Workshop Item: 6 - Jim Hafner, Stormwater Manager
Title
REQUEST FOR CLEAN WATER LEGACY GRANT FROM THE BOARD OF WATER AND SOIL RESOURCES
Background
The Anoka Conservation District (ACD) is writing a grant request to the Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) for Clean Water Legacy (CWL) funds. If awarded, the funds would be used to construct a water quality improvement project. The proposed project would be located in the City of Blaine (City) and include a partnership between ACD, the Rice Creek Watershed District (RCWD) and the City.
Project Summary: Golden Lake in Circle Pines is listed as an impaired water and as such has had a TMDL (plan for improvement) written and approved. Nearly half of the drainage to the lake comes from the City of Blaine. The implementation plan for making improvements to the lake requires that the City provide best management practices (BMP's) that will remove pollutants from the runoff transported to the lake.
ACD, at the request of RCWD, has completed an assessment of a variety of projects that would provide pollutant removal and help improve the condition of the lake. The project that ranks the highest in potential efficiency and provides the best cost-benefit ratio is one that involves improvements to a pond at Centennial Green Park in Blaine. The pond is adjacent to Anoka County Ditch 53-62, the main tributary to Golden Lake, and receives drainage from about 250 acres. The improvement involves installation of a sand trench containing iron filings. As water filters through the iron, a bond forms between the iron filings and the phosphorous in the water, removing the phosphorous from the water. Phosphorous is the nutrient of concern relative to water quality. This process has been researched extensively at the St. Anthony Falls Laboratory at the University of Minnesota and has had successful installations in Maplewood and Prior Lake.
The City's role in this would be the following:
· No money required for cost share
· Provide the location for the project (there would be no loss of usable space in the park)
· Allow access and permission to construct the project
· Provide maintenance for the BMP to keep it functional
o This would mainly involve trash pickup
RCWD will provide engineering services and water quality monitoring. ACD will provide the grant administration.
Recommendation
Council is being asked to authorize the City Manager to sign a letter of support for the grant request and the project.