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<br /> <br />Trott Brook runs through <br />Ramsey and Is an example of <br />surface water that can be <br />protected by using public sewer <br />systems and requiring buffers <br />. around water bodies. <br /> <br />Water Quality <br />HIA THRESHOLD <br /> <br />There are two Indleators outlined In the Threshold Analysis with respect to <br />water quality. The first Is the general availability of urban sewer and water <br />services. Five points are awarded if all development is planned where sewer <br />and water Is planned. One point can be obtained if there Is a management plan. <br />for septic/on-site wastewater systems (but only if the development is outside <br />the Twin Cities metropolitan area). <br /> <br />The Threshold Analysis method states that requiring a buffer around water <br />bodies will have a positive impact on surface water quality because impervious <br />surface and runoff Is correlated with a degradation of nearby water sources. It <br />goes a step further to suggest that mowed turf acts more similarly to <br />impervious surface than a natural, vegetative material; and should be. <br />subtracted from the analysis of vegetation around water bodies. Under this <br />indicator, seven points can be obtained If a buffer of SO meters Is preserved <br />around all water bodies. Three points are eligible if there/s ~ buffer of 20 <br />meters around all water bodle$. <br /> <br />CURRENT SITUATION <br /> <br />(TOTAL POINTS=Q) <br /> <br />Groundwater and Drinking Water Quality <br />Public water and sewer systems are not readily available to over half the land <br />area of the City, although the City and Metropolitan Council have showed a <br />history of willingly extending these services upon demand. However, the City <br />does allow rural, septic system development in a large portion of the City. <br /> <br />The City does have a septic system pumping and Inspection requirement within <br />City Code. This ordinance was passed In 2003 and the Community Development <br />Department tracks and manages this process. <br /> <br />Surface Water Quality <br />The City has a shoreland protection ordinance that limits construction 300 feet <br />from streamS and rivers and 1,000 feat from laklils. However, the ordinance <br />does not limit tht ability of a propllrty owner to mow the protection areal. <br />Furthermore. the City recently adopted a wetland buffer ordinance, which <br />reql,llres a buffer from delineated wetland boundaries, varying In sl4e <br />depending on the quality of the wetland (from 20 to 40 feet). However, neither <br />of these methods Is credited in the Threshold AnalYSiS. <br /> <br />24 <br /> <br />-131- <br />