Discussion:
The current Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) includes a project to address annual erosion issues, pond cleaning and outlet improvements (Storm-20-001). Six specific issues were identified as part of this 2020 CIP project. This CIP project is being updated to also include the following identified outlet issue pertaining to Quarry Lake.
Quarry Lake is landlocked because there is no outlet to allow water to discharge from the basin. Since mining operations completed and Quarry Lake was established, water levels have been steadily rising. As a result, a normal water level has not been established.
In 2019, Quarry Lake was pumped down to protect existing infrastructure from inundation and potential damage from frozen conditions. The drawdown was also to provide time to complete a water level management plan that will evaluate outlet options and help establish a normal water level to manage the lake.
The water level management plan for Quarry Lake is needed to help make management decisions that include impacts to existing park improvements, trees, improvements proposed by the Shakopee-Prior Lake Water Ski Association and future park improvements.
City staff will need assistance from a consultant to complete this plan. City staff has worked with WSB to develop a scope of services needed to complete a water level management plan for Quarry Lake. WSB and their team have the experience, technical skill, and capacity to provide the needed services and is a recommended firm as part of the city's approved consultant pool. The attached Professional Services Agreement authorizes and describes the scope and fees for their work on this plan. WSB is prepared to begin the study immediately upon approval with an expected completion of late March 2020.