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City of Ramsey 2030 Comprehensive Plan Update Chapter 13: Environmental Protection/Resource Management The Critical Areas Act is a program to protect areas, which are of significant regional or statewide public value or interest. The program is designed to protect, preserve and enhance a unique and valuable resource; its biological and ecological functions; its natural, aesthetic, cultural and historical values; and its significance to the transportation, sewer and water and recreational systems for the benefit of the citizens of the state, region and nation. It is also to prevent and mitigate irreversible damage resulting from urbanization. The Mississippi River is designated as a State Critical Area through Ramsey. The Mississippi National River and Recreation Area Program is a program that furthers the intent of the Critical Areas Act by emphasizing the preservation and enhancement of the historical, scenic, recreational and cultural values of the Mississippi River Corridor. The program is designed to assist and coordinate from a national, regional and local level, activities and projects that emphasize such things as historic/cultural interpretation, public access or native vegetation restoration. The American Heritage Rivers Program is intended to improve access to federal expertise and resources for riverfront revitalization. The Mississippi River through the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area received designation as an American Heritage River in 1998. The City Forester and Recycling Coordinator are staff persons hired by the City to provide assistance to residents and business with tree care and recycling needs. The recycling program is funded through Anoka County Integrated Waste Management, while the City Forester is funded through the City. Citizen volunteer groups also contribute to tree preservation and recycling efforts. Monitoring of Public Wells. As a condition of the approval of Well #8, the latest municipal well to be constructed in the City of Ramsey, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the City of Ramsey began an initiative to monitor the effects of city wells on nearby wetlands and surface water. The purpose of this initiative was the result of concerns by the DNR of using a single aquifer that may result in depleting the resource and possibly lowering the water table. In addition, the City is studying the possibility of using surface water from the Mississippi River as a source for municipal water. Page 13-4 City of Ramsey 2030 Comprehensive Plan