10-12-2006 Charter Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The City of Lino Lakes (City) retains its rural charm while developing a quality residential and commercial base. It is a bedroom community, with over 81 percent of its residents traveling at least 15 minutes to work each day. The City's environment is largely a function of its 16 lakes, widespread wetlands, two tributaries and Rice Creek. Eight lakes are located in or abutting the Chain of Lakes Regional Park. About 40 percent of the City's total land area is comprised of lakes and national wetlands. Lino Lakes' wetlands are widespread and these areas often help mitigate excess storm water runoff peak flows. The City lakes generally fall into two categories; Natural Environmental and Recreational. The Natural Environmental lakes are primarily located in the Chain of Lakes areas and include Peltier, George Watch, Marshan, Rice, Wards, Sherman, Cedar, Amelia, Rondeau and Wilkinson Lakes. Recreational lakes include Otter, Centerville, Reshanau, Baldwin and Bald Eagle Lakes. Recreational uses include swimming, boating, fishing and water skiing. Centerville, Bald Eagle, Peltier and Reshanau are considered game fishing lakes. Centerville and Bald Eagle Lakes are managed fisheries and are stocked annually with Walleye and Muskellunge. Each of these lakes have significant rough fish populations, and Centerville Lake is aerated to prevent game fish winter kill. Current data already suggests that the City has water quality issues. Several City lakes; Bald Eagle, Peltier, George Watch, Marshan and Centerville, are included in the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's July 8, 2002, proposed Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) list because of excess nutrients that make swimming an unsupported lake use. In addition, both Clearwater and Hardwood Creeks are included in the TMDL list because of impaired biota. The Rice Creek Watershed District (RCWD) Water Management Plan regards George Watch, Marshan, and lakes such as these, as Type 5 wetlands due to their shallow depths, organic bottom material and emergent vegetation. As a result, the City views these lakes as functioning properly within their wetland classification and believes they should be removed from the TMDL list. Furthermore, the City has little influence on the status of Bald Eagle Lake because the City does not have control of a significant drainage area to it. Much the same is true of Hardwood and Clearwater Creeks; in both cases, the vast majority of their drainage originates upstream of the City. Centerville, Peltier, Otter and Bald Eagle Lakes have been identified by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources as infested with Eurasian Watermilfoil. Due to this threat, RCWD has undertaken several macrophyte surveys that have concluded that Centerville, Peltier and Bald Eagle Lakes either had established colonies of the weed or were located downstream of infested lakes. Projected City urbanization, facilitated by transportation improvements in and near the City, will continue and intensify through 2020. With this in mind, the RCWD has identified portions of the southern and eastern watersheds of the City as in need of rate control. By and Targe, these areas are fully developed and have implemented rate control. This Surface Water Management Plan (Plan) presents a vision of high quality natural and water resources for the City. The Plan's overall goal is to improve the quality of surface waters and it will be achieved by delivering good quality storm water runoff to lakes and wetlands at acceptable rates and volumes, while reducing pollutant and sediment loadings and stream ES -1 12608-01