PUBLIC HEARING:
ATTACHMENT 5.0
AGENDA ITEM: MWMO 2013 Plan Amendment
Presenter: Open for Public’s Comments
Flexibility:
 Yes
 No
 30 Min.
 45 Min.  1 Hour
 Budget Change
 Other
Requested Meeting Date:
March 12, 2013
Estimated Time:
 Consent Agenda
 10 Min.
 15 Min.
Board Action:
 Information/Review
 Motion to approve
DRAFT MOTION: Please word the motion below as you would like it to appear in the minutes.
A motion is not required. However, if there are significant issues that arise at the public hearing the Board may want
to set a timeline for staff to resolve the issues and report back to the Board before proceeding with the 90 day review.
ACTION TAKEN:
Date of Action:
Comments:
 Approved as Requested
 Denied
 Tabled
 Accepted Report
 Other
BACKGROUND (Attach Supporting Documents as needed)
Comments submitted on the plan’s 60 day draft language and Capital Improvement Schedule have resulted in no
further changes to the 2013 plan amendment. 60 day comments submitted by the Anoka Conservation District are
either addressed in our current plan or they will be addressed in a more extensive 2014 amendment to the MWMO’s
planned programmatic activities as they related to the cities of Fridley, Columbia Heights and Hilltop.
The March 12th public hearing is an opportunity for the public to present or submit comments on the Capital
Improvement Schedule. The public hearing is the final deadline for cities, counties and residents to submit comments
on this General Amendment affecting the MWMO’s Capital Improvement Schedule. Following the public hearing,
the MWMO will generate a record of all comments submitted or presented and proceed with a final 90 day BWSR
and agency review. Given there were no changes requested by agencies during the 60 day review period we have
requested the 90 day review be expedited so the amendment can be approved at the MWMO’s May 14 Board
meeting. The following pages include the comments submitted during the 60 day review and the MWMO’s response
to those comments as well as a strikeout underline version of changes to be made.
MWMO Board Meeting
Document1
12 March 2013
Request For Board Action
Attachment 5.0
Date:
February 19, 2013
To:
Public Record
From:
Mississippi Watershed Management Organization
Re:
60-day Review of the MWMO’s 2013 Plan Amendment: Comments and Responses on the Plan’s Introduction, Legal Boundary Map, and Capital Improvement Schedule
Comment #
1
2
Organization
Anoka
Conservation
District
Anoka
Conservation
District
MWMO Board Meeting
Document1
Comment
We encourage completion of stormwater retrofit
assessments to guide the CIP in the future. It sounds
like you are already working with Nate Zwonitzer at
our office toward that end. If this work is imminent,
it would be useful to include it in your Watershed
Plan, as well as implementation of projects identified.
Mention should include high priority receiving waters
around which the stormwater assessments will focus.
Please consider Sullivan/Sandy Lake in Columbia
Heights as one priority area for a stormwater retrofit
assessment or water quality projects. It has poor
water quality. This waterbody receives stormwater
runoff, and in many ways serves as a stormwater
treatment basin. On the other hand, it also serves
recreational and aesthetic uses. The lake is
circumscribed by public walking trails and a park
which are valued by the residents. Discharge from
this pond is to the Mississippi River.
12 March 2013
MWMO Response
The current plan authorizes these studies throughout the MWMO:
Page 139; WQ1.G1. S1:
Action 2 Quantify each subwatershed contribution to pollutant loading.
Action 4 Model water quality in the MWMO.
Page 140; WQ1.G2.S1:
Action 3 Implement practices that improve habitat structure and
ecosystem function
Page 162; USM1.G1.S2:
Action 3 Provide feasibility, planning and design services for creating
new or retro fitting existing multifunctional corridors
This 2013 amendment is primarily to add the cities of Fridley, Columbia
Heights and Hilltop to our legal boundary; recognize their standing on
our Board and integrate their projects into the MWMO’s Capital
improvement schedule. Your comments will be addressed as a part of a
more extensive 2014 amendment to update the MWMO’s programmatic
activities as they related to the cities of Fridley, Columbia Heights and
Hilltop as well as update all other written sections of the plan to include
our new members.
Request for Board Action
Page 2
Request For Board Action
3
Anoka
Conservation
District
4
Anoka
Conservation
District
5
Board of Water
and Soil
Resources
MWMO Board Meeting
Document1
Attachment 5.0
We encourage incorporation of a water monitoring
plan for the new areas of Fridley, Columbia Heights,
and Hilltop. The number of waterbodies is relatively
small, so the extent of lake and stream monitoring
would not likely be large. Yet it is important.
Table 19 does not indicate the year the new projects
will take place. It would be a helpful addition
Same as above.
Board of Water and Soil Resources staff have
completed review of the 60-day draft plan
amendment to add new capital improvement projects
to the implementation section and address the newly
added areas to MWMO from the dissolved Six Cities
WMO. We believe the amendment is compliant with
rule and statute and have no comments. We
commend the Commission for maintaining a current
watershed management plan and being responsive to
the expanded WMO area.
OK
12 March 2013
What is in the plan is the best information we have to date. General
start and end dates are what we have at this time; final timelines are
established prior to projects advancing into the MWMO’s annual
budget. Projects must be completed within three years, once they are in
the MWMO’s budget.
Request for Board Action
Page 3
Request For Board Action
6
The
Metropolitan
Council
Attachment 5.0
The Metropolitan Council (Council) has completed its
review of the proposed major plan amendment to the
Mississippi Watershed Management Organization’s
Watershed Management Plan. The plan is consistent
with Council policies and the Council’s Water
Resources Management Policy Plan.
OK
7
MPCA
The amendment addresses the addition of areas in
Fridley, Hilltop, and Columbia Heights that were
formerly in the Six Cities Watershed Management
Organization. The plan’s Introduction, Legal
Boundary Map, and Capital Improvement Schedule
have been updated to reflect the changes. The
Council commends the MWMO for promptly adding
projects to address water resource issues in the new
areas.
No comments on the amendments proposed.
8
Rice Creek WD
No comments on the amendments proposed.
OK
9
The City of
Saint Paul
The City of
Lauderdale
The City of
Minneapolis
No comments on the amendments proposed.
OK
No comments on the amendments proposed.
OK
No comments on the amendments proposed.
OK
Minnesota
Department of
Agriculture
No comments on the amendments proposed.
OK
11
12
13
MWMO Board Meeting
Document1
12 March 2013
OK
Request for Board Action
Page 4