Chronology of 2018-2019 Rice Lake Winter Aeration project
December 16, 2018 - Aerator deployed!
As of Sunday afternoon, the aerator has been put in place and turned on for the remainder of the winter season. It will run 24x7 until the ice is out in the spring and aeration is no longer needed. An expanded area of open water should develop in the coming weeks from the original 12’x7’ hole which was opened up this weekend.
Thin Ice signs have been posted around the perimeter of the area expected to open up.
PLEASE EXERCISE CAUTION IF YOU VENTURE INTO THIS AREA!!!
December 3 2018 - Winter Aeration signs posted along shoreline
In preparation for the winter aeration later this season, signs were posted at various entry points to the lake reminding everyone that winter aeration will be conducted on the lake which will mean there will be areas of open water present. Please use caution when venturing out onto the lake once winter aeration begins.
This page will track the activities related to the winter aeration of Rice Lake for the 2018-2019 season. Most recent activities are at the top of this page.
November 8 & 15 2018 - Winter Aeration public notices posted in Osseo-Maple Grove-Champlin-Dayton Press
In preparation for the winter aeration later this season, public notices for the activity were posted in this newspaper.
October 10 2018 - Winter Aeration permit issued by MN DNR
In preparation for the winter aeration later this season, a permit obtained from the Minnesota DNR.
December 20, 2018 - Aerator stopped & restarted
Since the original deployment on 12/17, the aeration system has stopped running several instances after shorting out. It is believed this was caused by ice backing up into the unit while it tries to open up a larger body of water.
Expectations are once more water opens up, the aerator will continue to run as designed.
If you notice the aeration system not working as expected (i.e. Not running; flipped over; etc.), please let us know via our e-mail address (ricelakeassoc@comcast.net).
This page was last updated on: May 26, 2019
Number of visitors since December 20, 2018
December 23, 2018 - Aerator opening up a larger area
As of this afternoon, the aerator has opened up an area of about 40' x 125'.
If you notice the aeration system not working as expected (i.e. Not running; flipped over; etc.), please let us know via our e-mail address (ricelakeassoc@comcast.net).
Aerator in operation
Area of open water as viewed from north shoreline
January 2, 2019 - Aerator stopped running
As of this afternoon, the aerator is no longer running.The area of open water prior to this breakdown was approximately 100'x250'.
Will need to get access to the aerator by float/boat, since thin ice has begun to form around aerator making it inaccessible by foot.
January 4, 2019 - Aerator repaired and is running again
Thanks to a combined work crew from 10000 Docks and Nelson Electric (Robert Nelson), the aerator is back up and running. The cause of the failure was due to a broken ceramic bushing in the shaft, which has now been replaced with a hybrid brass version. The area had to be accessed with a "micro-barge" built by 10000 Docks, which made it safer to get to the aerator without going through the ice. Once the aerator was started up again, it immediately began to break up the thin ice into open water.
See photos below for activities from today's resurrection.
If anyone notices the aerator not running, please contact us at ricelakeassoc@comcast.net!!
Before the resuscitation.
Setting up the micro-barge platform.
Working from the micro-barge
Starting up the aerator again!
View from micro-barge after restart
Good-sized area opened up already
January 25, 2019 - Aerator has opened up an area approximately 225' x 50'
As of this afternoon, the aerator has opened up an area of about 225' x 50'.
If you notice the aerator no longer running, please notify us at ricelakeassoc@comcast.net, especially with the current cold snap we are experiencing.
February 19, 2019 - Aerator continues to run even in these frigid temperatures!
As of this afternoon, the aerator continues to run and maintain an open area of about 225' x 50'.
If you notice the aerator no longer running, please notify us at ricelakeassoc@comcast.net, especially with the current cold snap we are experiencing.
April 13, 2019 - Aerator turned off for the season
As of this afternoon, we turned off the aerator since the ice in the area is now out. In the photo to the right you may be able to see 2 loons swimming in the area.
If you see any of the floating Thin Ice signs along the shoreline, please let us know where they are at so we can recover them and use them again. You can contact us at: ricelakeassoc@comcast.net,
Aerator turned off for the season
Two loons fishing in the aerator area
May 25, 2019 - Aerator removed from the lake for the season
As of this afternoon, the aerator was removed from the lake for the season. We are still missing some Thin Ice signs, so if you see any, please contact us at: ricelakeassoc@comcast.net so we can retrieve them for future use.
