2001-01-04_AgendaPacket - Laserfiche WebLink

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The GLWMO will look toward the member cities for primary management of stormwater runoff issues. The GLWMO expects the member cities to require best management practices during development and redevelopment. The policies in the plan may be more uniformly applied if the GLWMO would take more of a lead in this area. Taking a lead role could be as simple as starting adual-permitting program. The GLWMO should be advised that the Metropolitan Council is working with the cities of St. Paul, Minneapolis and Bloomington to develop a best management practices manual for small site construction projects. This manual will contain information on recommended best management practices to use in the Midwest, information on how to install and design the specific best management practices, and information on maintenance requirements of the best management practices. The GLWMO should consider joining this work. group to help develop a manual geared toward conditions in the Midwest. For more information on this proposed effort, contact Gary Oberts at 651-602-1079. The goals for wetland management are to preserve wetlands for water retention, to achieve no-net. loss of wetlands in the GLWMO, and to preserve and improve, where feasible, wetland functions and values. The GLWMO established a new wetland classification system. The GLWMO expects the local governments to implement the standards and criteria in the watershed plan. The GLWMO expects its member communities to classify wetlands according to the GLWMO classification system. This will reauire ±he GLWMO to work closely with the t,,,~ ci±ies to make s~.:re ibis process is completed. Whether the GLWMO or the cities complete the classification, awatershed-wide wetland management plan needs to be completed to allow for the proper use of wetlands while maintaining their size and functions and values. The wetland management plan would help to maintain, enhance and restore where possible the functions and values of existing areas and wetlands within the watershed. The wetland management plan should. outline specific goals and policies regarding the management of wetlands within the organization and identify high priority areas for wetland preservation, restoration and establishment. The plan should include the information already gathered on the location of the wetland, wetland type, and determine the type of protection that the GLWMO will require. The plan should provide guidance to the member communities on issues such as: 1. wetland replacement; will replacement be allowed outside the GLWMO 2. management of existing wetlands; how should locals manage wetlands with respect to requests for new development or redevelopment 3. restoration and mitigation; are there key areas where restoration or mitigation is preferred 4. buffers; the GLWMO could adopt a model buffer zone ordinance for locals to use. Table 5-7 includes a column for buffers for each of the 4 wetland management classifications but does not include actual numbers for buffer size.. The table would be more useful if it included actual buffer widths such as buffers of 150' for the protect class, and 25' for the utilize class. Implementation Program The plan appears to do a fairly good job of describing an implementation program that consists of nonstructural and programmatic solutions to the problems, issues, and goals identified in the plan.. The plan does not specifically identify the need for more structural solutions to solve any problems in the watershed. Currently, the GLWMO does not operate a regulatory program. The plan suggests that the watershed organization does not have an interest in operating a regulatory program. The GLWMO plan has identified standards that are watershed- specific. It is the responsibility of the GLWMO to follow-up on this and to ensure all member communities adopt and enforce the GLWMO standards in their local water plans.