1998-10-22_AgendaPacket - Laserfiche WebLink

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2 • TOUR STOPS Gervais Lake Watershed Gervais Shoreline Restoration Project Site was the second stop of the tour. Bill described the project goal and layout, while Arnie Linder described how replacement of turf and beach areas on his shoreland property with wild flower plantings has intrigued passers-by, as they study the informational sign on his property. University of Minnesota entomologists will be studying the insects attracted to the revegetated area. Arnie claims that new species of wildlife were immediately attracted to his property by this project.. Lake Phalen Watershed The tour drove by Lake Phalen and the Phalen Wetland Project, where progress is occurring this summer in removal of the Phalen Shopping Mall and parking lot in preparation of the re-creation of the former Ames Lake into awetland-focused city park. This project is a first nation-wide in experimenting with. methods of replacing large tracts of impervious surface with pervious surfaces in metro areas. Stormwater management as well as habitat and neighborhood aesthetics stand to gain from such projects. Beltline Interceptor Watershed The tour next walked to a pressure relief outlet for the Beltline Interceptor (large storm sewer pipe) in St. Paul as the interceptor approaches the Mississippi River. The District took over ownership and maintenance of the stormwater interceptor following the separation of stormwater from wastewater drainage systems of St. Paul. The interceptor system is 80 years old and serves as the only outlet for the Phalen Chain of Lakes, Beaver Lake, and the east side of St. Paul. The District is in the process of completing amulti-year repair project on the interceptor to extend its useful service life. Highwood Watershed As an example of current subdivision construction projects in the District, the tour stopped at a project in the Highwood neighborhood of Maplewood. Pat Conrad discussed the District permit and inspection process and specific project issues for large grading project sites, as well as the unique aspects of resource management in this area. Carver Lake watershed residential, commercial, and highway development and issues were discussed as the tour traveled from the Highwood area to the Tamarack Swamps in Woodbury. Battle Creek Lake Watershed The tour walked on a floating walkway into the East Arm of the Tamarack Swamp noting the dramatically rich vegetation of the swamp area. Capital Improvement Projects and Management issues include water level management for tamarack regeneration. The tour also ~~iewed the East Arm outlet at Bielenberg Drive as well as the West Arm Tamarack Swamp, and issues were discussed relating to the Tamarack Road interchange and proposed outlet berm. Issues include control of water quantity, direction of flow, and water quality resulting from current and impending development of the area north of the swamps. The next tour stop was in Oakdale at the northwest quadrant of I-694 / I-94 where proposed capital improvement project sites include a water diversion and wetland site and a wetland outlet control project. The Ciry of Oakdale and. the Watershed District are interested in preserving as much habitat and treating as much stormwater as possible before it flows under the interstate highway into Battle Creek Lake and surrounding wetlands. Woodbury plans to preserve the wetlands around Battle Creek Lake as development pressures increase. Tanners Lake Watershed The last. tour stops included various Tanners Lake Water Quality Improvement Projects. Water from. Tanners Lake drains into Battle Creek Lake from under I-94. The tour viewed the new Fifth Street Basin, recently completed for water quality improvement, and they visited the new alum Page 2 July 7, 199$ RWMWD Minutes