1995-04-27_AgendaPacket - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Advocating regional economic, societal and environmental issues and solutions April 10, 1995 Karl Keel City of Roseville 2660 Civic Center Drive Roseville MN 55113 RE: American Legion Park Pond Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) Metropolitan Council District No. 11 Dear Mr. Keel: Council staff has reviewed this environmental assessment worksheet to determine its adequacy and accuracy in addressing regional concerns. The staff review concludes that the EAW is complete and accurate and raises no major issues of consistency with Council policies. An EIS is not necessary for regional purposes. The EAW proposes to dredge approximately 10,500 cubic yards of material from an unnamed, state protected Weiland (62-208W) to create atwo-cell NURP treatment pond for Lake Owasso in the city of Roseville. The project affects approximately 1.6 acres of the 11.9 acre wetland. The wetland is currently ditched with very little open water. The Cowardin Classification for the wetland is PSS 1 Cd; palustrine, broad leaf deciduous scrub shrub, seasonally flooded, ditched. Metropolitan Council policy seeks to preserve all protected and unprotected watercourses including associated. wetlands, to enhance water quantity and quality and to preserve their ecological functions. However, in this instance the wetland is ditched and of relatively low value. Construction of a water quality treatment pond would help to preserve the current water quality of Lake Owasso, and perhaps improve it. Lake Owasso has been designated as a priority lake by the Metropolitan Council because of its significance as an important regional resource. Council staff believes that the proposed facility would be of more value to Lake Owasso than the current wetland, especially since the pond would not occupy the entire wetland area. The location of the proposed project is in a relatively developed area, and alternate sites would be more expensive and would not provide control of all inflows. In summary, this project represents a compromise that is consistent with our policies. The proliosers should work with L're Department of Natural Resources t~ minimize adverse impacts to the wetland. This concludes the Council's re~lew of the EAW and no formal action will be taken by the Council. If you have any questions, please contact Jce Mulcahy, Water Management Unit, at 291-6652. Sincerely, ~~ ~ ,~,1%~-T- .- ~ - ~. Chuck Ballentine, Office of Local Assistance CB:veb cc: Esther Newc;ome, Metropolitan Council District 11 Lynda Voge, Joe Mulcahy, Victoria Boers, Metropolitan Council Stafl~ Mears Park Centre 230 East Fifth Street Recycled Paper St. Paul, Minnesota 55101-1634 612 291-6359 Fax 291-6550 TDD 291-0904 An Equal Opportunity Employer