Central Park visitors need to be aware of thin ice on Bennett Lake this winter.
The City of Roseville uses an underwater aeration system to support the fish population throughout the winter months. The system increases the amount of dissolved oxygen in the water, which supports the lake’s sunfish, bluegills, and bass population, said Roseville Environmental Manager Ryan Johnson. It also can create thin spots in the ice.
The city works closely with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the Ramsey Washington Metro Watershed District to monitor lake conditions.
DNR regulations require “thin ice” signs every 100 feet around public waters when aeration systems are in operation.
Johnson said residents should avoid walking on the ice at Bennett Lake and any body of water in the city due to the potential of thin ice spots.
“No water, especially in the metro area, is safe in winter,” Johnson said. “That’s because we have storm sewers emptying into them, which causes water movement and can carry chloride-laden water as a result of road salt which changes the water chemistry. There are springs in some of the lakes and ponds which can also result in thin spots.”