|
City of Woodbury
8301 Valley Creek Road Woodbury, MN 55125 (651) 714-3500 |
November 2006 - Storm Water Report
City working to raise 'grades' of local lakes
Volunteers needed for city's environmental programs
Grants can assist with landscaping projects
2006 grant winners
Additional grants available for water quality projects
City working to raise 'grades' of local lakes
Three C's and two D's. If these were on your child's report card, you would likely be disappointed. Unfortunately, these were the 2005 "grades" for the city's five lakes (La, Powers, Wilmes, Colby and Markgrafs) monitored through the Citizen Assisted Monitoring Program established by the Metropolitan Council. This means that the lakes had average or worse than average water quality conditions when compared to the other 172 metro area lakes monitored through the program.
Not only are the water quality grades poor, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has listed Wilmes, Colby, Markgrafs and Battle Creek lakes as "impaired" for nutrients. These lakes have not met water quality standards set for Minnesota lakes to be used for recreation purposes like fishing and swimming. Carver Lake is also on the impaired waters list for a fish consumption advisory because of high levels of mercury found in fish caught in the lake.
While the good news is that there are no failing grades currently, the City of Woodbury and all residents have a responsibility to ensure that the quality of these lakes improves in future years. The city is currently at the beginning stages of several different plans and projects that will help improve water quality in local lakes.
Local Water Management Plan (LWMP)
The LWMP's main purpose is to address water quality issues within the city. The plan includes a land and water resource inventory, an assessment of problems related to surface water, the city's goals and policies and an implementation program to accomplish those goals. The plan is required by state statute and is being prepared to support the watershed management plans written by the three watershed districts in the City of Woodbury.
Nondegradation Report
The nondegradation report is a requirement of the city's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. The NPDES permit is submitted to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to allow the city to discharge storm water to surface waters, including Woodbury's lakes. The nondegradation report will develop appropriate storm water management practices to maintain or restore discharge of storm water pollutants to 1988 levels and sustain those levels through future development.
Powers Lake Management Plan
The Powers Lake Management Plan is being written to specifically address water quality issues in Powers Lake. This plan is being developed specifically for Powers Lake and its watershed because the lake currently has the best water quality of the lakes in Woodbury; however, there has been a slight decline in recent years. Improving water quality and controlling the invasive species, Eurasian water milfoil, are two of the key issues to be addressed in this plan.
Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) studies
While the city has not begun a formal process for these studies, the work completed on the LWMP and nondegradation report will be used in future TMDL studies. These studies are required by the federal government for all lakes that are listed as impaired (Carver, Wilmes, Colby, Markgrafs and Battle Creek in Woodbury). The city, working with the appropriate watershed districts, surrounding communities, and state agencies will develop a plan to reduce the pollutants that enter a lake from the surrounding watershed so the lake meets the state water quality standards for recreational uses.
If you are interested in more information about any of these documents or would like to serve as a citizen volunteer in the future for either the Powers Lake Management Plan or TMDL studies, please contact the Community Development Department at (651) 714-3533.
Volunteers needed for city's environmental programs
Are you looking for ways to help with the city's efforts to improve and protect our natural resources? The City of Woodbury has several volunteer programs open to you or your organization.
Lake Monitoring Program
This program requires a high level of commitment from a volunteer to monitor a city lake in cooperation with the Metropolitan Council's Citizen Assisted Monitoring Program (CAMP). The volunteer records observations and collects water samples every two weeks from April through October. City staff and the Metropolitan Council provide all sampling equipment and training; the volunteer must provide his/her own boat or canoe. The city is looking for a volunteer to monitor Colby Lake during 2007.
Storm Drain Marking
This project involves gluing markers to storm drains in the city to warn residents of the consequences of dumping unwanted materials such as grass clippings into the drains. Volunteers also help distribute door hangers to homes in the project area. Project areas are broken into neighborhoods requiring about two hours of work each. The city provides instructions and all materials, including safety vests. Groups with children are welcome, but the recommended minimum age is eight.
Adopt-a-Lake/Adopt-a-Wetland
The Adopt-a-Lake program encourages volunteers to adopt a lake, wetland or pond in Woodbury for annual cleanups. The city will provide necessary equipment for the cleanup and a sign at the chosen site as recognition for the volunteer group. The program is suitable for community groups, businesses, churches, students and individual citizens. Volunteers are encouraged to consider the size of their group before selecting a cleanup site. A minimum commitment of two years is required.
Adopt-a-Park
The Adopt-A-Park program encourages volunteers to assist their community by picking up litter and planting flowers in a city park. The city will provide necessary equipment for the cleanup and a sign at the chosen site as recognition for the volunteer group. The program is suitable for community groups, businesses, churches, students and individual citizens. Volunteers are encouraged to consider the size of their group before selecting a park site. A minimum commitment of two years is required. Suggested frequency for litter pick-up: once a month, May through October.
Do you have your own project ideas?
Does your group want to create a rain garden on city property? Plant a native prairie? Remove invasive species? Bring your ideas to us! The city will gladly work with groups to accomplish a variety of volunteer environmental projects.
For more information about any of these projects, contact the Community Development Department at (651) 714-3533.
Grants can assist with landscaping projects
Though winter is just arriving, it's never too early to start dreaming of landscaping and gardening projects for next year. As you make plans, consider a project that will not only beautify your yard but also benefit the environment. Best of all, you can apply for financial assistance for the projects!
Woodbury residents can apply for grants through the second annual Alternative Landscaping Grant Program to help pay for the costs of landscaping that helps improve water quality in city lakes. Examples of acceptable projects include:
- Replacement of turf grass with native plants
- Reduction of impervious surfaces (concrete, rock, asphalt) and replacing with native plants
- Creation of buffer areas around ponds and wetlands using native vegetation
- Creation of rain gardens
Grants up to $500 will be available to reimburse homeowners for the cost of native plants. Property owners, community associations, businesses, schools and educational institutions, non-profits, and other community organizations are eligible to apply. In 2006, six projects were funded through the first round of grants.
Applications are available by calling (651) 714-3533 or stopping by the Community Development Department at City Hall. Review of applications will be completed by members of the Environmental Education Commission and city staff. Announcement of grant approvals will occur approximately two weeks after the March 19, 2007, application deadline.
2006 grant winners
Kris Tott, coordinating the residents of the Lake Place subdivision (Valley Creek Road and Spinaker Drive), created a large native prairie garden at the entry to their neighborhood. The garden has high visibility, was a project that involved many people, and also contains an educational component with rocks that display plant names.
Julie and Joel Domke replaced a portion of the turf in their rear yard to create a buffer using native plants. The buffer helps protect the Tamarack Swamp, a unique and high quality ecosystem that their home is adjacent to.
John and Laurie Gustafson created two small native prairie gardens in the front yard of their home on Timberlea Drive. The gardens utilize storm water runoff from the property and decrease the amount of runoff from their yard that reaches the street and enters the city's storm sewer system.
Additional grants available for water quality projects
In addition to the city's landscaping grants, residents and businesses may be eligible for grants offered by other agencies to improve water quality.
Washington Conservation District grant funds
The Washington Conservation District has a Water Quality Cost-Share Grants program. The program provides 50 percent matching grants up to $5,000 for projects that improve surface water quality in Washington County.
Examples of projects that would qualify for the program include rain gardens, infiltration trenches and porous pavement. Projects will be reviewed based on the following criteria: water quality improvement, benefits to wetlands, lakes and/or streams, soil erosion control, wildlife habitat improvement, public benefit, innovative applications and collaboration.
For more information or to obtain an application form, contact the Washington Conservation District at (651) 275-1136.
Ramsey Washington Metro Watershed District grant funds
Also, if you live or have a business in western Woodbury, you may be eligible to apply for a grant from the Ramsey Washington Metro Watershed District (RWMWD). The BMP Cost Share assistance grant may be used by public or private land owners implementing programs and projects that support one or more of the following: promote actions that prevent flooding or lessen the effect of drought; improve water quality or increase the capacity of the watershed to store water; preserve, protect, and restore native plant and wildlife communities.
The maximum grant amount is $2,000 for a residential project, and $30,000 for commercial or government projects. Funds are a 50 percent match reimbursement for materials and labor. All residents, not-for-profit and religious organizations, governmental agencies, businesses and corporations, and public and private schools in the RWMWD area are eligible to apply.
Examples of projects that would be eligible include installation of rain gardens and rain barrels, projects redirecting runoff, use of pervious asphalt and pavers, volume reduction and runoff treatment practices (infiltration basins & trenches, cisterns, green roofs, filtration) and native habitat restoration with priority given to waterways, lakes, buffers, and ponds.
For more information on the grant program or to obtain an application, contact RWMWD at (651) 792-7950 or visit the district's Web site at www.rwmwd.org. Not sure if you live within RWMWD? Contact the Community Development Department at (651) 714-3533 or call the district and ask.