2003-08-14_AgendaPacket - Laserfiche WebLink

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_ --~ Y 4 ~. ;. a _,, i __ - _- i _ -.~ ~: ~.'~~ A :, ~:`'! ;~: Monitoring Wetlands Wetlands play an important role in the watershed by preventing flooding problems, pro- - tecting water quality and providing plant and wildlife habitat. Since 2000, the District has conducted biomonito~ing work on 16 wetland sites each year. All wetlands chosen are shallow to deep-water marshes, and have an open water zone with an emergent fringe - ofvegetation. The research involves collection and analysis of water samples as well as samples of sediment, plants and macroinvertebrates (such as aquatic insects, worms and crustaceans).- i Half of the wetlands sampled were considered healthy. if ~e effectively manage the sur- rounding land - by maintaining or improving buffer zones, fnanaging stormwater runoff and controlling invasive plant species -these areas can remain valuable resources. Of the remaining eight wetlands sampled, four were -moderately disturbed and four were ~' highly disturbed. Deveiopmerrt pressures affecting the areas included a high percent of impervious surfaces such as roads, parking lots and buildings, runoff fromroads and lawns and a high percent of invasive plant species' _ Evaluating Protect Effectiveness - In.2000 the Vl~atershed District worked with the owners of the Kline Volvo Dealership in the. City of Maplewood to come up with a stormwater treatment practice that vvould sat- isfy the needs of everyone involved. The collaboration resulted in an underground infif= tration trench around the perimeter of the dealership's parking lot. The District's 2001 monitoring of the trench system documented that nearly 87 percent {1 million gallons+ of stormwater was infiltrated by~this system during the monitoring period. anaging our Natural Resources and Habitat The District believes in carrying out projects that achieve many benefits for our water-, shod. For example, as vve work to control flooding, we strive to do so in a way that cre-. ates new habitat, improves water-quality and provides new recreation opportunities. This approach, known as {ntegrated Resource Management, is reflected in our 1997 plan. . We've implemented numerous special projects that achieve a range of ecological and social goals, and our success depends. on strong partnerships with public and private organizations.