Agenda - Environmental Policy Board - 12/01/2014

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Anoka County is largely within the Anoka Sand Plain, a large expanse of permeable sandy soils interspersed with large wetland complexes. Many of the wetlands have been converted to sod and vegetable farms with the addition of extensive ditch systems. In the last twenty years, drained peatlands have given way to residential development. The dry sandy soils have low fertility and little water holding capacity and so are only suitable for a few crops. They are ideal for development however, requiring very little investment to be made suitable for roads and structures. As a result, the sandy uplands have been under heavy development pressure. The Anoka Sand Plain is also characterized by a high groundwater table, typically within three to eight feet of the surface. This high water table is due to a combination of shallow topography and highly permeable sandy soils. Wetlands form where groundwater levels are near or just above the surface. Areas where exposed groundwater is many feet deep result in a landscape dotted with shallow lakes. Many of the lakes are connected to each other with streams, creating chains of lakes. As shallow groundwater levels fluctuate so do the water levels in the lakes, streams and wetlands that dominate the landscape. The Anoka Sand Plain takes on regional importance when considering that it is widely considered to be the recharge area for many of the deeper aquifers that supply drinking water to communities throughout the Twin Cities Metro Area. Mismanagement of Anoka County's water resources will not only diminish the quality of life of every Anoka County resident, but also compromise the availability of abundant clean drinking water for the entire metropolitan area. Water Quality Water quality is among the most important resource concerns. Both surface water and groundwater quality are resource management priorities for ACD. Anoka County listed impaired waters are shown Figure 3. Waters may be listed as impaired for a number of reasons including nutrients, sediment, pathogens, biota, turbidity and heavy metals. Impairments in Anoka County span all of these categories. Streams/Rivers In Anoka County there are several streams and rivers that flow to the Mississippi River and one that flows to the St. Croix River. Rice Creek, Coon Creek, and the Rum River are the major water courses in Anoka County that flow to the Mississippi River, which Figure 3: Impaired Waters page 12 Anoka Conservation District Comprehensive ?014