05-12-25 - Council Meeting Agenda

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6. Watershed Based Implementation Funding (WBIF) Grant The Environmental Coordinator reported that in 2022 the City Council authorized a partnership with the Rice Creek Watershed District to identify potential water quality improvements to reduce volume and sediment/nutrient loading to Rice Lake. The study evaluated potential improvements to Shenandoah Park. The City partnered with Rice Creek Watershed District to fund the final report, which was completed in December of 2022. The report included four alternatives. The Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) has established the Watershed Based Implementation Funding (WBIF) Grant Program. The grant program allocates funding to each watershed area for allocation in a collaborative local process. City staff and RCWD have proposed the Shenandoah project for funding through this program. The City of Lino Lakes was selected as one of the projects moving forward as part of the grant program. The grant in the amount of $52,650 is to complete plans for a stormwater improvement project. Grants must be completed and signed no later than June 1, 2025. Grant documents should be available for final signature at the May 12, 2025, City Council meeting. Once the design is completed the City and RCWD will pursue additional construction funding through the program to complete the proposed project. 7. Birchwood Acres Pond Treatment The Environmental Coordinator stated that staff have received feedback from concerned residents regarding the aesthetic quality of storm pond RLA-010-B located in Birchwood Acres Park. This pond treats stormwater runoff from nearly 70 properties located primarily on Hawthorn Road and Lonesome Pine Trail in the Park Grove development. Communication has gone back several years to deal with concerns of vegetation, smell, and stormwater management. The main concerns include the vegetation that covers the surface of the pond and odor. The vegetation present on this pond is primarily duckweed, which provides water purification by incorporating nutrients. It is also an important food source for wildlife. The odor is primarily due to decomposition of plants and algae. The Environmental Coordinator stated that in response to residents' concerns, city staff took steps to ensure the pond was functioning properly. The city also initiated water quality sampling to check phosphorous levels in September of 2020. The phosphorus detected was at levels typical for stormwater ponds. The pond was also surveyed in July of 2021 to determine its functionality in terms of stormwater management. The survey and associated analysis found that the pond is functional and does not require additional maintenance at this time. Page 4 of 8