03-13-2002 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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II. WATERSHED ISSUES: As mentioned previously 20.28 acres is in the "Protected" wetland category which is the highest category of wetland. Multiple interviews with the Ramsey Washington Metro Watershed District have confirmed that this particular wetland is in the "Protect" category as opposed to "Manage 1 ", "Manage 2 ", or "Utilize" wetland. The wetland is comprised of 3 open water areas = 250,218 ft. squared. One of the open water areas has the DNR designation of a Lake. Three (3) "emergent" (cattails) = 896,099 ft. squared and 1 scrub/shrub area = 231,240 ft. squared. The wetland is currently a "healthy" wetland. It serves our area preventing flooding and filtering out sediments and nutrients which would otherwise be passed on to Lake Gervais. By allowing destruction of the mature forest which sits on the 7.347 acres a number of impacts will occur: A. Soil - The forest would need to be cut down. The land would need to he excavated. An exorbitant amount of fill of a different quality from that which now exists naturally would need to he brought in. The slope of the area would be impacted by greater than 15% and in some areas 40% which may violate a city ordinance regarding hill destruction. In any event, the overall topography of the 7.3 acres would he dramatically changed. This would effect the way the water flows into the wetland. With construction there would he no forest. There would be erosion because of the sharp changes in topography. There would be a dramatic change in the plant life that filters the water which would ultimately impact this "protected" wetland. Construction of homes inevitably brings in impervious surfaces (roofs, asphalt, metal, plastic, rubber) all of which would change the flow of stormwater going down into the healthy wetland. The overall effect of this deforestation, change in topography, change in waterflow into the wetland effects the "effluent" flowing out of the wetland. The 20.28 acres are part of a system which filters water beginning to the north and west of the area. The water flows into this basin passing under Sunset Court into another active wetland and into Lake Gervais. From Lake Gervais the water flows into Lake Keller, then on to Lake Phalen where it is finally taken by stormsewer to the Mississippi River. By taking out this 7.3 acres of mature forest, changing the soil and water Clow, adding carcinogenic surfaces, the overall effectiveness of the filtering ability of this wetland will he compromised. As it exists now it is a virginal area. The Watershed District requires that they ask proposers /developers "Sequencing" questions in regard to any construction near to a protected wetland. The first question is: Why is this project necessary and why does this project have to go here? The second question is: What will you do to minimize the impact on the wetland? The citizens are concerned about the overall water quality in Little Canada. Of special concern is groundwater and the quality of water in our sporting areas such as Lake Gervais and Lake Keller. B. Ecosystem - At present the area of concern is a healthy ecosystem composed of a very large variety of plant and animal species. By changing the flow of water and secondarily damaging the soil the upland species will go elsewhere and the downland species will also slowly disappear. The United States Government Environmental Protection Agency (EPA ) and the State of Minnesota are asking citizens and their cities to restore such wetlands. We are facing destruction of one that is working in perfect harmony with its surroundings. Once it is gone it is gone forever and we cannot put it back. C. Deforestation - This is a mature urban forest with hardwoods that are over 100 years old. There are thousands of trees on this land. One mature tree through the process of "photosynthesis" produces enough oxygen throughout its life to support the entire lifespan of 30 humans. Again to use the sequencing argument of the RWMWD - Is this necessary? Does this demolition /construction have to go here?