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3.3 . Natural Features of Gem Lake <br />The natural enyir9nment.of Gem Lake is unquestionably of a very <br />high quality, the. preservation or enhancement of which should be <br />considered as the City mor!�fully develops. <br />3.3.1 Topography <br />The topography of the community is generally rolling exhibiting <br />glacial moranic surface features (see Figure 3). Elevations vary <br />approximately 90 feet. (from 920 feet to 1,010 feet above sea level). <br />The greatest elevation variations. -aie in the west central and <br />.northwestern portions of the City where there. are several knobs of <br />.higher elevations. Virtually all steeper slopes over 10. percent grade <br />are also in this portion of the City. The northeast and southern <br />portions of the City range from gently rolling to flat. <br />3.3.2 Surface Water and Drainage <br />Most of Gem Lake lies on a low plateau over 950 feet above sea level. <br />This plateau drains north, west, and south (see Figure }, Since 4.3ern <br />Lake is in a relatively high elevation with respect to suriounding <br />lands, no permanent streams exist within the corporate lim:itS. <br />However; as. is typical of glacial landscapes; much .of * the <br />muniapality is imperfectly drained with much of the surface water <br />draining into low lying depressions with no surface outlets. The. <br />largest of these depressions is Gem. Lake which covers approximately <br />38 acres including Its attendant wetlands. Much.. of the central <br />portion of the City drains into this feature. The second Iargest area <br />of standing water is -a .pond covering about six acres in the <br />northeastern portion of the City. 1VMost. of the lands north of the Gem <br />Lake Drainage Area and -south of .Goose Lake Road drains into this <br />surface feature. There are many -other smaller pockets of intermittent <br />and permanent surface water storage areas scattered throughout the <br />municipality. <br />3.3.3 Soils <br />Much, if not most, of the surface soils within Gem Lake are glacial: <br />tills. Consequently, the character of soils can vary significantly .in -a <br />relatively small -area. Gravel deposits displaying course soils are <br />located in knobs in the. northwestern portion of the City. In contrast, <br />finesediments are.located in the "GemLake" and associated wetland <br />area not far away. Overall, the soils might be characterized as <br />medium to fine in all. but. (1) the knob areas and (2) in the <br />northeastern area.of the Citywhere.coarser soils predominate. <br />3.3.4 Vegetation <br />Much of the City is. wooded especially in the central portion around. <br />Gem Lake. There are also- extensive stands of trees in the <br />northwestern portion of the City along Goose Lake Road. <br />Comprehensive Plan A-GEMLK9501.00 <br />Gem Lake, Minnesota Page 5 <br />