05/02/1994 Park Board Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Policy 3-6 of the same policy plan states: The Council, in conducting its project approvals and reviews, will protect the utility of the region's water and related land resources and seek their restoration, where needed. Any action that threatens the viability of the water and related resource will be negatively reviewed (page 3-30). Proposed Interim Strategy An interim strategy is needed to address both the nonpoint source pollution issue and to implement the Council's policy 1-1 of the Wastewater Treatment and Handling Policy Plan, Part 1, policies 3-4 and 3-6 of the Council's Water Resources Management Plan, Part 3. The Council is committed to working with WMOs and local governments through the planning process outlined in Minnesota Statutes, section 103B.201. The Council also recognizes its responsibility to prepare and adopt a water resources plan that includes management objectives and target pollution loads for watersheds in the metropolitan area pursuant to Minnesota Statutes,section 473.157. In order to prepare the plan the Council had to prioritize its work schedule. Since the Minnesota River has been identified as having an acute problem with nonpoint source pollution this area will be addressed first and form the framework for dealing with nonpoint source pollution on a metropolitan wide basis. It will take several years for the Council, WMOs and local governments to prepare and implement the above referenced plans. In the interim,steps should be taken that allows local governments and WMOs to take immediate action to reduce the adverse impacts of nonpoint source pollution on area water bodies. As part of their planning efforts, local governments will need to adopt measures that implement nonpoint source pollution reduction strategies. Local governments will need to amend existing Capital Improvement Plans and local regulations to ensure the financing and long-term management and maintenance of ponds and wetlands receiving stormwater runoff. The Metropolitan Council recognizes that implementation is an important issue for local government and for the long- term effectiveness of any effort to reduce nonpoint source pollution. This interim strategy is a minimum that the Council will accept as part of any local government comprehensive plan. It should be recognized by local governments that more comprehensive revisions to stormwater plans may be required once the Council and WMOs complete their planning under Minnesota Statutes, section 103B.201 and 473.157 in order to meet water quality goals. 1. Local governments throughout the metropolitan area must adopt design standards for new stormwater ponds that mill reduce the contaminant loadings from surface water runoff. One set of design criteria that is widely accepted is from the National Urban Runoff Program (NURP). Appendix A is attached and describes NURP designed pond performance standards. These criteria, or similar specifications which are equally effective, should be incorporated in the stormwater plan of every local government in the metropolitan area. At the present time, this policy does not direct the retrofitting of existing stormwater ponds. 2. Local governments in the metropolitan area must also include in their stormwater plans the MPCA's urban"best management practices,"titled Protecting Water Quality in Urban Areas or an equivalent set of standards. These standards are to be used for