2003-08-14_AgendaPacket - Laserfiche WebLink

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Capturing Stormwater; Improving Habitat To prevent fl~odng;-the District directs stormwater from local curbs and gutters through - - culverts and ~,rdeirs to areas called stormwater detention sites. When •- pl~nned properly, these projects create an excellent opportunity to - create nevd habitat for the fish buds and other wildlife that help ~~,,~ . , us maintain a diverse, healthy ecosystem. ,JAL ~~, _xl ~, - ; ~ ~., -=- -~ ~-~ The North St. Paul Urban Ecology Center demonstrates how a ~ ?~ - detention site can provide habitat as Quell as open space {or• local residents and educational opportunities for schools. Work E on this innovative project, which is located on the site of an aban-. _- ~ " Boned farm,•began in i996 in partnership with the City of North St. Paul,. the Phalen Watershed Natural Resources Board and the Universit•~ of Minnesota- Department of Landscape Architecture: The site includes a basin for capturing sediment at its south end, and a channel that meanders through the remainder of the wetland. On the northern end of the site, a pond was planted with a diverse mix of native wetland and upland vegetation species. There is a boardwalk across this pleasant open water basin, and additionaltrailslor visitors. In i999 a parking lot and berm were built`to provide park and trail access and an overlook for the site. In'Z002 the District continued its efforts to .maintain the site and restore native plant habitats. Creating a formal entrance to this area is a future goal. . The Co~vern Elementary School in North St. Paul is another multi-faceted project. This school is adjacent to an area that was a channelized open stream prone to floodin~`dur- ing heavy rains. In 1998, the City of North St. Paul and a consulting firm created three ponds to hold the sformwater and prevent downstream flooding. The District collaborat- ed with the City to prepare a revegetation plan, which eliminated the invasive plants and added native vegetation around the pond Edges. This project has moved.forward in phases. A prair®e restoration was conducted in 1998 and 1999. Emergent habitat on the shoreline was planned in_i999.~The middle pond is designed to provide shrub zone habi- tat. In 2002 the school, City of North St. Pau! and other community volunteers removed buckthorn and black locust from atwo-acre woodlot on school property and planted native trees and shrubs. Ongoing maintenance of the site is conducted by the Cowern Elementary School Habitat Club. - Students play an important "hands-on" role en many of the District's projects. 1 ~` :~. ~... ~:.~` ~;~, F .'x3 ~~ - ~' ~- ;;~~:4 .~~:- ~. - . - Yin ~~ >=~, > '~_. 3: ~1.-;~'' g ~ ~$4 i. 1 ~ t~. k ~~~~-ice.''. ~` ~~`~~ .