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<br />4 <br /> <br />NATURAL ENVIRONMENT <br />Introduction <br />The City contains a number of natural resources including: nine lakes and ponds, wetlands, and <br />five parks. Little Canada recognizes the important role its natural features play in providing a safe, <br />healthy, and beautiful place to live and work. <br />Topography <br />Little Canada’s glaciated topography is evident in its gently rolling landscape. Numerous wetlands, <br />depressions, lakes, and variable soils compose its terrain. The majority of steep slopes in Little <br />Canada are found primarily around Lake Gervais and Twin Lake, shown on Map 2. <br />Altering land with slopes greater than 12 percent is environmentally hazardous and expensive. <br />Shallow soils and steep slopes greatly reduce the capacity of the soil to retain water. Increasing <br />the slopes may increase the already rapid runoff, produce severe gully erosion, damage the land, <br />and can cause subsequent sedimentation to lakes and streams. Increased runoff can cause unstable <br />stream flows and flooding problems in downstream areas. The intricate web of wetlands an d <br />drainageways in the City is especially susceptible to sedimentation and flooding. <br /> <br />The City has an Erosion Control Ordinance to control stormwater pollution and soil erosion. It <br />establishes standards and specifications for practices and planning activities to minimize nonpoint <br />source pollution. It requires that any individual, group, or entity proposing a land disturbance <br />activity within the city limits must apply and gain approval of the Stormwater Pollution Prevention <br />Plan. The following map outlines the location of steep slopes in Little Canada. Site specific <br />inspections of slopes should still occur. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />