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Appendix B-2: Priority Lakes List The Council's roles in managing the sustainability of the region's lakes can be summarized by the following points: • Work to maintain and improve the quality and availability of the region's water resources to support habitat and ecosystem health while providing for recreational opportunities, all of which are critical elements of our region's quality of life. • Collaborate and convene with state, regional, and local partners to protect, maintain, and enhance natural resources protection and the protection of the quality and quantity of the region's water resources and water supply. Need for a Priority Lakes List The Council performs a variety of specific roles in the management of the region's water resources, in partnership with watershed management organizations, local units of government, state and federal agencies, and other partners. Given that there 950 lakes in the Twin Cities metro area, the Council developed a Priority Lakes List in 2003 to focus its limited resources toward managing the sustainability of the region's lakes. These roles include: • Plan and implement the MCES lake -monitoring activities as conducted by MCES staff. (Note that the MCES Citizen -Assisted Monitoring Program enrolls lakes that are outside the priority lakes list, in addition to lakes that are on the list.) • Perform lake assessments. • Provide monitoring data and lake assessment information so local partners can make effective management and planning decisions. • Promote protection of priority lakes by promoting effective surface water management by: - Asking local units of government to adopt local land uses and planning strategies to protect natural resources and minimize development impacts. - Reviewing local comprehensive plans, watershed management plans, local surface water management plans, environmental permits, water supply plans, local stormwater ordinances, and other environmental documents to ensure that local units of government are fulfilling their nonpoint-source reduction requirements. - Providing direction, guidance, and technical assistance on BM Ps for stormwater management and land use strategies. • Strengthen protection of priority lakes by promoting wise use of water through a sustainable balance of surface water and groundwater use, conservation, reuse, aquifer recharge, and other practices. • Work in conjunction with the MPCA to develop TMDLs that reduce the effects of nonpoint-source pollution on the region's lakes. • Assist in the environmental review process to determine which lakes need to have a nutrient budget analysis completed if a lake is affected by a proposed project. 65