03/27/2013 Env Bd Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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• • • Aesthetics and recreation. This includes scenic value in urban and suburban environments. Wetlands also provide a place for people to observe nature. Hunters, birders, and fisherman frequent wetlands. Education. Wetlands provide an outdoor classroom for learning. A number of comprehensive wetland studies have been conducted to guide the management of wetlands and their benefits within Lino Lakes. The two key studies are the Lino Lakes Special Area Management Plan (SAMP, 2010) and the Lino Lakes Resource Management Plan (RMP, 2008). These two studies provide the foundation for the management of wetlands, surface water, floodplains, and greenway resources within the City of Lino Lakes. The SAMP and RMP establish Resource Management Units and standards to support the wetland resources of the City under future development in a manner that integrates with floodplain management, stormwater management, and greenway management. A few key points from the plans are highlighted below: The City's wetlands may be impacted by nutrient loading, however, standards for assessing nutrient impairment of wetlands have not yet been fully established by federal or state agencies. Nutrient load modeling developed for the TMDL projects generated qualitative ranking of subcatchment nutrient loading (high, medium, or low). The results of the vegetation quality ranking and nutrient ranking are shown in Figure 13. There is no relationship between vegetation quality and catchment phosphorus loading. The phosphorus loading may be indirectly related to the vegetative quality. The loading information is useful for setting priorities on protecting wetland condition in Lino Lakes. It is important to know which areas are under the greatest stress from nutrient loading, because even without a direct relationship between vegetative integrity and phosphorus, the wetland stressors may be indirectly related to phosphorus loading. Any wetland restoration plan, regardless of location, examines the contributing catchments for their specific loading (both nitrogen and phosphorus), the loading sources, and the vegetation quality. The City contains numerous fully and partially drained wetlands that provide the greatest opportunity for wetland restoration activities. Wetland restoration projects function to retain and treat stormwater and at the same time enhance natural resources, all of which were determined to be of highest priority for the citizens of Lino Lakes according to a wetland values survey. As specified by the Minnesota Routine Assessment Methodology (MNRAM), the factors evaluated when considering a wetland for restoration include the number of nearby wetlands, hydrologic restoration potential without flooding structures, number of landowners involved, size, potential for a naturalized buffer, and restoration design complexity. Wetlands ranked high and medium are considered high priority for restoration (Figure 14, also see Appendix A, RMP, Figure 9 — Partially Drained or Impaired Wetlands). Local wetland values such as Lino Lakes' interest in Tamarack Swamp restoration was also used in the evaluation. City of Lino Lakes SWMP I February 8, 2013 Draft 1 31