09/02/2008 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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• • RMP Implementation Overview The primary issues for Lino Lakes to address through implementing the RMP are restoring groundwater hydrology to groundwater- dependent wetlands, restoring naturally fluctuating hydrology to wetland open space systems, maintaining ditch systems being used for agricultural benefit, establishing habitat complexes and connected greenways, mitigating flood -prone areas, and reducing phosphorus loading to impaired lakes. Urban land use most notably affects these resources through stormwater volume. As such, a strategy of broad -based source reduction in volume is needed. The creation of a "Resource Management System" is the unifying strategy to address volume effects. Stormwater is considered an asset to 'retain for recharge' instead of a waste to 'collect and dispose'. In this strategy, retained storm water at its source eliminates downstream flooding and recharges shallow aquifers to sustain wetlands and lakes during drought. This RMP provides recommendations for management strategies based upon volume reduction, not capacity expansion, and the protection of existing drainage divides as shown on Figure 2 -8. All drainage routes are natural gravity-fed pathways with no reliance on manufactured materials such as pumps to move water from one area to another. The major and minor drainage routes in conjunction with the Wetland Preservation Corridor form the core greenway system included in the overall Resource Management System Plan presented in this Chapter. A long -term monitoring program to accompany RMP implementation will evaluate quantitatively the strategy's long -term environmental and cost benefits. To implement the RMP a partnership is needed between the City, RCWD, VLAWMO, and private property owners for shared water retention. Natural resource management within this context means linking and integrating resources and compatible land uses. The overall Resource Management System Plan presented in this Chapter intends to accomplish this by integrating wetland /upland habitat, stormwater management, parks, trails, and greenway features to sustain ecological processes. This Comprehensive Plan Update supports the RMP by designation of the wetland preservation corridors (WPCs) referred to in the rule and by general definition of certain areas within the City to provide habitat and /or RMP -based stormwater conveyance connections. These features are shown in Figure 2 -7. The City has worked with the RCWD to develop a watershed district rule that helps implement the RMP within the City's jurisdictional limits. The Implementation Section of this overall Resource Management System Plan provides additional information regarding RMP implementation including the proposed RCWD Rule.