2006-08-22_PWETC_AgendaPacket - Laserfiche WebLink

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EXISTING DISTRICT RULES The existing District Rules were adopted in 1998 and at the time were considered one of the most progressive set of watershed rules, specifically for implementing a volume control standard. However, stormwater management has progressed significantly in the last decade and in light of the ever increasing development pressure, continued deterioration of water resources and public support for more stringent standards; the District recognized the need to revisit its Rules and has already done so on a select sub watershed basis. In order to achieve greater protection of the water resources and wetlands in a portion of Blaine, the District adopted a subwatershed specific rule (Rulc ;,,,1). This rule was v.Titten following an extensive planning effort called the Anoka County Ditch 53-62 Comprehensive Wetland Management Plan (CWMP). This plan came to be known as the Village Meadows CWMP and included many complex objectives related to providing drainage benefits to those parties within the CWMP, wetland protection and water quality enhancement. Rule M has very specific requirements that are tailored to the resource management goals of the drainage area. For example, in order to preserve wetland functions in a fully developed area, many of the existing wetlands needed to be preserved and restored. In addition, adequate buffers were needed to enhance water quality and wildlife habitat. Rule M includes specifics on wetland protection standards. Rule M also includes an infiltration standard for property proposing to develop within the Village Meadows area. By enforcing this standard over the entire drainage area of ditch 53-62, Golden Lake, the receiving water body, can nearly meet its TMDL goal. As the District moves forward with more comprehensive planning efforts, now known as Resource Management Plans (RMPs), it is becoming more evident that many of the ailing ditch systems, as well as the water bodies that receive drainage from them, are in need of rules or standards written specifically to address the drainage capacity constraints and downstream TMDL goals. Because many of the factors such as land use, soil type, natural resources, drainage configuration and the listed impairment are often different across the District, it is evident that adaptations will be needed to existing rules as well as to Rule M to ensure District resources are adequately protected. Adaptation or revision to the rules governing the entire watershed is the focus for the remainder of the memorandum. The following sections outline the substantive revisions proposed District-wide and present additional topics to be considered by the District in this rulemaking process. DISTRICT-WIDE RULE REVISIONS Stormwater Management Criteria for Development Following in the footsteps of Rule M, is recommended that the existing Rule C design criteria for water quality treatment and volume control standards be replaced with one new combined standard to better utilize infiltration as a flood control and water quality tool. Under this combined standard each project would be required to incorporate infiltration or water quality best management practices dependent on soil type within the project area (site or subwatershed). If Hydrologic Soil Group A or B soils are present onsite the stormwater management plan would Emmons & Olivier Resources, Inc. Page 3 of8