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• Mike Ulrich May 23, 1996 Page 2 Using 5-year storm sewer sizing criteria, the 1977 Drainage Report drained the Bel-Rae site to the southeast in a 42" storm sewer system (see enclosed Figure 1). The final discharge point was the pond or wetland just east of the Edgewood School. In 1984, a second report was done by John Johnson to address some of these same flooding issues. At this time, we could not find a copy of the report to include any of his conclusion in this letter. In 1988, a second Drainage Report was done for the Edgewood drainage system which includes the Bel-Rae site. The purpose of this study was to determine if there were alternatives to the "pipe plans"proposed in the 1977 report. The 1988 study would also address any drainage needs in Long Lake Road which was to be reconstructed by the County. A copy of the background discussion in the 1988 report is enclosed. This study used several of the existing storage areas to reduce the peak flows to the drainage system. By using detention storage, the existing downstream storm sewer systems could be used in many locations, thus reducing the cost of the system proposed in 1977. One of the detention sites was the wetland located next to the Bel-Rae. In 1988,the Wetland Conservation Act had not been passed. Therefore,it was felt that the site could be greatly altered to create a multi-use detention pond. The Feasibility Report was sent to RCWD and COE. Favorable responses by the agencies were obtain for the project in 1988. Enclosed as Figures 2, 3, and 4 are the proposed improvements for the drainage system and wetland next to the Bel-Rae. Since 1988, Long Lake Road has been improved and storm sewer changes proposed in the 1988 study were undertaken for the corridor. The currently proposed reconstruction of the Bronson Drive, which was to drain into the detention pond next to the Bel-Rae, created a need to re-visit the feasibility of the detention ponding on the site. As was mentioned earlier,wetland rules have changed since 1988. With this in mind, we set up the meeting on May 14, 1996 with the City, RCWD and COE. At this meeting, modification to the wetland were discussed (see enclosed Meeting Summary). We had already determined that the multi-use facility proposed in 1988 would need to be changed to incorporate only wetland restoration on site. Our new proposal was to lower the entire site to provide additional detention and then restore the site with various wetland areas. The site would then become more of a passive recreational use area. After our meeting with the COE and RCWD, City staff and SEH discussed alternatives. It was first concluded that the pond could not be constructed as part of the Bronson Drive Project. With this in mind, it was felt that a more complete feasibility study would need to be undertaken to review in detail alternatives for the site. A proposal for this study would be presented at the first work session in June upon your request.