMD, the presentation also included details of the actions that the District undertook in 2017 including:



• Formation of the Advisory Board • Advisory Board meetings • Aquatic Plant Survey • Outlet cleaning/vegetation removal • Herbicide permit transfer to LGMD • Changes to the permit • Timeline for upcoming work

The management plan calls for the District to have 2 public meetings per year. During these meetings actions of the LGMD will be discussed as well as presentations to the group about topics of interest such as lake best management practices or invasive species.

2.3 Aquatic Plant Survey On August 8, 2017, King County noxious weeds specialist Ben Peterson and LGMD administrator Chris Knutson performed a plant survey at Lake Geneva. The survey included documenting submersed aquatic, emergent, and shoreline vegetation. The survey was performed from a canoe and consisted of noting dominant and subdominant vegetation species. For the purposes of the survey, the shoreline of Lake Geneva was broken into six transects (Figure 1) and the species found in each was noted (Table 1). Areas of high density were also marked on a map. After completion of the survey, the information was compiled into an ArcGIS layer and a map was created that indicated the high density plant areas of the lake and the area of coverage for each. Several plants were seen in higher abundance then had been previously noted. Curly-leaf pondweed (P. crispus) was seen in high densities along the western shore along with large stands of slender water nymph (Najas flexilis) found on the norther portion of the lake. The high densities of vegetation and shallow water made it difficult to canoe through some portions of the lake.



Figure 1. Map of surveyed vegetation and lake transects in 2017.



Table of Lake Geneva survey transects and species found at each transect.

Com

mon

Nam

e

coon

tail

Mus

kgra

ss/C

hara

Amer

ican

/com

mon

w

ater

wee

d

yello

wfla

g iri

s

rush

wat

er p

ursla

ne

purp

le lo

oses

trife

slend

er w

ater

nym

ph

spat

terd

ock

frag

rant

wat

er li

ly

wat

er sm

artw

eed

Bigl

eaf p

ondw

eed

Curly

leaf

pon

dwee

d

smal

l pon

dwee

d

Mar

sh c

inqu

efoi

l

hard

hack

narr

ow le

af c

atta

il

catt

ail

com

mon

bla

dder

wor

t

Fila

men

tous

gre

en a

lgae

Bryo

zoan

Chin

ese

Mys

tery

snai

l

wes

tern

pon

d tu

rtle

Scie

ntifi

c N

ame

Cera

toph

yllu

m

dem

ersu

m

Char

a sp

p.

Elod

ea c

anad

ensis

Iris p

seud

acor

us

Junc

us sp

p.

Ludw

igia

pal

ustr

is

Lyth

rum

salic

aria

Naj

as fl

exili

s

Nup

ahr l

utea

Nym

phea

e od

orat

a

Poly

gonu

m

amph

ibiu

m

Pota

mog

eton

am

plifo

lius

Pota

mog

eton

cris

pus

Pota

mog

eton

pu

sillu

s

Pote

ntill

a pa

lust

ruis

Spire

a do

ugla

sii

Typh

a an

gust

ifolia

Typh

a la

tifol

ia

Utr

icul

aria

vul

garis

Bel

lam

ya c

hine

nsis

Act

inem

ys

mar

mor

ata

status native native native

Noxious, Class C non-regulated

native native Noxious, Class B -regulated

native native


native native


native native native


native native native native non-native native

found during surveys between 1976 and 2008

x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x

8/8/17 Transect #1 x x x x x x x x

8/8/17 Transect #2 x x x x x x x x x x x x x

8/8/17 Transect #3 x x x x x x x x x x x x x

8/8/17 Transect #4 x x x x x x x x x x x x x x

8/8/17 Transect #5 x x x x x x x x x x x

8/8/17 Transect #6 x x x x x x x



2.4 Aquatic Herbicide Permit Transfer In October of 2017 the existing Washington State Aquatic Plant and Algae Management General Permit for treatment at Lake Geneva was transferred from the Lake Geneva Property Owners Association to the LGMD. This transfer made the District responsible for the annual permit fee and annual herbicide action report and also gave the District the ability to modify the species listed in the permit. The permit has one special condition attached to it. The plant Hypericum majas, or Canadian St John’s wort, has been reported in the area of Lake Geneva. The permit specifies that if any emergent species are going to be treated with an herbicide a rare plant survey must be undertaken. During the August 8 survey special care was taken to look for this species but none were found. This survey is required once every five years so the survey will be sufficient for the remainder of the permit lifecycle (2021).

2.5 Email Distribution List In September of 2017 postcards were made and sent to every address within the District. The postcards invited residents who were interested in keeping up with the activities of the LGMD to join an email distribution list. Email addresses were also collected at the August Lake Geneva Property Owners Association meeting and added to the distribution list.

2.6 Website Creation and Educational Materials In 2017 a LGMD webpage was created (https://www.kingcounty.gov/services/environment/water-and-land/lakes/lakes-of-king-county/lake-geneva/LGMD-advisory-board.aspx). This webpage was created in order to help keep residents informed of LGMD activities as well as to be a resource with information about best management practices (BMPs) for lakeside living, harmful algal blooms, invasive species, nuisance waterfowl, lake water quality and general lake information. As new information becomes available, or existing resources are found, they can be added to the website. The website also contains information about past meetings, upcoming Advisory Board meetings and public meetings. There is also a link to view the Lake Geneva Management Plan and information on the formation of the District.

2.7 Outlet Cleaning Part of the LGMD scope is to maintain the culvert on the outlet to the lake. There has been concern that the outlet was becoming clogged with vegetation and sediment that was restricting the flow out of the lake and causing residents to be concerned about potential property damage due to high lake levels (Figure 2).





Figure 2. Photo of Lake Geneva outlet culvert before cleaning. During the management plan drafting, King County was contacted about their willingness to maintain the outlet culvert at the lake. An agreement was made that King County Water and Land Resources (or another division such as Roads Services) would maintain the culvert and remove vegetation and sediment buildup at the culvert. In October of 2017 King County Roads applied for a permit to remove sediment and vegetation from the culvert on the outlet of Lake Geneva. In early November the permit was received and a roads crew went to the outlet and removed several inches of sediment that had accrued on the upstream side of the outlet culvert that crosses under South 342nd Street (Figure 3). The crew also removed a willow that was growing directly in front of the culvert and thinned back vegetation that was growing in the channel and restricting flow (Figure 4).



Figure 3. Map of Lake Geneva outlet location. King County Roads regularly do culvert maintenance around the county and the LGMD was informed that they could notify them if there was a problem with sediment accretion or vegetation in the future.



Figure 4. Outlet culvert of Lake Geneva after sediment and vegetation removal.

2.8 Water Quality Monitoring Lake Geneva is part of the King County Lake Stewardship Program. This program uses volunteers who live on lakes to collect water quality samples. The program volunteers collect samples between May and October approximately once every two weeks. Samples are picked up by King County staff and delivered to the King County Environmental Lab where they are analyzed for various nutrients and water quality parameters. Lake Geneva is considered a mesotrophic lake (moderate nutrient concentrations) and has water quality data going back to 1979. Nutrient levels have seen some statistically significant trends over the last decade with mean summer phosphorus and nitrogen concentrations increasing. Water clarity has decreased slightly over the last decade while chlorophyll has seen a small increase. More information on Lake Geneva water quality is available at the Lake Stewardship Program webpage: http://green2.kingcounty.gov/SmallLakes/default.aspx

2.9 Harmful Algal Blooms The Washington State Department of Ecology funds a statewide harmful algal bloom (HABs) sampling program. This program allows local jurisdictions and residents to submit suspected HAB samples to the King County Environmental Lab for toxin analysis.

http://green2.kingcounty.gov/SmallLakes/default.aspx



Samples are collected by the resident or jurisdiction and delivered to the lab by mail or courier. The samples are then analyzed for toxins and the results are submitted to the state algae monitoring website www.nwtoxicalgae.org. Lake Geneva has only had two samples submitted for toxins through the program since its inception in 2008. Both of those samples were collected in September of 2016, and the result of the toxin analysis showed levels below the detection limit for both anatoxin and microcystin. More information on the sampling program, general information on HABs, and historical samples collected are available at the website. No HABs were reported on Lake Geneva to either the Department of Ecology or King County in 2017. Residents are encouraged to either use the algae website submission process or contact the King County Lake Stewardship Program (http://green2.kingcounty.gov/smalllakes/Default.aspx) with suspected algal blooms.

http://www.nwtoxicalgae.org/

http://green2.kingcounty.gov/smalllakes/Default.aspx



3.0 BUDGET The Lake Geneva Management District is funded by resident fees collected by the King County Assessor’s Office. Approximate costs for recommended actions were included in the Management Plan and the annual fees were based on those estimates. The Management Plan budget for the life of the District is found in Table 2.

Lake Geneva Management District budget from 2016 through 2025 (10 year lifecycle).

The District is set up to collect $14,500 per year from residents, King County Parks and WDFW. Funds that are not spent are rolled over into the next year. Prioritizing tasks and directing resources is done with the assistance of the Advisory Board. It is very likely that there will be cost overruns on specific actions as well as tasks that may be over budgeted but overall the budget is likely to be sufficient to address the issues tasked to the District. Because the District was formed in the middle of a calendar year and the significant time needed to formally set up the Advisory Board and administration of the District, several tasks expected to be undertaken during the first two years were not completed. Due to the incompletion of these tasks, expenditures in the first two years were significantly lower than anticipated This will result in significantly more being expended in year 3 than expected to make up for actions not undertaken in years one and two. Table 3 is a breakdown of expenditures incurred by the District in 2016 and 2017. The district expenses are not tracked categorically as the proposed budget. The majority of Districts expenses in 2016 and 2017 were spent on:

• Creating and mailing Advisory Board Member recruitment postcards • Designing, creating and populating the Lake Geneva Website



• Reviewing Advisory Board applications • Staff time associated with King County Executive appointment and Council

confirmation process • Designing and mailing the postcards for the LGMD email distribution list • Preparation and attendance of the LGMD Advisory Board meetings • Preparation and attendance of the Public Meeting • Performing the Lake Geneva Vegetation survey • Staff time associated with transferring the existing herbicide permit • General administration of the LGMD

Lake Geneva Management District expenditure 2016-2017

Lake Geneva Management District 2016 2017 Scheduled assessments $14,500 $14,500 LGMD expenditure $1,616 $5,275 District balance $12,884 $22,109



4.0 2018 LGMD PLAN There are several LGMD actions on the schedule in 2018. Some of the major actions anticipated for 2018 are:

• Herbicide treatment in mid-June to reduce levels of invasive curly leaf pondweed (Potamogeton crispus) and native nuisance water nymph (Najas spp.) and small pondweed (Potamogeton pusillus) using the herbicide diquat.

• Herbicide treatment in August to treat emergent species such as fragrant water lily (Nymphaea odorata), yellow flag iris (Iris pseudacorus), narrow leaf cattail (typha angustifolia), and purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) with the herbicides glyphosate, Imazapyr, and Triclopyr TEA.

• Hold three Lake Geneva Management District Advisory Board meetings. • Hold two public meetings to give informational updates on the LGMD activities and

educate residents on best management practices or other topics of interest recommended by the Advisory Board.

• Perform aquatic plant survey on Lake Geneva including looking for shoreline invasive species.

• Update Website with educational materials for District residents. • Get estimate to cut up and remove floating mat in front of boat launch and/or other

alternative methods for removal. • Keep residents on email distribution list apprised of LGMD activities and upcoming

event.

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