CCP 08-20-2001 - Laserfiche WebLink

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WATER QUALITY IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY SURFACE WATER MANAGEMENT NONPOLNT SOURCE POLLUTION TO ALL METROPOLITAN WATERS Summary of The Policy Issue In 1990 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) nnd the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) agreed on a goal 10 reduce nonpoint source pollution in the Minnesota River by 40 percent [rom pre-1980 levels. The two agencies have set 1996 as the target dUle 10 ,Khicvc this goal. To accomplish this goal, current land development nnd agricultural practices must be altered to restrict nonpoint source pollutants from entering area water bodies. While tht: Minnesota River may be an acute case o[watcr quality degradation due to nonpoint source pollution all water bodies in the seven county area are impacted to some degree by human activities in both urban and rural areas. The Mississippi River,especially in the Spring Lake and Lake Fepin area, is severally impacted by excessive algal growth. A major inter-state and [ederal study is currently being conducted to identify the causes of the exce.~.~ive algal groweh. However, it is known that nut6enl~, nitrogen ;md phospho!1.l.\, from whatever Source are the prime caU5e of excessive algal groweh. Both the State of Wisconsin and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are attempting to get the MPCA to impose phosphorus limits on the Metropolitan Pbnt in St. Paul as a means to reduce the algal growth. If phosphorus limits are imposed On the Metropolitan Plant this could result in capital expenditures of 0580 to 360 million. Since phosphoru.s is [ound in surface wata runoff it may be more cost effective to control nonpoint sources. of runoff and have a more benefieial impact on the river than by controlling point sources of phosphorus. To ~ddress the acute problems On the Minnesota River, the Council developed an interim strategy for' communities in the Minnesota River basin. This strategy incorporated basic water quality management practices that will improve the water quality of the area water hodies. During the public participation proeess in developing these strategiC-', it became clear that these same interim strategies were appropriate for all local governments in the seven county area. A consistent and equitable policy is established to apply these strategies metro-wide. The Problem The, Metropolitan Council has documented an increase of nonpoint source polll1lion to area water- bodies. These added pollutants reduce thc recreational value and accelerate the eutrophication o[ area water bodies. TIle increase of non point source pollutants to area water bodie$ can be traced to two primary sources: land development nnd agriculture practices.., !..<lnd development or urb2nization, generally incre<l5es both the volume of runoff as well as the concentration of pollutants in the runoff. This happens with the conversion of land to hard surfaces and by the destruction of wetlands. Detention ponds or artiticial depressions can help mitigate these imp~cls. The best designed ponds, howcvcr, wili not rcduce thc increased volume of runoff following urbanization nor will they totally remOve the additional pollutants follo<.ving urbanization. An inere:lSc in runoff volume, total phosphorus and other pollutanls are the results of urban development. I J I I I I I I I . I I I I I I I