Agenda - Environmental Policy Board - 12/01/2014

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Environmental Policy Board (EPB) 5. 2. Meeting Date: 12/01/2014 By: Chris Anderson, Community Development Information Title: Review and Recommend a Response to the Anoka Conservation District's Draft 2015-2019 Comprehensive Plan Purpose/Background: Soil and Water Conservation Districts are required to prepare Comprehensive Plans in accordance with the requirements of the Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR). The Anoka Conservation District (ACD), whose primary purpose is to address natural resource management challenges within the county, has prepared a draft 2015-2019 Comprehensive Plan for comment/feedback. The ACD also compiles annual work plans geared toward addressing the priorities outlined in their Comprehensive Plan. The purpose of this case is to draft a response to the ACD's Draft 2015-2019 Comprehensive Plan. Notification: Notification is not required. Observations/Alternatives: The purpose of the document is to provide the ACD with an overall framework for natural resource management priorities within the county. It does not appear that this draft document establishes any new mandates for Ramsey. Rather, it reviews the existing condition of resources, existing management efforts, measures that have been effective and areas where improvement is needed, and identifies project priorities, strategies, and future programs to manage and/or enhance the natural resources within the county. The draft 2015-2019 Comprehensive Plan also identifies emerging issues that will likely create greater challenges in managing natural resources within the county. Groundwater supply (and quality), invasive species, declining pollinator populations, and habitat loss and fragmentation are key issues that likely will be exacerbated as development begins to rise. The draft Comprehensive Plan acknowledges these (and others) emerging issues and stipulates that the ACD will continue to consider these concerns throughout the natural resource management process. The draft response is attached for review and can be generally summarized as follows: 1. Supports the notion of incorporating or considering the emerging issues throughout the natural resource management process. 2. Recommends designating a water quality monitoring site along the Ford Brook, which is a tributary of the Rum River, the ACD's highest priority watershed. 3. Concerned with the potential drawdown effect on our lakes/wetlands and the desire to be regularly updated regarding potential strategies being considered and/or developed by the Metropolitan Water Supply Advisory Committee. 4. Recommends that the riverbank inventory that was completed in 2012 along the Mississippi River be extended west beyond the Coon Rapids Dam pool to the western boundary of the county. 5. Recognizes and supports their focus on education while encouraging the ACD to promote these educational opportunities and services more so that Ramsey (and other municipalities) can take advantage of them. City Staff will also be soliciting comments from the Planning Commission on the ACD's draft 2015-2019 Comprehensive Plan at their regular December meeting before forwarding the response to City Council for consideration.