Agenda - Planning Commission - 03/06/2014

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are the foundation for growth and vitality in the region, and we must care for these resources wisely and sustainably in order to prosper. Sustaining the quality of our region's water bodies is necessary to support the livability of the region and continued natural habitat function. Effective stewardship of our water resources cannot be accomplished through parkland protection alone. As a region, we also need to manage our use of our aquifers for water supply and our region's land use patterns. Land use patterns can impact the quality of both our surface and ground water bodies, both through the quantity of stormwater generated from development entering those water bodies, and pollutants that are contained in that stormwater (non -point source pollution). Land use patterns that integrate natural areas into development at the site level add to livability and help to avoid costly projects needed to alleviate environmental impacts of development, such as infrastructure to Lakes, RNers an6 Perennial Streams f assist in the management of stormwater. We°ands i r Protecting natural areas can help to j: 1 recharge the region's aquifers for water c �, supply, filter and slow stormwater runoff, j' and reduce flood damage. Surface Waters Water resources have shaped the region's growth and development, as evidenced by the locations of the region's two major downtowns in Minneapolis and St. Paul to the cities that developed around Lake Minnetonka and White Bear Lake. Our region's waters have also been recognized not only for their beauty and recreational value, but also for sustaining life and economic activities. Figure 5. Rivers, Lakes, and Wetlands Some of our resources are protected as parks and public lands by all levels of government from federal to local. Vadnais-Snail Lakes Regional Park, Carlos Avery Wildlife Management Area, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Louisville Swamp are just a few examples of how various public entities have protected some of our surface waters. The St. Croix River, considered one of the most pristine riverways in the nation, is a federally designated National Scenic Riverway with management coordinated among local governments, the National Park Service, and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. The Mississippi River is a state designated Critical Area15 and federally designated National River and Recreation Area, with its protection and preservation coordinated among the local governments, the Department of Natural 15 Executive Order No. 79-19 designated the Mississippi River Corridor as a Critical Area in 1979. The Mississippi National River and Recreational Area (MNRRA) was established by Congress as a unit of the National Park Service in 1988. In 1991, Minn. Stat. 116G.15 designates the MNRRA corridor as a state critical area in the Critical Areas Act. DRAFT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT Last revised: February 21, 2014 70