Agenda - Council - 05/27/2003 - Laserfiche WebLink

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I I I I I I I I I I I I ! I I I I I MINNESOTA I lllt DE?ARTMENToF HEALTH Protectinga maintaining and improving the health of all Minnesotans 2003 May 16, 2003 Mr. Patrick Trudgeon City of Ramsey 15153 Nowthen Boulevard Northwest Ramsey, Minnesota 55303 Dear Mr. Tmdgeon: Subject: Ramse¥ Town Center AUAR Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) staff have reviewed the dram AUAR document (dated April 8, 2003) prepared for the proposed Ramsey Town Center (RTC). Our review focused primarily on aspects of the document relating to the proposed expansion of the City of Ramsey's water supply system as a result of the RTC project. I understand that the comments contained herein have missed the end of the official comment period, but submit them in the hope that they may be of some value anyway. The wells used as a source of supply by the City of Ramsey's water supply system are completed in the Franconia-Ironton~Galesville (FIG) Aquifer system. Local indicators (as discussed in the AUAR, especially in Appendix F) are that the capacity of the FIG in the Ramsey area is sufficient to handle the existing and anticipated future withdrawals, with limited effects on the overlying materials. I am not sure. if the observations made in the report are due to a higher inherent transmissivity, greater natural and pumping-induced recharge, or some combination of these factors, than is obse~ed for the FIG elsewhere, but I would point out that the properties of the FIG are somewhat variable in the Metropolitan Area. Therefore, I would encourage the City to make itself aware of ongoing research being conducted by the Minnesota Geological Survey and the Metropolitan Council on the FIG and its water supply potential in the northwestern part of the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area (Chris Elvrum at the Met Council, 651-602-1066). Understanding the system dynamics of the FIG locally and regionally will help the City respond to (and perhaps avoid) complaints about its municipal pumping interfering with other local resources such as private wells and surface water bodies. Along these lines I would encourage the recommendation made on pages 13-7' and 13-8 (as well as in Appendix F) that one or more nests of monitoring wells be placed in the area around the well field to monitor water level changes in the glacial materials over time. I might also suggest that, if these wells were to be placed, a pumping test could be performed using one of the city's General Information: (651) 215-5800 · TDD/TTY: (651) 215-8980 · Minnesota Relay Service: (800) 627-3529 · www. health.state.mn.us For directions to any of the MDH locations, call (651) 215-5800 · An equal opportunity employer -205-