Mississippi Watershed Management Organization Watershed Management Plan 2006 Amended ...

163 Pages·2007·5.6 MB·English

Mississippi Watershed
Management Organization

Watershed Management Plan
2006 Amended Version

Approved, Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources, 1/24/2007
Approved, MWMO Board of Commissioners, 3/13/2007
For further information contact:
The Mississippi Watershed Management Organization
2520 Larpenteur Ave W
Lauderdale MN, 55113
651-287-0948
MWMO WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PLAN 2006 AMENDED VERSION
Table of Contents

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.........................................................................................................1
SECTION 1 INTRODUCTION.............................................................................................8
SECTION 2 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND.....................................................................12
SECTION 3 LAND AND WATER RESOURCE INVENTORY..........................................14
PRECIPITATION....................................................................................................................14
GENERAL TOPOGRAPHIC, GEOLOGIC, & GROUNDWATER DATA.............................................15
GROUNDWATER RESOURCE DATA.......................................................................................17
SOIL DATA..........................................................................................................................18
NATURAL COMMUNITY.........................................................................................................18
FISHERIES...........................................................................................................................20
WILDLIFE.............................................................................................................................23
UNIQUE FEATURES AND SCENIC AREAS...............................................................................25
Sensitive, Rare, and Endangered Species...................................................................25
Scenic Areas.................................................................................................................26
SURFACE WATER RESOURCES............................................................................................27
Mississippi River...........................................................................................................27
Loring Park Pond..........................................................................................................29
Mallard Marsh...............................................................................................................30
Bridal Veil Creek and Kasota Pond...............................................................................30
Public Waters and Wetlands.........................................................................................31
Dams.............................................................................................................................32
Ditches..........................................................................................................................33
National Wetlands Inventory.........................................................................................33
Inventorying Wetlands of the MMRW...........................................................................33
Methodology to Assess the Functions of Wetlands......................................................34
Evaluating Areas for Wetland Restoration....................................................................36
Metropolitan Mosquito Control District Wetland Map....................................................36
Stormwater System.......................................................................................................36
Hydrological Characteristics of Public Waters..............................................................37
Flood Levels and Peak Discharges..............................................................................37
Flood-Prone Areas........................................................................................................38
Surface Water Quality Data..........................................................................................38
Approved Shoreland Ordinances..................................................................................38
Surface Water Appropriations Permits..........................................................................39
LAND USE AND PUBLIC UTILITY SERVICES............................................................................39
INTERCOMMUNITY FLOWS ANALYSIS....................................................................................39
WATER-BASED RECREATION AREAS....................................................................................41
MINNESOTA PERMANENT LIST OF PRIORITIES (STATE SUPERFUND SITES).............................41
Polluted Sites................................................................................................................41

MWMO WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PLAN 2006 AMENDED VERSION
SECTION 4 ASSESSMENT OF PROBLEMS...................................................................45
SURFACE WATER QUALITY..................................................................................................45
Stormwater Runoff........................................................................................................45
Rooftop Connections to Sanitary Sewers.....................................................................46
SPECIFIC WATER BODIES....................................................................................................47
Mississippi River...........................................................................................................47
Loring Park Pond..........................................................................................................48
Bridal Veil Creek and Kasota Pond...............................................................................48
WATER QUANTITY...............................................................................................................49
Flooding........................................................................................................................49
Combined Sewer Overflows.........................................................................................49
RECREATION.......................................................................................................................50
Lack of Public Access to the Mississippi.......................................................................50
Violation of State and Federal Surface Water Quality Standards.................................50
FISH AND WILDLIFE RESOURCES..........................................................................................50
SOIL EROSION AND SEDIMENTATION....................................................................................51
Erosion of Steep Riverbank Slopes..............................................................................51
Industrial Waste Piles Without Runoff Controls............................................................51
LAND USE PRACTICES.........................................................................................................52
Negative Impact of Transportation Route Expansions..................................................52
Impact of Industrial Activities on the Mississippi River..................................................52
High Percentage of Impervious Surfaces.....................................................................52
OTHER POTENTIAL PROBLEMS.............................................................................................53
SECTION 5 MISSION AND GOALS.................................................................................54
MISSION..............................................................................................................................54
GOALS................................................................................................................................54
SURFACE WATER QUANTITY................................................................................................55
Goal 1: Prevent flooding...............................................................................................55
Goal 2: Mitigate the effects of drought .........................................................................55
SURFACE WATER QUALITY..................................................................................................56
Goal 3: Protect and enhance the surface water quality in the MWMO.........................56
Goal 4: Reduce non-point sources of pollution.............................................................57
Goal 5: Work with other organizations to improve surface water quality across
watershed boundaries...................................................................................................57
RECREATION.......................................................................................................................58
Goal 6: Provide opportunities for public outdoor recreation in a way that preserves
and enhances the environment.....................................................................................58
Goal 7: Create a continuous river corridor....................................................................58
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION........................................................................................................59
Goal 8: Enhance public participation in MWMO activities.............................................59
Goal 9: Educate MWMO communities about environmental impacts to the Mississippi
River, especially non-point sources of pollution............................................................59
Goal 10: Educate MWMO communities about redevelopment plans impacting the
Mississippi River...........................................................................................................60
GROUNDWATER..................................................................................................................60
Goal 11: Protect and preserve groundwater quality and quantity.................................60
WETLANDS..........................................................................................................................61
Goal 12: Protect and restore wetland resources...........................................................61
MWMO WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PLAN 2006 AMENDED VERSION
EROSION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL......................................................................................61
Goal 13: Control loss of soil due to erosion..................................................................61
LAND USE...........................................................................................................................62
Goal 14: Preserve, minimize impact to, and restore natural habitat; especially
shorelines and habitat corridors....................................................................................62
HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES.............................................................................63
Goal 15: Preserve and interpret cultural resources that relate the history of the
Mississippi River and its watershed..............................................................................63
SECTION 6 IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAM................................................................64
POLICIES AND STANDARDS..................................................................................................64
Wetlands Administration...............................................................................................64
Local Water Management Plan.....................................................................................64
Erosion and Sediment Control......................................................................................65
Shoreline and Floodplain..............................................................................................65
Land Use.......................................................................................................................65
Stormwater and Drainage Design Performance...........................................................66
PROGRAMS.........................................................................................................................68
Planning........................................................................................................................69
Greening for Water Quality...........................................................................................70
Stewardship Fund.........................................................................................................71
Watershed Assessment................................................................................................72
Emergency Response...................................................................................................73
Well Sealing Cost Share...............................................................................................73
Education and Outreach...............................................................................................74
Monitoring.....................................................................................................................75
Land Aquisition.............................................................................................................76
Water Reuse and Conservation....................................................................................77
PROJECTS...........................................................................................................................78
Aqua Landings..............................................................................................................79
Edgewater Park............................................................................................................79
Eliminate Combined Sewer Overflows..........................................................................80
Grain Belt Shoreline Improvements..............................................................................80
Hawthorne Area Community Rain Garden...................................................................81
Mississippi River Gorge Habitat Restoration................................................................81
Near Northside/Old Bassett Creek Stormwater Wetlands............................................81
North Mississippi River Regional Park..........................................................................81
Silver Lake Wet Stormwater Detention Basin at 33rdand Emerson Avenue North........82
Southeast Minneapolis Industrial Area (SEMI) Storm Drains and Stormwater Wetlands......... 82
St. Anthony Flood Control Projects...............................................................................82
Above the Falls Master Plan.........................................................................................83
West River Parkway Improvements..............................................................................83
Whitewater Park............................................................................................................83
CRITERIA FOR EVALUATING PROJECTS FOR IMPLEMENTATION..............................................85
Overall Evaluation Criteria............................................................................................86
Specific Issue Criteria...................................................................................................86
MWMO CIP Selection / Budget Process.......................................................................87
Capitol Improvement Projects Summary.............................................................. .......88

MWMO WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PLAN 2006 AMENDED VERSION
SECTION 7 IMPACTS ON OTHER UNITS OF GOVERNMENT.....................................90
WATER QUANTITY...............................................................................................................90
WATER QUALITY..................................................................................................................90
RECREATION.......................................................................................................................91
FISH, WILDLIFE & ECOSYSTEMS...........................................................................................91
HISTORIC AND CULTURAL RESOURCES........................................................................ .......91
GROUNDWATER..................................................................................................................91
EROSION.............................................................................................................................92
IMPACT ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT.........................................................................................92
Member Obligations and Commitments........................................................................95
Existing Local Controls.................................................................................................95
Financial Impact on Local Government........................................................................95
Adoption by Reference.................................................................................................95
SECTION 8 AMENDMENTS TO THE PLAN...................................................................96
GENERAL AMENDMENT PROCEDURE....................................................................................96
MINOR AMENDMENTS..........................................................................................................97
SECTION 9 EFFECTIVE DATE.......................................................................................99
SECTION 10 BUDGET....................................................................................................100
SECTION 11 APPENDIX ...............................................................................................101
POTENENTIAL WATERSHED ASSESSMENTS.........................................................................101
POTENTIAL PLANNING PROJECTS.......................................................................................102
SECTION 12 GLOSSARY...............................................................................................103
SECTION 13 CITATIONS AND REFERENCE MATERIAL.............................................107
MWMO WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PLAN 2006 AMENDED VERSION
SUMMARY OF CHARTS............................................................................................109 - 137
CHART 1:.........................................................FLOOD PROFILES, MISSISSIPPI RIVER A
CHART 2:.........................................................FLOOD PROFILES, MISSISSIPPI RIVER B
CHART 3:.........................................................FLOOD PROFILES, MISSISSIPPI RIVER C
CHART 4:.........................................................FLOOD PROFILES, MISSISSIPPI RIVER D
CHART 5:.........................................BIOLOGICAL OXYGEN DEMAND, MISSISSIPPI RIVER
CHART 6:.......................................DISSOLVED ORTHOPHOSPHATE, MISSISSIPPI RIVER
CHART 7........................................................DISSOLVED OXYGEN, MISSISSIPPI RIVER
CHART 8.......................................DISSOLVED SUSPENDED SOLIDS, MISSISSIPPI RIVER
CHART 9.............................................................FECAL COLIFORM, MISSISSIPPI RIVER
CHART 10.............................................FIELD DISSOLVED OXYGEN, MISSISSIPPI RIVER
CHART 11.......................................................................FIELD PH, MISSISSIPPI RIVER
CHART 12..........................................................................LAB PH, MISSISSIPPI RIVER
CHART 13........................................................................NITRATE, MISSISSIPPI RIVER
CHART 14..........................................PARTICULATE PHOSPHORUS, MISSISSIPPI RIVER
CHART 15............................................................TOTAL AMMONIA, MISSISSIPPI RIVER
CHART 16.....................................................................TURBIDITY, MISSISSIPPI RIVER
CHART 17......................FISH SPECIES FOUND ABOVE AND BELOW ST. ANTHONY FALLS
CHART 18........................................................FISH DATA FOR THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER
CHART 19……………MWMO PROJECTS, PROGRAMS, AND ADMINISTRATION TIMELINES
CHART 20.....................MDNR WATER APPROPRIATION PERMITS W/I THE MWMO, 1999
CHART 21...............BIRDS OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER GORGE AREA BY DAVID ZUMETA

SUMMARY OF MAPS................................................................................................138 - 157
MAP 1...................................................................................MWMO BOUNDARY MAP
MAP 2 ........................................................................................SURFICIAL GEOLOGY
MAP 3 ............................................DEPTH TO BEDROCK AND BEDROCK TOPOGRAPHY
MAP 4 .........................................................................................BEDROCK GEOLOGY
MAP 5 ........................................................................................POINTS OF INTEREST
MAP 6 ...........METROPOLITAN MOSQUITO CONTROL DISTRICT IDENTIFIED WET AREAS
MAP 7 ..........................................................STORM DRAINS AND CACHEMENT AREAS
MAP 8 .............................................................................................RIVER CORRIDOR
MAP 9 ..................................................................................UPPER RIVER CORRIDOR
MAP 10 ...............................................................................MIDDLE RIVER CORRIDOR
MAP 11 ........................................................LOWER RIVER CORRIDORMAPS SECTION
MAP 13 .............................................MINNEAPOLIS CONTAMINATED SITES INVENTORY
MAP 14 .........................................................................................MWMO LAND USE
MAP 15 ..................................................MWMO UPPER RIVER CORRIDOR LAND USE
MAP 16 .................................................MWMO MIDDLE RIVER CORRIDOR LAND USE
MAP 17...................................................MWMO LOWER RIVER CORRIDOR LAND USE
MAP 18 ......................................ABBREVIATED MWMO IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAMS
Map 19 ……………………… SENSITIVITY OF GROUNDWATER SYSTEMS TO POLLUTION
MWMO WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PLAN 2006 AMENDED VERSION
Executive Summary

“

The segment of the Mississippi [River] flowing through the Minneapolis/St. Paul
metropolitan area has always been of major significance as a resource, a
boundary, a transportation corridor, a source of sustenance and energy, a place for
recreation, an artistic inspiration, and a tourist attraction. It has been a home and
work place, a source of water, and a sometime sewer. Demands upon it have often
been in conflict, and attempts to manage its resources have frequently challenged
state agencies, local governments, organizations, and area citizens. ”

-Minnesota National River and Recreation
Area (MNRRA) Comprehensive Management
Plan, 1995

Introduction

In January 1997, a Joint and Cooperative Agreement (JCA) was entered into by the cities of
Minneapolis, St. Paul, Lauderdale, Falcon Heights, St. Anthony, and the Minneapolis Park and
Recreation Board. This agreement added a new business name to the organization: the
Mississippi Watershed Management Organization (MWMO) and replaced the agreement
executed in 1985 that created the original organization. In 1999 the MWMO’s legal boundary
and subsequent levy area was redrawn to exclude the city of Falcon Heights. Falcon Heights is
now a part of the Capitol Region Watershed District. Within this document the term “Watershed”
will refer to the geographic area associated with the Mississippi Watershed Management
Organization’s legal boundary.

As part of their legal requirements, the MWMO is required to develop a Watershed Management
Plan. This Plan is intended to meet and, whenever possible, exceed the water resource
protection requirements under Minnesota Statutes 103A through 103G in conformance with
Minnesota Rules Chapters 8410 and 8420. These requirements include protection of surface
waters, groundwater, wetlands, and related natural resources. The Mississippi Watershed
Management Organization is committed to the optimum utilization of geographic information
systems (GIS), remote sensing, the Internet, and other innovative technologies in its
1
MWMO WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PLAN 2006 AMENDED VERSION
management of the watershed. These technologies offer great potential to inform citizens,
elected officials, and watershed staff.

The essential purpose of the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization is to provide for
the wise, long-term management of the water and associated land resources within the
Watershed through implementation measures that realize multiple objectives, respect
ecosystem principles, and reflect community values. The Mississippi Watershed Management
Organization will protect, enhance and restore the surface and groundwater resources within its
jurisdiction through education, management and enforcement.

The Mississippi River is the common focus of the Mississippi Watershed Management
Organization. Within the boundary of the Watershed, all surface water either directly or
indirectly drains to the river. The river itself provides a wide range of functions and activities
such as: hydroelectricity; barge access; recreational water-related amenities; industrial,
commercial and residential land uses; public drinking water; and, storm water and municipal
wastewater discharge. The Mississippi Watershed Management Organization encompasses
13,602 acres (31.5 square miles) of fully developed urban lands and waters within the
Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area. As seen on Map 1, the Mississippi Watershed
Management Organization consists of portions of the cities of Lauderdale, Minneapolis, St.
Anthony, and St. Paul as well as property owned by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board
(MPRB). It is important to note that 94.1% of the watershed is within the City of Minneapolis.
The Mississippi Watershed Management Organization is the home of significant industrial,
commercial, and residential activities in the Twin Cities, including river-related recreation.

The first draft of Mississippi Watershed Management Organization Watershed
Management Plan was published in December 1986. The 1986 Plan was prepared to meet
the then current Minnesota Chapter 509 requirements. The 1986 Plan addressed surface
water quality and quantity, land use, and storm sewer drainage but was never approved
by the existing Commission. The 1986 Plan identified significant point and non-point
source pollution in the Watershed and it noted significant groundwater pollution
problems from past industrial and commercial practices. Since the writing of the first
draft, there have been several significant changes in state and federal rules and
regulations. These changes have made it necessary to create a new document.

This current Plan expands the water resource management issues to include groundwater
quality protection and improvement, in addition to the goals of surface water protection and
water quality improvement. This Plan uses information and data from past studies and actions
2
MWMO WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PLAN 2006 AMENDED VERSION
to address a variety of issues determined as significant by the Mississippi Watershed
Management Organization’s Task Force, Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC), Technical
Advisory Committee (TAC), and the Board of Commissioners. This Plan is subdivided into
several sections, each addressing the items required by Minnesota Rules Chapter 8410.
3
MWMO WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PLAN 2006 AMENDED VERSION
Historical Background

For thousands of years, the Mississippi River Valley has provided ample hunting, fishing, and
gathering opportunities as well as a documented sense of spirituality for indigenous peoples. In
the summer of 1680, Father Louis Hennepin and other members of the LaSalle expedition
became the first Europeans to see the Watershed and, most notably, St. Anthony Falls. Two-
hundred years later, at the time of the United States’ acquisition of the Mississippi, the worth of
the area was measured primarily in terms of military strategy and transportation potential.

It was St. Anthony Falls that provided the force to shape the urban landscape that now
dominates the Watershed. By 1849, the first sawmill was operating in the fledgling village of St.
Anthony on the east bank of the river (Stipanovich, 1982). Using power from the St. Anthony
Falls, industry prospered. In the 1860’s, gristmills began replacing the sawmills and the area
soon became the largest flour-milling district in the world (MN Historical Society website, 1999).

During the mid to late 1800’s the area around St. Anthony Falls underwent tremendous growth
as immigrants and other settlers filled the demand for workers. The river itself suffered severe
indignities during this period of rapid human development. However, since that time,
modifications in infrastructure and stricter government regulation have helped the river to
rebound.

Land Use and Water Resource Inventory & Assessment of Problems

The existing inventory of:
• Pollutant sources and polluted sites;
• Water resources and water uses;
• Land resources and land uses;
• Fisheries and wildlife habitats;
• Weather fluxes and cycles;
• Policy guidelines;
• Urban influence;
• Infrastructure;
• Scenic areas; and
• Historic sites,

4
MWMO WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PLAN 2006 AMENDED VERSION