Bush Lake water levels

Graph of water levels at Bush Lake,spring and summer of 2006.
In 1996, the City of Bloomington petitioned the Nine Mile Creek Watershed District to undertake the Bush Lake Basic Water Management Project to address concerns over fluctuating lake levels, flooding impacts on private and public lands, tree loss, and submergence of the majority of the surrounding water quality treatment basins constructed to protect Bush Lake water quality. Bush Lake was a landlocked basin with no natural outlet or ability to naturally address these conditions. The Bush Lake Outlet Basic Water Management Project addressed these concerns by providing a controlled outlet from Bush Lake to Southeast Anderson Lake thereby protecting public and private lands from flooding, improving treatment of storm water runoff, and protecting and enhancing the scenic, recreational and wildlife assets of the lake.

In 1999 a pumped outlet from Bush Lake to Southeast Anderson Lake was constructed and operated to restore Bush Lake levels to more closely match the historic normal water level or ordinary high water level as established by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Water levels are currently maintained to the highest possible elevation while continuing to provide the protection and preservation of natural resources and water quality intended by the project. The elevation of Bush Lake is slightly below the maintained normal elevation of 832.59 as of May 23, 2005 and has been dependent solely on recent precipitation and snowfall/snowmelt amounts. The Bush Lake outlet does not operate until the lake reaches an elevation of 834.0 and will cease operation when lake is lowered to an elevation of 833.5. These elevations were established after involvement and input from residents, lake users, the Bush Lake Citizens' Advisory Committee, as well as direction from permitting agencies.

To date, the results of the Bush Lake Outlet project and shoreline restoration have been a huge success for the City and Watershed District. The native vegetation is quickly re-establishing along the shoreline providing a unique diverse environment for birds and other wildlife not frequently found in the metropolitan area. This restoration included removal of a number of dead trees that resulted from the prolonged high water levels particularly in areas where public safety was of concern. Most dead trees were left in place as recommended by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for additional bird and wildlife habitat. Dead trees provide distinctive, valuable wildlife habitat that should be preserved whenever possible.

The Bush Lake Outlet project provides numerous benefits for the Lake. The stable water level minimizes erosion caused by wave action against unstable shore areas, surrounding water quality treatment basins are able to function properly as they are no longer inundated by high lake levels, flood protection to public and private property has been provided, and a native and diverse vegetative shoreline has re-established benefiting the quality of water in the lake and providing desirable habitat for birds and other wildlife.

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