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CITY COUNCIL <br />WORK SESSION STAFF REPORT <br />ITEM NO. 6 <br />STAFF ORIGINATOR: Tom Hoffman, Environmental Coordinator <br />WORK SESSION DATE: May 5, 2025 <br />TOPIC: Watershed Based Implementation Funding (WBIF) Grant <br />BACKGROUND <br />In 2022 the City Council authorized a partnership with the Rice Creek Watershed District to <br />identify potential water quality improvements to reduce volume and sediment/nutrient loading <br />to Rice Lake. Rice Lake is designated by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) as an <br />impaired water. The study evaluated potential improvements to Shenandoah Park. <br />A private ditch system maintained by the city runs through the park, under Birch Street, and <br />discharges into Rice Lake. The ditch serves as the primary stormwater outlet for the residential <br />neighborhood extending south to Coyote Trail. Most of the park area is comprised of partially <br />drained wetland. Staff are of the opinion that the opportunity exists for a restoration project <br />that would enhance water quality and provide an improved greenway element to the park. <br />The City partnered with Rice Creek Watershed District to fund the final report, which was <br />completed in December of 2022. The report included four alternatives of which two, options 3 <br />and 4, were recommended by the Environmental Board for future consideration at the January <br />25th, 2023 meeting. Each of the concepts provided water quality and volume improvements, <br />ecological restoration, and floodplain mitigation. Options for future trail connections were also <br />evaluated. Due to the estimated cost of the projects, it was recommended that the City pursue <br />grant funding through RCWD or other agencies. The City's 5-year Capital Improvement Plan <br />identified this project for implementation in 2025. <br />The Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) has established the Watershed Based <br />Implementation Funding (WBIF) Grant Program. The grant program allocates funding to each <br />watershed area for allocation in a collaborative local process. City staff and RCWD have <br />proposed the Shenandoah project for funding through this program. <br />The City of Lino Lakes was selected as one of the projects moving forward as part of the grant <br />program. The grant in the amount of $52,650 is to complete plans and specs for the above <br />