CAC CRWD WMP Mid-Term Review Meeting packet 4 29 15

Citizen Advisory Committee 6:00 PM, Wednesday, April 29, 2015 – Capitol Region Watershed District 1410 Energy Park Drive, Suite 4, Saint Paul, MN 55108 Special Meeting Agenda

Materials Enclosed

6:00

I)

Welcome, Announcements and Updates – Introductions

6:05

II)

Overview of 2010 Watershed Management Plan Mid-Term Review, Bob Fossum

6:10

III)

Review, Discussion and Comment on Progress Made Towards Addressing Plan Issues

7:00

IV)

Adjourn

W:\05 Citizen Advisory Committee\Agendas\2015\April 29, 2015 CAC Special Meeting Agenda.docx

Our Mission is to protect, manage and improve the water resources of Capitol Region Watershed District.

April 29, 2015 Special CAC Meeting

DATE: TO: FROM: SUBJECT:

April 23, 2015 CRWD CAC Bob Fossum, Water Resource Program Manager 2010 Watershed Management Plan Mid-Term Review

Background On September 1, 2010, the Board of Managers adopted the District’s Watershed Management Plan (WMP).

The plan covers the term from 2010—2020. As the District is approaching the half-way point in the term of the WMP, it is a good time to evaluate implementation of the plan and consider adjustments (if any) to the WMP. At the February 18, 2015 Board meeting the Managers approved 2010 WMP Mid-Term Review Project. The project includes three phases: Data Gathering, Evaluation of WMP Progress, and Final Report.

Issues Staff have worked with EOR, Inc. to complete a preliminary assessment of implementation progress. Included in the CAC packet is a Summary of Progress toward Addressing Issues (Draft) based on input and discussion with District staff. Please take time to review this document in preparation for the meeting. This document will be the basis of discussion with the CAC and we will be looking for input (confirmation, clarification, or disagreement) with what has documented by staff thus far. The other documents included with the packet are for your reference.

For background/contextual information we have also enclosed a memo summarizing the initiatives completed under the major work areas of the plan and the Issues and Goals Section of the 2010 WMP (pages 15-34).

Requested Action Provide input and assessment relative to progress towards addressing the Issues identified in the 2010 WMP enc:

Summary of Progress toward Addressing Issues (Draft) Overview of District Initiatives (for reference only) Issues and Goals Section (pgs. 15-34) 2010 WMP (for reference only)

W:\06 Projects\WMP 2010\Mid-Term Review\CAC Packet--4-23-2015\CAC Memo WMP Mid-term Review, 04-23-2015.docx

Our Mission is to protect, manage and improve the water resources of Capitol Region Watershed District

memo Project Name | To / Contact info | From / Contact info | Regarding |

Date |

CRWD Watershed Management Plan Mid Term Review

April 23, 2015

Bob Fossum Pat Conrad Summary of Progress Toward Addressing Issues (Draft)

The following is a summary of the CRWD staff impression of the progress that has been made in addressing the 20 issues that were identified in the 2010 Watershed Management Plan. Included for each issue statement is a brief summary of the goals and objectives that were developed for addressing the issue. The narrative describing the progress that has been made was developed through a working session with District Staff only. This is intended to serve as a starting point for discussions with the CAC and Board of Managers.

Issue 1: Many District residents, businesses and institutions do not feel a personal connection with water and natural resources and therefore do not have a sense of responsibility or ownership which negatively impacts their ability to change behaviors and increase stewardship Goals: Increase awareness of water, appreciation for local resources, the District.

Progress made towards addressing Issue and meeting goals

Education outreach is one of the core programs of the District. The District has conducted surveys (baseline survey in 2009, Como Lake survey in 2011 and informal perception studies) in an attempt to measure changes in awareness but it is a difficult task. The District does keep track of the contacts that are made with the public and the messages that are delivered. Signage is used at District projects in an attempt to educate the public. One specific area the CRWD staff identified as lacking is in the District educating the public on groundwater issues.

Issue 2 The District’s diverse community has a wide range of cultural, social and political relationships with water, community interests, priorities, and opinions of the District’s water resources Goal:

Increase communication and encourage involvement

Progress made towards addressing Issue and meeting goals

The District has made some progress to address this issue through it partner grant programs, but additional effort could be made on this issue. Staff does not feel that the District is completely in sync with the community. Despite the effort that has been put forth, the District is far from attaining the goals established for this issue. Particularly, the District has not achieved its goal of getting its materials into other languages with the exception of some project specific signage.

EOR is an Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer Emmons & Olivier Resources, Inc.

651 Hale Ave N.

Oakdale, MN 55128

T/ 651.770.8448

F/ 651.770.2552

www.eorinc.com

memo 2 of 7

Issue 3 Regular maintenance is critical to the success of stormwater BMPs and is not consistently performed to achieve desired performance Goals: Improve short and long-term maintenance of BMPs, coordinate with other jurisdictions.

Progress made towards addressing Issue and meeting goals

While the District does a very good job of maintaining its own BMPs they could do a better job of supporting their partners and ensuring that all BMPs installed in the District are well maintained.

BMPs that are installed either through a permitted activity or by a partner on their own projects have not had the level of maintenance that is being done on District projects. The District has built some infrastructure that will help in achieving the goal of coordinating with other jurisdiction but work remains to be done.

Issue 4 The pollutant load of stormwater has impacted the quality of water in the District’s lakes, wetlands and the Mississippi River Goals: Reduce chemical, physical and biological pollution to District lakes, wetlands and the Mississippi River.

Objectives: Several specific objectives are enumerated in the plan for how this reduction would be quantified • Como, McCarrons, Loeb and Mississippi River phosphorus loading, including internal loading • Metals, pesticides, chlorides, organic contaminants • Illicit discharges • Trash, sediment, turbidity • E. coli bacteria Progress made towards addressing Issue and meeting goals

This is the fundamental issue facing the District. The District has worked extensively towards addressing this issue but it is an on-going effort. Many of the specific goals (related to a particular resource) have been met while others are being actively worked on. In addition to reorganizing the goals for this issue, staff recommended re-visiting some of the specific objectives within this issue area specifically; • Achieving the TP loading requirement of the Lake Pepin TMDL (a TP reduction target was not established) • Developing a target reduction for the amount of trash entering District lakes (the District works towards reducing trash loading, the benefit of developing a target is unclear) The primary focus of the District has been the conventional watershed pollutants, TP, sediment, nitrogen. Additional effort could be placed on additional contaminants such as pesticides, chlorides, etc.

Emmons & Olivier Resources, Inc. 651 Hale Ave N, Oakdale, MN 55128

p: 651.770.8448

f: 651.770.2552 www.eorinc.com

memo 3 of 7

Issue 5 The quantity of runoff from a highly urbanized area increases the risk of flooding and puts added strain on the infrastructure within the District Goals: Minimize flooding, evaluate impact of climate change, preserve and re-establish floodplain, manage volume in the Trout Brook system, Progress made towards addressing Issue and meeting goals

The issue has been primarily addressed through the 2010 H&H Study as well as subwatershedspecific studies, the District Rules and through the management of the Trout Brook system. Little effort has been placed in identifying opportunities to re-establish floodplain areas as this has been determined to be a low priority activity for the District.

Issue 6 Within an urbanized area, runoff from impervious surfaces is directed to storm sewers and discharged to surface waters rather than infiltrating into the ground resulting in reduced groundwater recharge and impacts to receiving waters Goals: Promote groundwater recharge through infiltration, protect groundwater.

Progress made towards addressing Issue and meeting goals

The District has identified areas where infiltrating stormwater is not recommended but has NOT developed a watershed-wide evaluation of areas that are most conducive to infiltration. This type of evaluation has been done on a site specific and subwatershed basis. The Districts approach for protecting/managing groundwater at the time the plan was written was to collaborate with Ramsey County on their County Groundwater Plan which, ultimately, was not developed. The role the District should play in groundwater management needs to be determined. This is a common situation for many watershed districts so there have been discussions at the State level about making recommendations for how watershed district address groundwater issues.

Issue 7 Monitoring and research data are needed to understand the watershed, identify problems, and determine appropriate watershed management approaches within the District Goals: Monitor watershed resources and BMPs, continually refine the program and use collected data to evaluate performance of District work Progress made towards addressing Issue and meeting goals

Monitoring is one of the core programs of the District and a great deal of data is being collected on the Districts resources as well as on the performance of District installed practices. Additional, more frequent evaluation of the Districts work based on the findings of the monitoring data is recommended.

Emmons & Olivier Resources, Inc. 651 Hale Ave N, Oakdale, MN 55128

p: 651.770.8448

f: 651.770.2552 www.eorinc.com

memo 4 of 7

Issue 8 Monitoring and research data are difficult for the public to access and understand Goals: Make monitoring data available and easy to understand for a broad audience, serve as a clearinghouse, and establish partnerships.

Progress made towards addressing Issue and meeting goals

The District has expended some effort in making monitoring and research data more accessible to the public but additional work remains to be done in this area. The framework is in place to more effectively deliver this type of information to the public so staff is confident that these goal will be achieved in the next 5 years.

Issue 9 Future watershed management strategies need to be responsive to emerging issues resulting from climate change and technological advances Goals: Develop better understanding of climate change impacts, conduct research on stormwater management technologies, and promote use of emerging technologies and innovative management techniques.

Progress made towards addressing Issue and meeting goals

The District has become a leader in conducting research on stormwater management technologies (Arlington Pascal) and has been active in promoting emerging technologies through its rules and involvement with the Green Line. More attention could be paid on the impact climate change will have on watershed management. The District needs to determine where the balance lies between an incentive-based vs regulatory approach to ‘promoting’ innovative watershed management techniques.

Issue 10 Many District partners and residents are willing to help the District accomplish its mission if assistance is made available Goal:

Encourage partners and residents to implement projects

Progress made towards addressing Issue and meeting goals

This is a high priority issue for the District. The District provides financial assistance through its grant program to encourage partners to implement water quality improvement projects.

Issue 11 The District is uniquely positioned to be able to identify and support collaborations between various partners/stakeholders with compatible projects and programs Goal: Coordinate efforts with partners to ensure cost effective use of funds for water resource management.

Emmons & Olivier Resources, Inc. 651 Hale Ave N, Oakdale, MN 55128

p: 651.770.8448

f: 651.770.2552 www.eorinc.com

memo 5 of 7 Progress made towards addressing Issue and meeting goals

Coordinating efforts with partners is an overarching principle of the District and is the approach used in all aspects of watershed management: district rules, CIPs and programs.

Issue 12 Multiple funding mechanisms and outside funding sources are available for the District to pursue to offset financial needs Goal:

Increase the funds available to meet the goals and objectives of the District.

Progress made towards addressing Issue and meeting goals

The District has been very successful pursuing and obtaining grant money from sources that are typically available for watershed management activities. Additional effort could be spent investigating additional, non-traditional sources.

Issue 13 The District must prioritize programs and projects to ensure that goals are met in the most efficient, and cost effective manner Goal:

Utilize long-term planning and pursue cost effective solutions

Progress made towards addressing Issue and meeting goals

The District conducts a periodic review of its programs, sets priorities and evaluates cost/benefits.

The annual work plan and budgeting process is also used to evaluate priorities and ensure that goals are being met in a cost effective manner.

Issue 14 An effective watershed organization needs to plan for change, growth, and development Goals: (from the 2008 Strategic Plan) Strengthen the District’s capacity to accomplish its mission, Strive for excellence, with competent, knowledgeable, committed, and innovative Board members, advisory committees, and staff, Provide research-based, informed, mission-driven decision making, Be an open, approachable, facilitator of partnerships to enhance the District’s capacity to protect, maintain and improve water resources Progress made towards addressing Issue and meeting goals

The District strives to accomplish all of the stated goals for this issue.

Issue 15 The District needs to maintain clear and effective Rules utilizing the most current research and science available Goals: Review and update the rules regularly Progress made towards addressing Issue and meeting goals

The District has annual meetings to review the rules and has had 2 rule revisions in the last 5 years.

Emmons & Olivier Resources, Inc. 651 Hale Ave N, Oakdale, MN 55128

p: 651.770.8448

f: 651.770.2552 www.eorinc.com

memo 6 of 7

Issue 16 Coordination with District partners on regulatory issues is needed for more efficient and effective stormwater regulation across all jurisdictions Goals: Work with partners to improve rules and ordinances, collaborate to ensure proper BMP construction and erosion and sediment control techniques are implemented, work with neighboring WMOs and state agencies on consistency, comply with applicable local, state, federal regulations.

The Districts rules and permitting program has evolved significantly from the time the Plan was written. Most of the goals for the issue were addressed in the rule development process and now are overly emphasized based on how the District relationships have evolved since the writing of the plan. Some outstanding issues exist such as maintaining consistency with neighboring entities and achieving volume reduction on sites less than 1 acre.

Issue 17 The ecological integrity of many District lakes, wetlands, and the Mississippi River has degraded to a point where the resources are not providing their original level of function or value Goal: Improve ecological integrity of District lakes, wetlands and Mississippi River Progress made towards addressing Issue and meeting goals

The District has done some work towards realizing this goal but it has not risen to a high priority.

When ecological improvement can be achieved along with the primary focus of a project it is included. The upcoming Willow Reserve Restoration project will be the first project that has ecological integrity as its primary focus.

Issue 18 The loss of natural areas has decreased the ability of the watershed to capture, filter and infiltrate rainwater prior to discharging to District lakes, wetlands, and the Mississippi River Goals: Support increasing open space, mitigate loss of pervious areas by incorporating green infrastructure.

Progress made towards addressing Issue and meeting goals

The District has addressed this issue through its rules, management of the Trout Brook system and through collaborations with partners, for example the installation of green infrastructure on the Green Line.

Issue 19 Reduced connectivity of natural habitat areas in the District limit movement between the District’s resources Goal:

Coordinate with partners to improve accessibility and movement between natural areas.

Progress made towards addressing Issue and meeting goals Emmons & Olivier Resources, Inc. 651 Hale Ave N, Oakdale, MN 55128

p: 651.770.8448

f: 651.770.2552 www.eorinc.com

memo 7 of 7 The Districts goals and objectives for this issue were deliberately written to be ‘collaborative’ in nature. The District has been supportive of the type of activities that would increase connections to the Districts nature areas.

Issue 20 The land within the District developed during a time when resource protection was not a priority. As a result, there are a number of opportunities to restore historic resources Goals: Identify opportunities to restore historic stream and wetland resources and increase the awareness of current and historic water resources.

Progress made towards addressing Issue and meeting goals

The District has restored a historic portion of Trout Brook but has not restored any historic wetlands, although the upcoming Willow Reserve restoration project will accomplish this goal in part. The District has increased awareness of existing water resources but little effort has been placed in raising the awareness of historic resources.

Emmons & Olivier Resources, Inc. 651 Hale Ave N, Oakdale, MN 55128

p: 651.770.8448

f: 651.770.2552 www.eorinc.com

memo Project Name |

Date |

CRWD Watershed Management Plan Mid Term Review

To / Contact info |

Bob Fossum

From / Contact info |

Pat Conrad

Regarding |

Overview of District Initiatives

April 22, 2015

Overview of District Initiatives 2011-2014 As part of the Mid-Term Evaluation of the 2010 Watershed Management Plan the following summary of District Initiatives was compiled. The summary is simply a listing of the various initiatives grouped by major work group area and will be used to evaluate the progress that the District is making towards addressing the issues that were identified in the 2010 Watershed Management Plan.

Capital Improvements & Studies The following are the capital improvement projects, subwatershed analyses, studies and programs that the District has conducted since 2010.

Center St/Rice St Subwatershed Analysis Como 7 Subwatershed - Curtis Field Crosby Lake Management Plan

Eustis Street Stormwater Feasibility Study Green Infrastructure on the Green Line Highland Ravine Stabilization Project Inspiring Communities Program

Lake McCarrons Lakeshore Restoration Neighborhood Stabilization Program

Interceptor

Farrington

Trout Brook Storm Sewer Interceptor

District 6 Natural Resource Inventory Gottfried's Pit Improvements

Trout Brook Feasibility Study

Trout Brook Nature Sanctuary

Curtiss Pond Improvement Project

East Kittsondale Subwatershed Analysis

Sunny Slope Stabilization Feasibility Study

Trout Brook Inspection

Storm

Sewer

Interceptor

Villa Park Subwatershed Plan and BMP Design Villa Park Wetland Restoration Project Well Sealing

Wetland Reestablishment Feasibility Study — Victoria Park William Street Pond

Education and Outreach Watershed outreach program working with organizations, residents and community groups through public events, trainings, presentations, resource assistance, school visits and field trips within the District. Also included are internships the District has funded, and presentations staff have made describing the research and work the District has conducted.

EOR is an Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer Emmons & Olivier Resources, Inc.

651 Hale Ave N.

Oakdale, MN 55128

T/ 651.770.8448

F/ 651.770.2552

www.eorinc.com

memo 2 of 6 2013 International Low Impact Development Symposium Presentations Chloride education workshops

Clean water interpretive signage at the new Lowertown baseball park, CHS Field Conducted fishing lessons

Coordinated publicity for the Blue Thumb native plant sale Co-sponsored storm drain stenciling and trash cleanup Education displays at community events Education displays targeted at adults

Hamline Midway boulevard rain garden planting event Held a summer macroinvertebrate study

Hosted the 2013 Clean Water Summit conference Hosted a Minnesota GreenCorps Member

Illicit discharge and winter maintenance trainings Interpretive signage Lake Study Event

Led a stormwater BMP tour along the Green Line Led a tour of Trout Brook Nature Sanctuary

Neighborhood water festival Participation in Blue Thumb

Presented to attendees of the Minnesota Green Roof Symposium Rain garden walking tours and workshops

Sponsor the Blooming St. Paul: CRWD Clean Water Award Sponsored Education Outreach Intern Sponsor Natural Resource Intern

Sponsored Winter Maintenance training "Stop the Rain Drain� (SRD) downspout redirection program

gutter

Supported a water themed dance event at the first Open Streets celebration in Saint Paul Supported Children’s Water Fest Tour of green roof projects

Updated District Education Plan

Water quality education field trips WEFTEC 2013 Staff Presentations WEFTEC 2014 Staff Presentations

Workshop about maintaining turf in a way that causes minimal impact to water quality.

Workshop on landscaping for clean water

Stewardship, Partner and Special Grants CRWD values collaboration with individuals and organizations, and sees the involvement of all citizens as important to improving the water resources in the District. Through it grants they hope to encourage a strong ethic of water resource stewardship among citizens. Partner Grants fund the development and delivery of collaborative programs that increase resident knowledge of water quality issues in order to affect behaviors that decrease stormwater runoff. The following list is intended to capture the activities the District has partially or fully funded through its grant programs.

Emmons & Olivier Resources, Inc. 651 Hale Ave N, Oakdale, MN 55128

p: 651.770.8448

f: 651.770.2552 www.eorinc.com

memo 3 of 6 Great River School: Construction of stormwater retrofits including permeable parking lot, rain gardens, and rainwater reuse A clean water dance showcase as part of Saint Paul Open Streets, An environmental festival highlighting the role of water in indigenous cultures

Central High School: Design and grant match funding for stormwater retrofits at Central High School

City of St. Paul - Parks and Recreation: Lowertown Ballpark Civic organizing and fall cleanup event around Como Lake

Community Design Center: Boulevard Rain Garden Pilot Project

Community organizing project focused on supporting water quality projects of faith communities Support of a street sweeping study,

Water quality education event for Latino youth Stipends for environmental internships for East Side youth,

education

Support of Friends of the Mississippi River’s river stewardship and habitat restoration programs

Educational signage and construction of rain gardens at Beacon Bluff Conservation job skills development program with at-risk Saint Paul youth

Dellwood Gardens Feasibility/Design for rainwater harvesting/reuse project

East Side youth environment education internship Educational rain garden signage

Great River School: Stormwater Retrofits

Harambee Elementary School Design and construction of multiple rain gardens on the school property Knowledge Attitudes and Practices Study

Lowertown Ballpark: Rain gardens, underground filtration, tree trenches, rainwater reuse and interactive signage Macalester College: Parking Lot Tree Trench System Construction Membership in Watershed Partners (WSP)

Model Cities – Central Exchange and BROWNstone: Design and installation of permeable pavers, infiltration swales and native plantings along the Green Line New equipment for the City of St. Paul's Street Maintenance Department to improve plowing and salt application techniques.

Pioneer Endicott Building: Green Roof/Patio Rain barrel construction workshop grants

Rain garden maintenance organizing and education Raingarden guidance document Green Roof Stewardship Grant

Pervious Paver Stewardship Grant

Erosion Control Stewardship Grant

Watershed Artist in Residence Stewardship Grant

Community Clean up Como Lake Stewardship Grant Rainwater Reuse Stewardship Grant

Native Plant Education Expo and Market

Shoreline Stabilization Stewardship Grant

Emmons & Olivier Resources, Inc. 651 Hale Ave N, Oakdale, MN 55128

p: 651.770.8448

f: 651.770.2552 www.eorinc.com

memo 4 of 6 Ramsey County Regional Rail Authority: Union Depot Review of Stewardship program

Roseville Parks and Recreation Hydrologic and vegetative restoration of wetland in Villa Park Saint Paul Public Schools: Chelsea Heights

Saint Paul Public Schools: Pervious Parking Lot, St. Paul Music Academy Science activities and teacher training at a Roseville environmental magnet school,

St. Paul Parks and Recreation Design for Swede Hollow Park stream improvements St. Paul Parks and Recreation: Hidden Falls Water Resource Development Design

St. Paul Parks and Recreation: PayneMaryland Development: Stockholm Tree Planting Design

St. Paul Parks and Recreation: Swede-Hollow Stream Analysis Restoration Feasibility Study Design St. Paul Port Authority Shared-Stacked green infrastructure at Midway Stadium redevelopment site

St. Paul Public Schools BMP installation at Rondo Education Complex

St. Paul Public Schools: Central High School

St. Peter Claver Catholic Church: Pervious Parking, Plaza and Play area and rain garden installation

Stipends for environmental education internships for youth through the Urban Roots

Stipends for youth doing rain garden education and maintenance on Saint Paul’s east side Stop the Rain Drain (SRD) gutter downspout redirection program Storm drain stenciling Stewardship Grant

Support for Friends of the Mississippi River's river stewardship and habitat restoration program Target Corporation: University Ave. Target Improvements

The development of a web application allowing homeowners to “adopt” a storm drain

Wilder Square Apartments Design finalization and construction of BMPs to treat parking lots Young Asian outdoor enthusiasts and Latino youth, neighbor organizing and training in a Como Lake subwatershed

Data Collection, Monitoring and Maintenance The District regularly obtains district wide data layers and data updates necessary to support accurate calibrations of water quality models, subwatershed analysis, and other District projects and programs.

The District purchases and/or updates software and hardware to incorporate GIS into major program areas. Also provides staff training to stay current on GIS technology.

The District created 3 web-based mapping applications to better serve District Staff and the general Public

District staff built and populated the District's BMP database that includes over 1000 BMPs. Includes permitted, grant, CIP, and Partner BMPs. Emmons & Olivier Resources, Inc. 651 Hale Ave N, Oakdale, MN 55128

p: 651.770.8448

f: 651.770.2552 www.eorinc.com

memo 5 of 6 The District inspects and maintains the BMPs at the CCLRT project area and the Como Lake Subwatershed.

CRWD has been collecting water quality and/or quantity data on several BMPs constructed for the Arlington Pascal Project. BMPs are monitored to determine their overall effectiveness at reducing stormwater runoff and pollutant loads CRWD also undertook additional monitoring efforts to determine the amount of gross solids (trash, organic matter, and sand/gravel) which accumulated within the Arlington Pascal Project BMPs as well as the gross solids captured by the BMP pretreatment units

The District published the Arlington Pascal Project: Gross Solids Accumulation Study in spring 2012.

CRWD hired an outside consultant to audit its Safety Program and ensure its meeting OSHA requirements and follows best practices for safety. The safety manual has been updated based on consultant and staff recommendations and includes development of new policies and programs including Employee Right to Know Program.

The District collects water quality and flow data from storm sewers, stormwater ponds, and lakes CRWD conducted fisheries surveys on Como Lake and Little Crosby Lake

CRWD monitored nine District wetlands for plants and macroinvertebrate communities

In 2013 and 2014, CRWD completed a comprehensive review of the Monitoring program to analyze, and refocus the goals and approach of the Program.

Permitting The adoption of District Watershed Rules in 2006 made necessary a permitting program to ensure that developments of more than one acre were in compliance with standards set forth in the Rules.

In addition to reviewing permit applications, the District conducts an annual meeting with the Technical Advisory Committee to review the Districts Rules.

In 2011, the TAC met twice to discuss rule revisions to the one-acre land disturbance threshold, wetland regulations, volume reduction BMP credits, impacts to Trout Brook, and BMP maintenance

In 2012, the TAC met to discuss rule revisions to the one acre land disturbance threshold, wetland regulations, volume reduction BMP credits, impacts to Trout Brook and BMP maintenance.

In 2013, the TAC met to discuss CRWD rules but no revisions were made. Major discussion topics included credits for filtration and iron-enhanced filtration practices, stormwater harvest and reuse, State Minimal Impact Design Standards and Atlas-14 Rainfall Intensity Update.

In 2014, the TAC met to discuss CRWD rules but no revisions were finalized. Draft revisions were distributed for informal review, with plans to adopt in 2015

The District is required to develop and implement a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program (SWPPP), a federal and state requirement for controlling stormwater discharges from urbanized areas. CRWD’s comprehensive, multi-faceted program involves six minimum control measures to Emmons & Olivier Resources, Inc. 651 Hale Ave N, Oakdale, MN 55128

p: 651.770.8448

f: 651.770.2552 www.eorinc.com

memo 6 of 6 improve water quality and minimize stormwater runoff: education and outreach, public involvement, illicit discharge detection and elimination, construction site erosion and sedimentation control, post-construction stormwater management and pollution prevention/good housekeeping of municipal operations.

2011 Highlights of the program included hosting municipal workshops on turf maintenance and winter maintenance and construction of stormwater BMPs within the Central Corridor in Saint Paul and at William Street Pond in Roseville 2012 highlights of the program included hosting a chloride reduction workshop for the 100 drivers of the City of Saint Paul’s snowplow fleet, constructing BMPs within the Central Corridor in Saint Paul and partnering with the City of Saint Paul’s Public Works Department to construct boulevard rain gardens as part of its street reconstruction projects.

2013 was the sixth year of implementation of CRWD’s Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program (SWPPP) Highlights of the program in 2013 included and partnering with the City of Saint Paul’s Public Works Department to construct boulevard rain gardens as part of its street reconstruction projects.

Emmons & Olivier Resources, Inc. 651 Hale Ave N, Oakdale, MN 55128

p: 651.770.8448

f: 651.770.2552 www.eorinc.com

ISSUES AND GOALS

Themes – Our Approach for Action During the development of the District’s second Watershed Management Plan, the organization has taken the opportunity to reflect on where it has been and to challenge itself on where it is going during the next 10 years and beyond. As part of that process, the District identified key visions and themes to promote positive change in the watershed. The key themes are woven throughout the District’s activities. The icons shown below appear alongside the initiatives within this Plan that exemplify the respective theme. The icons are used to provide a visual indicator for themes throughout the Plan.

Bring Water Back to St. Paul From the beginning of this planning effort, the theme “Bring Water Back to St. Paul” has been a centerpiece. The concept applies to both the physical restoration of water resources within the urban watershed as well as bringing water back into the consciousness of the community.

Partnership and Community Connections During the public input process of the Plan developing and engaging partnerships was a recurring theme. Partnerships and community connects vital to the successful implementation of the Plan due to the diversity within the District.

Innovation and Emerging Trends As new technologies develop and the water resources management and engineering fields continue to evolve, the District is responsible for staying aware of trends in science, design, and climate, and to interpret those trends for practical application. It is a priority of the District that programs and projects in the Plan be innovative and that the District anticipate emerging technological trends.

Adaptive Management Adaptive management refers to the feedback loop of performance evaluation and update of management strategies. Adaptive management initiatives are those that incorporate monitoring, evaluation, and assessment followed by revisions in process, design, or management.

New Information Technology The District plans new initiatives notable for their use of technologically advanced information management systems. Use of new information technology is necessary for the District to maintain a leadership role in urban water resource management and effectively implement the Plan.

CRWD 2010 Watershed Management Plan — 9/1/2010

15

Issues and Goals Issue Identification The identification of issues forms the basis of the District’s watershed management plan. At the beginning of the management plan development process, residents, stakeholders, District staff, board members and other interested parties were asked to identify concerns about the watershed and water quality. The issues identification process documented the concerns of stakeholders and was used to formulate issue statements, goals, and implementation activities for the watershed management plan.

This section of the plan describes the public involvement aspect of the issues identification process, and explains how comments and/or concerns shared with the District translated into the issue statements and goals contained in the watershed management plan. It should be noted that the comments and concerns identified in past plans completed by the District and its partners since the last watershed management plan in 2000 were incorporated into the issues identification process.

Initial Public Involvement Process The public involvement portion of the issues identification process began with a series of meetings held with the District’s existing Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC), the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), a Community Advisory Group developed specifically for the watershed management planning process, and individual community members. One of the main objectives of the process was to reach as many constituents as possible in an effort to solicit issues, needs and concerns reflective of one of the most culturally and economically diverse watershed districts in the State of Minnesota. A detailed description of the District’s efforts to reach a diverse audience during the watershed management planning process is contained in Appendix B.

Each of the meetings held during the issues identification process began with an educational presentation from District staff. During this presentation, participants were introduced to a number of watershed management topics, the District’s current role in addressing these topics and what the District has done to address these topics to date. The objective of this portion of the meeting was to provide participants with a base level of understanding in an effort to provide the proper context to share their experiences and desires for future watershed management activities.

The educational presentation covered the following topics: x Urban Stormwater Management x Funding and District Organization x Monitoring and Data Assessment x Regulations and Enforcement x Future Trends

x Ecosystem Health x Education and Outreach

Following the educational presentation, participants were asked to voice concerns, comment on issues, ask questions, and discuss the topics. Meeting minutes were recorded to document the discussion (see Appendix B).

CRWD 2010 Watershed Management Plan — 9/1/2010

16

Development of Issues and Goals During the public involvement process all comments, concerns, issues, and ideas were documented in meeting minutes, which were summarized in an issues identification matrix that tracked the source of all comments and how the comments were utilized throughout the issue identification process (see Appendix C). Issues identified in previous CRWD plans, and the plans of other community groups and partner agencies were also added to the matrix to ensure that all potential issues related to watershed management were considered during the planning process.

All comments and issues entered into the matrix were categorized into one of the previously identified issue topics, or a new topic. Each comment was classified as an issue, a goal, or a specific implementation initiative. Issue statements were then crafted to encompass all comments received on each particular topic. The issue statements identify what needs to be addressed within the timeframe of the watershed management plan. Issue statements guide the development of the District’s goals, and implementation activities. The issues matrix was used as an organizational tool that allowed transparent documentation of what input the District collected and how it responded.

With issue statements defined, the categorized comments were used to write goals, and implementation initiatives for each issue statement. Goals are statements of what the District intends to achieve in order to address each specific issue. There may be several goals needed to address a given issue statement. The specific actions taken are classified as implementation initiatives. As with the issues identification process, the goals identified in previous CRWD plans and plans from the cities within the District and Ramsey County were archived in a matrix and utilized in the development of goals.

A draft of this section of the plan was provided to the District’s CAC, TAC and the Community Group for their review and input. Participants from these groups submitted over 100 comments in response to their review of the section. Many of the comments provided suggestions on how to improve the Issues Identification and Goal Setting section, while others provided suggestions on implementation activities aimed at reaching various goals.

Cooperation – The Guiding Principle During the review process for the Issues and Goals section cooperation with District partners to achieve the District goals was a recurring theme. Cooperation with partners within the District as well as partners in adjacent jurisdictions will yield benefits to all parties. The need to work with the District partners to identify stormwater management retrofit opportunities was initially identified as the first issue, however, the need for cooperation was repeated in virtually all of the subsequent issues. It was determined that this concept should be highlighted as an overriding principle of the plan.

CRWD 2010 Watershed Management Plan — 9/1/2010

17

The District recognizes that it does not bear the sole responsibility for stormwater management within the watershed. Also, the District does not possess all the resources Ͳ financial, regulatory authority, or knowledge Ͳ needed to meet the challenge of managing water resources. District partners can provide access to opportunities to incorporate stormwater management practices throughout the watershed. An example of this type of cooperation is the Arlington Pascal Project where the District was able to add a significant amount of stormwater treatment in conjunction with a City of St. Paul street improvement project. Another benefit of cooperation is the more efficient completion of common tasks and meeting common goals. Working together also allows sharing of knowledge and information about new technologies and innovative approaches. The District has overlapping missions, goals and responsibilities with many of its partners. Coordination of efforts results in greater efficiency and a reduction in expenditure.

In addition to collaborating with partners, the District recognizes the important role that residents play in watershed management. The goal of improved water quality by applying stormwater management practices throughout the District is best accomplished by recruiting residents to apply these practices at the individual home level. When residents manage their own stormwater runoff it minimizes the need for large stormwater management projects. In cases where larger stormwater management practices are needed, or when opportunities arise to bring water features back to the landscape of the District, it is critical that there is support from the residents. The District intends to utilize the energy and skills of its residents to promote local initiatives to bring water back.

District Partners x Municipalities

x Ramsey County x University of Minnesota x Ramsey Conservation District x Minnesota State Fair Board

x State Agencies (MnDOT, DNR, PCA, BWSR) x Federal Agencies (EPA, COE)

x Metropolitan Council x Water Utilities

x Local businesses and institutions x People who live, work, or recreate in the x Other watershed organizations District

Organizational Structure of the Issues and Goal Section This section of the plan is organized by issue topic and begins with a narrative of the topic: what is the status of this topic today, and why does the District need to address this topic during the next ten years. The narrative goes on to explain what issues or concerns were raised during the public involvement process for each particular topic.

Following the narrative is one or more issue statements addressing the topic. These issue statements include all comments received for a particular topic. (See issues matrix, Appendix C) Below the issue statements are goals that reflect the comments and concerns expressed during the public involvement process. In many cases, further detail of the approach for reaching the goal is provided.

CRWD 2010 Watershed Management Plan — 9/1/2010

18

Education and Outreach, Issues and Goals

Although nonpoint source pollution has become a more prominent issue in the last several years, there is still a lack of understanding by the general public about the role of stormwater runoff in water pollution. There is a lack of awareness that everyone who lives, works, and recreates in that landscape is part of the solution. This lack of awareness is particularly pronounced in the District because the level of development has limited the connections people have with water. Because water quality is a function of how people go about their everyday activities, educating the general public about how to modify those activities is an important goal for improving water quality. A watershed, with its natural boundaries dictating the flow and fate of water through the landscape, provides a logical context for educational efforts.

Creating an informed community and thereby empowering those citizens to be stewards of the land and water resources where they live, is the goal of watershed education. Individuals within the community can make a significant difference in protecting our water resources. Effective education programs and making information available to the public enhance participation in District activities and increase public knowledge relative to water.

The comments received throughout the issues identification emphasized the need for continued education throughout the District. Specifically identified was the need to target groups that have not previously been reached by education and outreach programs. The District is a diverse watershed and in the past not all communities have been involved in District activities. It will be important for the District to be aware of varying uses, values, ideas and celebrations of water that exist in the District. The District will need to continually seek input from the diverse communities within the District to maintain this understanding. Educational approaches will need to be developed to serve the needs of each community in different ways.

An additional issue identified was the overarching problem of residents not feeling a personal connection with water. Water is taken for granted and not seen as a finite resource. The District’s programs will not only need to educate the public about the local water resources, water quality, stormwater management, and the role of the District, but will also need to create a sense of ownership for the residents and invoke a change in people’s perceptions of and their behaviors related to water.

The District developed an Education and Outreach Plan which was adopted on May 6, 2009. The Plan is found in Appendix E.

CRWD 2010 Watershed Management Plan — 9/1/2010

19

Education and Outreach Issues and Goals Issue 1

Many District residents, businesses and institutions do not feel a personal connection with water and natural resources and therefore do not have a sense of responsibility or ownership which negatively impacts their ability to change behaviors and increase stewardship

Goal 1.1

Increase the awareness of water

1.1.a

1.1.b

Determine the baseline knowledge level regarding basic watershed and stormwater concepts

Increase the understanding of basic watershed, stormwater, groundwater and water pollution concepts through watershed education and outreach

1.1.c

Measure the change in knowledge and behavior as a result of the education and outreach efforts

Goal 1.2

Increase public knowledge and appreciation for local water resources in the District

1.2.a

Goal 1.3

Issue 2

Goal 2.1

Utilize District infrastructure to increase awareness and appreciation of water resources and watershed management

Raise an awareness of the District and increase the interest and public participation in its activities The District’s diverse community has a wide range of cultural, social and political relationships with water, community interests, priorities, and opinions of the District’s water resources Increase communication and encourage long term involvement with groups not previously involved in District programs

CRWD 2010 Watershed Management Plan — 9/1/2010

20

Urban Stormwater Management, Issues and Goals

A significant portion of the District is made up of impervious surfaces. These impervious surfaces increase the volume of stormwater runoff and the pollutant load being discharged to District wetlands, lakes and the Mississippi River with detrimental effects on water quality. The increased volume of runoff also increases the likelihood of flooding, which threatens public safety and increases the potential for infrastructure damage. Both historic and current development practices have contributed to compacted soils, the placement of fill material, the underground disposal of waste materials, and the presence of contamination. These factors and others make Best Management Practices (BMPs) and other green infrastructure techniques more challenging to implement.

The urban stormwater management category received the most comments during the issue identification process. The primary focus was water quality protection for District water resources.

All groups identified the need for onͲgoing management and maintenance of District resources and stormwater management facilities as an important issue for the watershed management plan. In addition, all groups strongly expressed that the District should lead the investigation of the effectiveness of new stormwater management techniques. The promotion of green infrastructure and identification of opportunities to increase the level of stormwater management were also identified as key roles for the District. Existing storm sewer infrastructure capacity and corresponding flooding problems was also identified as an issue that needs to be addressed in the next ten years, as was the need to develop a better understanding of the role stormwater management has on groundwater resources.

The District’s lake management plans for Como Lake, Loeb Lake, and Lake McCarrons identified goals for the future condition of these vital resources. Numerical goals were set for loading of total phosphorus to Como Lake and a target inͲlake total phosphorus concentration was established for Lake McCarrons. These performance standards have been incorporated into Goal 2.1 as originally stated in those plans.

Section 303(d) of the Federal Clean Water Act requires that states establish pollutant Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) for water bodies that do not meet water quality standards. The loading limits are to be calculated such that, if achieved, the water body would meet the applicable water quality standard.

Como Lake and the Mississippi River are listed on the 2008 303(d) list of impaired waters.

Downstream of the District, there are impairments within the Mississippi River for turbidity, PFOS, PCBs, and mercury. In addition, Spring Lake and Lake Pepin, located downstream of District, are impaired for excess nutrients and biological indicators.

CRWD 2010 Watershed Management Plan — 9/1/2010

21

In 2010, the District converted the Como Lake Strategic Management Plan into a TMDL for Como Lake. The MPCA is currently working on the Lake Pepin TMDL which includes the turbidity impairments within the Mississippi River between the confluence with the Minnesota River and Lake Pepin and also a Bacteria TMDL for the Mississippi River between the Lower St. Anthony Falls and Lock and Dam #1 and between the confluence with the Minnesota River to the Metro Wastewater Treatment Plant in St. Paul.

Urban Stormwater Management Issues and Goals

Issue 3

Regular maintenance is critical to the success of stormwater BMPs and is not consistently performed to achieve desired performance

Goal 3.1

Work to improve the shortͲ and longͲterm maintenance of stormwater BMPs

3.1.a

Coordinate the development and implementation of a multiͲ jurisdictional BMP management plan that includes identifying responsible parties, define roles and determining maintenance schedules for all stormwater BMPs located in the District

Issue 4

The pollutant load of stormwater has impacted the quality of water in the District’s lakes, wetlands and the Mississippi River

Goal 4.1

Reduce the chemical pollutant load to District lakes, wetlands and the Mississippi River

4.1.a

4.1.b

Achieve a Phosphorous Trophic State Index (TSIͲP) of 60 for Como Lake by reducing the average annual total phosphorus load to Como Lake by 60%

Achieve the summer average lake concentration of total phosphorus at 33 parts per billion (ppb) or less for Lake McCarrons

4.1.c

Maintain water quality of Loeb Lake at current conditions (nondegradation)

4.1.d

Achieve the District’s total phosphorus loading requirements for the Lake Pepin TMDL in the Mississippi River

4.1.e

Develop a target reduction for metals, pesticides, nutrients, chloride, organic contaminants, etc, discharged to District lakes, wetlands and the Mississippi River and work towards reaching that target

4.1.f

Identify and manage the internal phosphorus load in District lakes, wetlands and the Mississippi River

4.1.g Identify and eliminate illicit discharges into District lakes, wetlands and the Mississippi River

CRWD 2010 Watershed Management Plan — 9/1/2010

22

Goal 4.2

Reduce physical pollutant load to District lakes, wetlands and the Mississippi River

4.2.a

Develop a target reduction for the amount of trash entering District lakes, wetlands and the Mississippi River and work towards reaching that target

4.2.b

Develop a target reduction for sediment entering District lakes, wetlands and the Mississippi River and work towards reaching that target

Achieve District load requirement established in the turbidity component of the future Lake Pepin TMDL

4.2.c

4.2.d

Identify and eliminate illicit discharges into District lakes, wetlands and the Mississippi River

Goal 4.3

Reduce bacteria pollutant load to District lakes, wetlands and the Mississippi River

4.3.a

Develop a target reduction for the amount of waterfowl and pet waste entering District lakes, wetlands and the Mississippi River and work towards reaching that target

4.3.b

Identify and eliminate illicit discharges into District lakes, wetlands and the Mississippi River

4.3.c

Meet the District’s bacteria load requirement established in the future Upper Mississippi River bacteria TMDL

CRWD 2010 Watershed Management Plan — 9/1/2010

23

Issue 5

The quantity of runoff from a highly urbanized area increases the risk of flooding and puts added strain on the infrastructure within the District

Goal 5.1

Minimize existing and potential flooding problems

5.1.a

Work to identify existing and potential infrastructure capacity issues and flooding problems

5.1.b

Utilize structural and nonstructural flood control techniques to improve infrastructure capacity and reduce flooding problems

5.1.c

Evaluate the impact of climate change on infrastructure capacity in the future and identify potential flooding issues

5.1.d

Preserve existing floodplain storage capacity and prohibit floodplain filling unless compensatory storage is provided

5.1.e

Identify opportunities to reestablish lost floodplain areas

Goal 5.2

Manage the volume of water in the Trout Brook storm sewer Interceptor to protect the integrity of District infrastructure.

Issue 6

Within an urbanized area, runoff from impervious surfaces is directed to storm sewers and discharged to surface waters rather than infiltrating into the ground resulting in reduced groundwater recharge and impacts to receiving waters

Promote groundwater recharge through increased use of infiltration techniques to manage stormwater

Goal 6.1

6.1.a

6.1.b

Develop incentives/regulations to promote the use of stormwater infiltration techniques

Identify those portions of the District most conducive to stormwater infiltration

Goal 6.2

Protect the groundwater resource

6.2.a

Support and collaborate with Ramsey County, state and regional agencies to better understand and monitor District groundwater resources

6.2.b

Support and collaborate with Ramsey County, state and regional agencies on groundwater quantity and quality protection

6.2.c

Avoid infiltrating stormwater in areas of contaminated soils

CRWD 2010 Watershed Management Plan — 9/1/2010

24

Monitoring and Data Assessment, Issues and Goals

To evaluate the quality District water resources, a monitoring program was initiated in 2004. The monitoring data helps determine the type and quantity of pollutants discharged to surface waters of the District. This baseline data is the ultimate report card for the District. As Best Management Practices (BMPs) are implemented, it is important to collect data and monitor the effectiveness of the BMPs in managing and treating stormwater. The monitoring data will be used to guide future management decisions and to calibrate the District’s hydrologic, hydraulic, and water quality loading models, which are tools used to evaluate current conditions and predict future conditions.

Monitoring and data assessment are key roles of the District. The information collected is utilized to make management decisions not only by the District but by the local communities and neighboring watershed management organizations. In addition, the monitoring program data are used to convey information about stormwater management and water quality to the residents through education and outreach programs.

During the issue identification process, comments and concerns related to monitoring and data assessment focused on two fundamental issues: the need to improve dissemination of collected data, and the need to expand the monitoring program to collect additional data.

The District needs to improve the way in which information is delivered to the public by making monitoring data available in user friendly formats. Comments were also received about the District becoming a “clearinghouse” of information about current water issues. The District should compile published research from local, national and international sources for use by the District and its partners.

The second issue identified was regarding the need to continue the monitoring program and add additional monitoring locations. Currently, the District has an extensive monitoring program that collects data at four major outfalls to the Mississippi River, specific water resources, and several BMPs in the District. See Figure 5 for locations of monitoring sites. Expansion of the monitoring and data assessment program would allow the District to gain additional information about groundwater, wetlands, soils, and other types of BMPs.

CRWD 2010 Watershed Management Plan — 9/1/2010

25

Monitoring and Data Assessment Issues and Goals

Issue 7

Monitoring and research data are needed to understand the watershed, identify problems, and determine appropriate watershed management approaches within the District

Goal 7.1

Collect monitoring data and perform research to gather valuable information about the District

7.1.a

Collect data on selected BMPs installed in the District and evaluate performance, maintenance, and longevity

7.1.b

Monitor the condition of District surface waters and major subwatersheds to establish baseline conditions and determine trends

7.1.c

Identify and support a program to collect soil and geologic data in order to assess the infiltration potential within the District

Goal 7.2

Goal 7.3

As part of the annual budgeting process, review and refine the monitoring and data assessment program to improve efficiency and utilize the best technology Utilize data as part of a regular evaluation of current water issues, performance of District programs and District rules

Issue 8

Monitoring and research data are difficult for the public to access and understand

Goal 8.1

Make monitoring and research data available and understandable to a broader audience

Serve as a clearinghouse for water resource management information to assist District stakeholders and partners

Goal 8.2

Goal 8.3

Establish partnerships to improve the District’s ability to increase access and understanding of monitoring and research data

CRWD 2010 Watershed Management Plan — 9/1/2010

26

Future Trends, Issues and Goals

The District recognizes that in order to stay at the forefront of the rapidly changing field of watershed management, it is necessary to be aware of new information, technology and methods that will inform management decisions.

Maintaining a forwardͲthinking approach and anticipating changes is critical. By staying proactive on emerging issues rather than reactive, the District will realize cost savings and more effective stormwater management.

During the issues identification process, a number of future trends were identified for inclusion in the plan. All of the groups in the public involvement process identified climate change as an issue that needs to be addressed in the next ten years. While it is unclear what the District’s role should be in addressing climate change, it is necessary for the organization to evaluate and coordinate mitigation efforts.

The need to be at the forefront of emerging trends in watershed management is accentuated due to the dense urban development of the District. The highly developed nature of the District results in limited opportunities to incorporate traditional stormwater management practices, since these typically require large areas for implementation. Because of this limitation, it is vital that the District investigate new, innovative approaches to stormwater management that utilize techniques appropriate to highly urbanized areas. An example of this type of alternative practice is the use of ‘green infrastructure’ where vegetation is used to compliment traditional approaches to stormwater management. The level of imperviousness of the District also makes it more susceptible to changes in hydrologic patterns that may arise in the future.

Future Trends Issues and Goals Issue 9

Future watershed management strategies need to be responsive to emerging issues resulting from climate change and technological advances

Goal 9.1

Develop a better understanding of climate change, its impacts to District natural and water resources and adaptive management strategies to address this emerging issue

9.1.a

Participate in climate change working groups/forums

9.1.b

Determine the District’s strategies in addressing climate change impacts on watershed management

Goal 9.2

Be a leader in conducting original research and reviewing existing research on new stormwater management technologies to facilitate decision making by the District and its partners

CRWD 2010 Watershed Management Plan — 9/1/2010

27

9.2.a

The District will evaluate innovative stormwater management techniques, information management techniques, and monitoring and modeling techniques used locally, nationally, and internationally

9.2.b

The District will conduct research on stormwater management BMP performance, applicability in different settings, and longͲterm maintenance needs.

Goal 9.3

Promote the use of emerging technologies and innovative watershed management techniques

9.3.a

9.3.b

Promote Green Infrastructure initiatives.

Determine optimal balance of incentiveͲbased strategies and regulatoryͲbased watershed management strategies

CRWD 2010 Watershed Management Plan — 9/1/2010

28

Funding and Organization, Issues and Goals

The District takes its financial responsibility seriously, is sensitive to the economic status of its residents, and is mindful of the importance of maintaining public support for expenditures on water quality improvement. The District levies taxes through its authority under MN Stat. 103D and 103B to fund programs, projects, and capital improvement projects identified in its watershed management plan. The District has also issued bonds and actively pursues outside funding sources to augment its tax levy. The District has been successful in obtaining grants from the State and securing local costͲshare funding from its partners.

The District seeks to create funding partnerships with Ramsey County, municipalities, agencies, and other entities within its jurisdiction that have common goals and responsibilities for resource protection. These partnerships result in greater cost effectiveness and provide the additional benefit of creating ownership of the resources by a broader constituent base.

The District has created several grant programs to make funds available to District partners and residents. The grant programs promote local projects that benefit water resources and serve as models for District residents.

Beyond discussions of the importance of District grant programs, the most prevalent theme heard during the issues identification process was the need for coordination between the District and its partners. The District was encouraged to take a leadership role in identifying opportunities to collaborate on large scale redevelopment projects as well as programmatic approaches to resource protection. The district recognizes the impact of large scale redevelopment projects extends beyond the boundary of the project and intends to identify and capitalize on opportunities adjacent to these projects. Another common theme of the comments from participants in the issue identification process was the need to prioritize District activities to maximize resource protection while minimizing the cost to residents.

Funding and Organization Issues and Goals Issue 10

Goal 10.1

Many District partners and residents are willing to help the District accomplish its mission if assistance is made available Encourage District partners and residents to implement local water resource improvement projects

10.1.a Issue 11

Provide financial and technical assistance for resource protection projects and efforts by District residents and partners The District is uniquely positioned to be able to identify and support collaborations between various partners/stakeholders with compatible projects and programs

CRWD 2010 Watershed Management Plan — 9/1/2010

29

Goal 11.1

Coordinate efforts with partners to ensure the most cost effective uses of funds for water resource management

11.1.a

Coordinate the water resource management efforts that the District and its partners are currently undertaking

11.1.b

Identify opportunities to incorporate water resource management efforts into capital improvement projects and large scale redevelopment projects of District partners

11.1.c

Provide support to District partners for activities with a connection to water resources

11.1.d

Maintain active membership in the Ramsey County Groundwater Partnership

Issue 12

Multiple funding mechanisms and outside funding sources are available for the District to pursue to offset financial needs

Goal 12.1

Increase the funds available to the District to meet its goals and objectives

12.1.a

Identify new and supplemental funding sources

12.1.b

Evaluate the optimal balance of financing options or revenue sources

Issue 13

The District must prioritize programs and projects to ensure that goals are met in the most efficient, and cost effective manner

Goal 13.1

Utilizes longͲterm planning and pursue the most cost effective solutions when carrying out resource protection programs and projects

13.1.a

Evaluate the results and costs for programs and projects to demonstrate their effectiveness

13.1.b

Consider initial and lifeͲcycle costs associated with programs and projects when evaluating their effectiveness

Issue 14

Goal 14.1

An effective watershed organization needs to plan for change, growth, and development Strengthen the District’s capacity to accomplish its mission

Goal 14.2

Strive for excellence, with competent, knowledgeable, committed, and innovative Board members, advisory committees, and staff

Goal 14.3

Goal 14.4

Provide researchͲbased, informed, missionͲdriven decision making Be an open, approachable, facilitator of partnerships to enhance the District’s capacity to protect, maintain and improve water resources

CRWD 2010 Watershed Management Plan — 9/1/2010

30

Regulations and Enforcement, Issues and Goals

The District has the authority to develop and adopt Rules to protect water resources. The District currently regulates development and redevelopment projects. Rules and regulations were established to ensure that water resource management standards are met and that the water resources in the District are protected as development and redevelopment occurs. The District currently implements rules adopted in September 2006 and revised in January 2009. In addition to water quality and quantity, the rules establish standards for erosion and sediment control, wetland protection, connections to the Trout Brook Storm Sewer Interceptor, and floodplain management. District Rules and permitting currently require proper stormwater management on all development and redevelopment projects that disturb one acre or greater of land.

The District reviews it rules and permitting program regularly with the District’s Technical Advisory Committee (TAC). During this process, the District’s Rules are reviewed to assure they are effective, reasonable and implemented as efficiently as possible. The District will demonstrate a willingness to look at alternatives in order to make the Rules as workable as possible.

The public involvement process identified the need for improved Rule compliance, and inspections.

Additionally it was noted that the District needs to maintain clear and efficient rules by utilizing the most current research and science. The need to efficiently coordinate regulatory requirements, specifically those of the NPDES MS4 program, was identified as an area where the District should be the lead agency.

Regulations and Enforcement Issues and Goals

Issue 15

Goal 15.1

The District needs to maintain clear and effective Rules utilizing the most current research and science available Ensure that the rules are regularly reviewed, updated and readily understood by the regulated community.

15.1.a

Ensure effective Rules in meeting the District’s goals while allowing some flexibility

Issue 16 Coordination with District partners on regulatory issues is needed for more efficient and effective stormwater regulation across all jurisdictions

Goal 16.1 Work with District partners to improve the District Rules and other municipal/agency stormwater ordinances

16.1.a

Work with District partners to make ordinances compatible with stormwater management goals and objectives

CRWD 2010 Watershed Management Plan — 9/1/2010

31

16.1.b

Work with District partners to coordinate permit applications early in the design stage

16.1.c

Work with District partners to achieve volume reduction on small sites (disturbing less than one acre) through District Rules or municipal ordinances

Goal 16.2

Collaborate with partners to ensure that proper BMP construction, and erosion and sediment control techniques are being implemented throughout the District

16.2.a

Ensure that effective routine inspections are conducted on all construction in the District

16.2.b

Ensure that appropriate longͲterm maintenance is being performed on stormwater management practices in the District

Goal 16.3

Continue to work with surrounding watershed management organizations and state agencies to develop rule language that maximizes effectiveness while ensuring their consistency and ease of use throughout the region/metro area.

16.3.a

Compare District Rule language with that of surrounding watershed management organizations to identify consistencies and inconsistencies

16.3.b

Evaluate the feasibility of addressing inconsistencies in watershed management organization rules in consultation with the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC)

Goal 16.4

Comply with applicable local, state, and federal watershed regulations

16.4.a Comply with the provisions of the District MS4 permit.

16.4.b Collaborate with all permitted MS4s within with District on TMDL load reduction efforts

CRWD 2010 Watershed Management Plan — 9/1/2010

32

Ecosystem Health, Issues and Goals

It is the primary focus of the District to protect and improve water quality, but the health of the overall ecosystem has been recognized as a complimentary issue. There are ways of managing stormwater runoff that have secondary benefits of promoting healthy and viable natural ecosystems.

Additional partners and collaborations can be identified and utilized when considering an ecosystem approach to water resource management. This help to ensure the ecological integrity of District natural resources are protected and improved in conjunction with water resource improvement.

A consistent message heard throughout the issues identification process was the need for ecological restoration within the watershed to correct mistakes from the past. Stakeholders in this highly urbanized area recognize that the majority of natural areas have been paved or built upon.

Streams that once flowed across the watershed down to the Mississippi River have been converted to large, underground storm pipes. Wetlands and even some smaller lakes in the area were filled in for development.

Many of the remaining natural areas in the District have become significantly degraded over time.

The areas consist primarily of nonͲnative or invasive species and lack the ecological integrity they once displayed. This degradation has reduced the effectiveness of remaining natural areas’ ability to protect and buffer District water resources.

Comments received from District stakeholders ranged in specificity from identifying the need to develop regional ecological greenways throughout the metropolitan area, to the restoration of historic resources (Bring Water Back to St. Paul), to encouraging native plantings and restoring plant communities at specific locations within the District.

Ecosystem Health Issues and Goals

Issue 17

Goal 17.1

The ecological integrity of many District lakes, wetlands, and the Mississippi River has degraded to a point where the resources are not providing their original level of function or value Improve the ecological integrity of District lakes, wetlands, and the Mississippi River

17.1.a

Restore native plant communities and increase wildlife diversity and habitat in and around District lakes, wetlands, and the Mississippi River

CRWD 2010 Watershed Management Plan — 9/1/2010

33

Issue 18

Goal 18.1

The loss of natural areas has decreased the ability of the watershed to capture, filter and infiltrate rainwater prior to discharging to District lakes, wetlands, and the Mississippi River Support increasing the amount and quality of open space as a means to restore habitat, and protect surface water and groundwater quality

Goal 18.2

Issue 19

Goal 19.1

Mitigate the loss of pervious areas by incorporating green infrastructure into the built environment of the District Reduced connectivity of natural habitat areas in the District limit movement between the District’s resources Coordinate with District partners to improve accessibility to and movement between natural habitat areas within the District

19.1.a

Support the creation of travel corridors between natural areas for wildlife

19.1.b

Support the creation of access points for people to better connect with the water resource of the District

Issue 20

Goal 20.1

The land within the District developed during a time when resource protection was not a priority. As a result, there are a number of opportunities to restore historic resources “Bring water back to St. Paul”

20.1.a Increase awareness of current and historical water resources of the District

20.1.b

Identify and restore historic wetland resources of the District

20.1.c Identify opportunities to restore portions of historic streams of the District by providing surface flow where water is currently conveyed through an underground pipe

CRWD 2010 Watershed Management Plan — 9/1/2010

34