Ramsey Resident - 2009 - February

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\. The citv of Ramsev has a number - - of lakes, st0l111water ponds, rivers and ,"vetlands within its boundaries. MallY of these features are used for stormwater detention, water quality treatment alld flood control. The city is responsible for maintenallCe of the pipes and banks of the facilities alld does not treat for algae, odors, weeds or other aesthetic concerns. Storm- water ponds are designed to retain water between storms. Ponds are also designed with a flow restriction so that downstream propeliies are not flooded. All runoff, whether natural (rainfall alld snow melt) or manmade (lawn watering, car washing or other discharges), enters the pond system through ditches and storm sewers. As the runoff flows over roof tops, pave- ment. lawns alld natural area, it picks up grass clippings, leaves, animal waste, feliilizers and other chemicals (pollutants) alld carries them to the ponds. Sand alld soil carried in the runoff settles in ponds. The dissolved pOllutalltS can attach to soil paliicles and sink to the bottom of the pond. Algea blooms occur in ponds when there is excess phosphorus in the water. Phosphorus can wash off from bare soil and is found in lawn clip- pings, leaves, allimal waste and feliil- izer. State law has bal1l1ed phospho- rus in feliilizer since 2004: however. it is always good to check the label before purchasing allY feliilizer. The middle number (P) on the package [N-P-K] should be zero. What Call you do to improve water quality? Have vour soil tested alld follow the recommendations for feliil- izer application. Test information Public Notice Lawn Care and Stormwater Ponds is available from the University of Minnesota Extension Service http://soiltest. cfallS .umn.edu/. There are also commercial fil111S who provide soil tests (check the Yellow Pages). Sweep up feliilizer from pave- ment and sidewalks. Spraying the smface can push the feliil- izer into the storm sewer system. Adjust your spreading pattern so feliilizer is not going directly into the pond. Mulch your clippings back into the yard. Doing this consistently is equivalent to one application of feliilizer. Sweep leaves alld grass clippings off paved smfaces. Do not pile lawn clippings alld leaves where water running under them will enter the storm sewer/pond sys- tem. Wash your car on the lawn, not on the driveway. Collect allimal waste alld place in garbage. Create a natural buffer strip adjacent to water features on your property. The native vegeta- tion will filter the water leaving your lawn before it enters the pond. Information CalI be found by searching for buffer strip at http://www.extension.umn.edu/ Properly dispose of used house- hold chemicals through the City recycling day or at the County Hazardous Waste Facility, 3230 101 st Ave NE. Blaine. Incorporating these simple mea- sures in your lawn care progralll will improve the ,"vater quality in your lo- cal pond alld the waters downstream. Please encourage your neighbors alld friends to also try these practices. Please feel free to contact Leonard Linton at 763 433-9834 or llinton@ ci.ramsey.mn.us for more infol111a- tion. Attention Snowmobilers! Recreational vehicles may only be operated nOlih of the 16700 block in the city ofRalllsey. The city's recreational vehicle ordinance provides reasonable regula- tions for the operation of snowmo- biles, all-terrain vehicles, off-highway motorcycles and other recreational vehicles on public and private prop- erty within the city of Ramsey. Loading and unloading of snow- mobiles alld ATV's is available in the parking lots of Central and Elmcrest Parks to access the designated use area nOlih of the 16700 block. City ordinance also restricts the operation of recreational vehicles off of private propeliy between Novem- ber 1 and March 31, if there is not a minimum of six (6) inches of snow cover on the ground. A map of the designated-use area alld the Recreational Vehicle Ordinance are available on the city's website at www.ci.ralllsey.mn.us: and clicking on the link in the Frequently Accessed Information box, or by contacting the Ramsey Police Depali- ment at 763-427-6812. 6 www.ci.ramsey.mn.us