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15. Water Surface Use <br />Will the project change the number or type of watercraft on any water body? Yes <br />X No <br />If yes, indicate the current and projected watercraft usage and discuss any potential <br />overcrowding or conflicts with other uses. <br />This item need only be addressed if the AUAR area would include or adjoin <br />recreational water bodies. <br />Within the site, there are no water bodies where watercrafts are operated. The nearest <br />recreational water bodies are Lake Itasca to the northwest and the Mississippi River to the <br />south. There is no public water access on Lake Itasca and surface water use is limited to <br />surrounding residents use. The nearest public water access on the Mississippi River is <br />approximately two and a half miles to the northwest in the city of Dayton. According to <br />the Anoka County Parks Department, travel by boat upstream of Anoka is very difficult <br />because of shallow water and numerous sandbars. However, development of Mississippi <br />Regional Park (MRP) may increase watercraft in the area as boaters with small motors or <br />non -motorized boats make their way to the Park. There is not a landing facility proposed <br />in the latest MRP development plan, but casual landing anywhere in the Park can be <br />expected. Also, the availability of parking stalls in the new park will surely add to the <br />ability of canoe and kayak users to more easily access the River. Limited small engine <br />boat use and non -motorized watercraft are not expected to adversely impact the <br />Mississippi River near the MRP. <br />Summary of Environmental Impact. None are expected. <br />Mitig4on element - Adverse environmental impacts associated with increased small <br />motor and non -motorized boats is not anticipated along the Mississippi River south of the <br />Ramsey Town Center site. In fact, the new Mississippi Regional Park hopes to attract <br />visitors to this portion of the upper River. The use of the park as a formal recreational <br />facility will focus river -related uses to planned areas, and provide resource oversight and <br />supervision of recreational activities. <br />15-1 <br />