Agenda - Environmental Policy Board - 03/02/2015

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Updated Storm Water Management Plan (SWMP) City of Ramsey, Minnesota The lake levels in Lake Itasca are historically variable, and have ranged from elevation 863.24 to elevation 871.9 with an average water level of 867.7. The DNR protects the lake to its Ordinary High Water Level of 871.4. To protect the properties around the lake, an emergency overflow should be established above the DNR protected level of 871.4. The overflow may be in the form of a pipe to the south or southeast, or it may be a new outfall to the Mississippi River. The storm water modeling performed for the area shows few opportunities for property damage associated with rainfall. Ponding areas having a potential for property damage are shown in red on Figures 104 through 23. The relatively low percentage of potential property damage is presumed to be attributed to the high permeability of the Anoka Sand Plain and proper storm sewer system design. Because of the pervious nature of the Anoka Sand Plain, the City should be cognizant of the impact that a significant increase in impervious surfacing and mass grading can have on runoff conditions. The addition of significant amounts of impervious surfaces and the reduced permeability associated with the soil compaction in mass grading without a reasonable attempt to restore and duplicate the current infiltration pattern could create significant increases in runoff volumes and downstream flooding. The City will review and modify its current development ordinances to encourage infiltration and require soil ripping of mass grading to compensate for lost infiltration conditions as well as requiring extended retention ponding to mitigate and compensate for increases in runoff. Innovative solutions to the storm water runoff volume increases associated with the increase in impervious surface will be investigated. Potential solutions include pervious pavements, rain gardens and infiltration basins among others. An integral part of this SWMP is the comprehensive storm water runoff modeling of the existing conditions throughout the entire City. This modeling will provide a baseline for comparison purposes as new developments change the drainage pattern. With this modeling information, City staff can readily review the cumulative impacts of large developments for effects on baseline conditions across the entire city. SSA software was used in the comprehensive modeling. This software is based on the industry accepted EPA SWMM process and St. Vennant equations. The model can be used to input actual rainfall events from rain gauges and can model the transport of pollutants through the system. This will be very useful in evaluating the BMP measures to address future TMDLs. The City received complaints about flooding in the 1980's. Staff reviewed the complaints and determined that several were solved by later construction of storm sewer systems as the City developed. The areas that were not solved are shown on the flooding area map. The City experienced high water levels in 2011 and 2014 caused by high snowfall over the winter and heavy spring rains. Staff logged the complaints received in each year. The lists were presented to the Public Works Committee for review. The 2011 complaints sorted into three (3) categories, clean existing drainage ways and structures, water ponding outside of existing easements, and water ponding in existing easements. The action where water was ponding in existing easements the action was homeowner education on the purpose of drainage and utility easements. The action where existing drainage was and structures needed cleaning was to add the work to the Public Works action list. The action where water was ponding outside of existing easements Section VI February 20, 2015March 6, 2015 Page 49