Putting the Pieces Together

Transcription

1 Putting the Pieces Together A guided tour of the St Croix Valley's land and water resources A Guided View from the River: What are the challenges and obstacles your community is facing? 1 Site 2 Buk and Dave The projects feature restoration of the ecological functions within riparian corridors and tributary streams, protection of scenic and recreational qualities, and improvement of water quality in the St. Croix. Learn how the projects have helped to meet regulatory requirements and who the communities turned to for assistance. 2 1 Site 1 Urban Challenges: We are all built out. Now what do we do? Stillwater, Minnesota Sustainable Hudson, Hudson Wisconsin 2 3 Site 2 - Rural Challenges: How well do you know the web of regulations? Navigating state, county & local regulations. St Croix County, Wisconsin 3 Site 3 -Suburban Challenges: Working Across Political Boundaries-Developing Partnerships City of Lakeland, Minnesota Middle St Croix Watershed Management Organization

2 Site 1: Urban Challenges:We are all built out. Now what do we do? Storm Water Improvements - City of Stillwater, Minnesota Torry Kraftson, Assitant City Engineer (651) tkraftson@ci.stillwater.mn.us Cynthia Landers, See handout from Sustainable Hudson for more information. North Hill Project: City installed sanitary sewer and water to North Hill area and constructed 4 storm water ponds (2004) to manage storm water runoff The City installed 2 porous asphalt bike trails- one in Brown s Creek Park and the other at the southeast corner of Lake McKusick and 2 pervious paver brick installations one at the library and one through a grant at the Lily Lake boat launch. The City has 103 storm water ponds which it inspects and maintains. The City has implemented several pond maintenance and improvement projects. North Hill sewering project and storm water pond. The City sweeps its streets at least twice annually and more frequently in sensitive areas The City has worked with many homeowners and commercial projects to reduce runoff through construction of infiltration features (i.e. Stillwater Junior High, Terra Springs) Rain Garden installed on Eagle Ridge Trail in Here is how they looked in Rain Gardens The City has installed 40 rain gardens in conjunction with street improvement projects.

3 Waterfront Park Planning The City has a Long Range Waterfront Park Development Plan. Myrtle Street Ravine The City has restored several ravines to prevent erosion to the Saint Croix River: The Fourth Street Ravine, the Trotter Court Ravine, the Mulberry Ravine, and the Myrtle Street Ravine. Preconstruction Post Construction

4 Site 2: Rural Challenges: How well do you know the web of regulations? Can you navigate state, county and local regulations? St Croix County, Wisconsin Buck Malick, St Croix County Board of Adjustment (715) Dave Fodroczi, Director of Planning & Zoning, St Croix County, WI (715) This site features the largest tract of undeveloped land in Wisconsin along this stretch of the river. Here the focus is not on projects that have been done, but challenges with future development. Are we ready for it? See handout from St. Croix County for additional information.

5 Site 3: Suburban Challenges: Working Across Political Boundaries- Developing Partnerships Amy Carolan, Administrator Middle St Sroix WMO (651) ext22 Brian Zeller, Mayor City of Lakeland (612) M I D D L E S T. C R O I X W A T E R S H E D M A N A G E M E N T O R G A N I Z A T I O N W E S T F R O N T A G E R O A D, H I G H W A Y 3 6 S T I L L W A T E R, M I N N E S T O A P h o n e x 2 2 f a x w w w. m s c w m o. o r g The Middle St. Croix Watershed Management Organization (MSCWMO) is a Joint Powers Watershed Management Organization composed of ten member communities: Afton, Bayport, Baytown Township, Lakeland, Lakeland Shores, Lake St. Croix Beach, Oak Park Heights, St. Mary s Point, Stillwater and West Lakeland Township. As a JPA cooperatively managing water resources within the 19.8 square mile WMO, collaboration and partnership is essential. Below, a few examples of MSCWMO projects are highlighted. The Afton-Lakeland Gully Stabilization Project: A large, severely eroding gully stretching between the cities of Afton and Lakeland was identified during the MSCWMOs 2006 ravine inventory. The gully was over 1,000 feet long, with headcuts over 10-feet deep. The communities of Afton and Lakeland along with the MSCWMO determined that a collaborative project would be necessary to stabilize the ravine. Wenck Engineering was selected to provide design services. Wenck determined that placement of 11 rock check veins, 2 boulder rock drop structures, rock walls, and bioengineering techniques would be required to stabilize the gully. The following contributions were made to the project: Afton, $100,000; Lakeland, $20,000; the Board of Water and Soil Resources Grant, $75,000; MSCWMO, in-kind project administration and inspections. The photo to the right shows the general Location of the Afton Lakeland Gully project. The majority of the actively eroding gully was located with the City of Lakeland, however, the majority of the runoff was generated in the agricultural fields located in the City of Afton. Effective partnership and collaboration made this project a success.

6 Before: The large gully was actively eroding creating issues for downstream residents and the City of Lakeland. After: A series of rock check veins along with Bioengineering techniques provide grade stabilization. The majority of the runoff was generated in the agricultural fields in the City of Afton. MSCWMO Cost-Share Program: The MSCWMO distributes approximately $11, in cost-share dollars annually. These dollars are available to residents who are interested in installing a water quality improvement feature on their own property. Since 2007, the MSCWMO has provided cost share for 45 projects within the MSCWMO. Projects must help improve water quality or provide beneficial habitat to be considered for funding. Below is an example of a cost-share project that you may be able to see during tonight s boat tour. It is located in the City of Bayport. Right: a series of raingardens and a dry creek bed filters and conveys runoff from the cul-de-sac on Lake St. South in Bayport draining to the St. Croix River. Project located at 345 Lake St. South in Bayport.

7 Left: a linear raingarden is located directly adjacent to the project pictured above. This resident preferred to use native plants with a more natural look, while the project above contained formalized plantings. Both provide stormwater treatment for runoff on Lake St. South, the project also brought the neighbors together. City of Lake St. Croix Beach Bluffland Restoration: In the fall of 2010, the MSCWMO will work collaboratively with the City of Lake St. Croix Beach to complete a bluffland restoration project adjacent to the City s public swimming beach. The MSCWMO is currently accepting quotes from qualified restoration consultants to complete the work. The project will focus on stabilization and restoration of the appropriate bluffland plant community. The project will also have a strong educational component and work to teach residents living near the river about the importance of maintaining a naturalized buffer area. Other Upcoming Projects: Urban Subwatershed Assessment, Lily and McKusick Lake: The MSCWMO received a grant to complete an assessment of the land area draining to Lily and McKusick Lake. The assessment will help identify areas in the City of Stillwater where water quality improvement projects could be completed to help improve the water quality of Lily and McKusick Lake (both drain to the St. Croix River). The assessment will be complete in August of 2010 and projects will begin shortly thereafter. Saint Croix River Association Grants: The Middle St. Croix WMO recently received a $70, grant from the St. Croix River Association. The project will focus on enhancing stormwater treatment on Stillwater Street Reconstruction Projects as well as retrofitting stormwater treatment facilities along Perro Creek in Bayport. Projects will begin in 2011 and continue into 2012.