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Minnesota Pollution Control A ency <br /> <br />July 31, 1998 <br /> <br />Mr. Stephen Rohlf <br />City of Elk River <br />13065 Orono Parkway <br />Post Office Box 490 <br />Elk River, Minnesota 55330-0490 <br /> <br />Re: Trott Brook Farm Planned Residential Development Environmental Assessment Worksheet <br /> <br />Dear Mr. Rohlf: <br /> <br />The Trott Brook Farm Planned Residential Development Environmental Assessment Worksheet <br />(EAW) has been reviewed by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). The proposal <br />involves development of 361 acres of land into a residential housing subdivision. The MPCA <br />offers the following comments for your consideration. <br /> <br />Item 11. Fish, Wildlife and Sensitive Resources <br /> <br />This site appears to be rich with biological diversity and appear'~ vulnerable to habitat <br />fragmentation and water quality degradation. From the map provided in the EAW, it appears <br />that a number of the lots are immediately adjacent to wetlands and storm water ponds. It is not <br />clear whether there are any easements between the lot line and the edge of the wetlands and <br />ponds. This concerns us from a number of standpoints. First, if homeowners improperly apply <br />lawn chemicals to their yards, wetland vegetation and biota could suffer from chemical runoff or <br />drift. In addition, some property owners may attempt to "beautify" their backyards by removing <br />vegetation and habitat at the wetland edge. If the city has not already done so, we recommend <br />that it create a permanent easement between homes and wetlands, providing protection to these <br />important ecosystems. <br /> <br />Item 16 Soils <br /> <br />How suitable are these soils for building? Are any soils on the site particularly susceptible to <br />settling? It appears that the homes adjacent to wetlands and ponds could experience water <br />problems during wet years. Does the city of Elk River have setback requirements governing <br />construction of homes adjacent to storm water ponds and naturally occurring wetlands? <br /> <br />Item 18 Surface Water Runoff <br /> <br />What pollutant removal efficiencies are expected in the storm water ponds? The document states <br />that "site runoff from the development will have a minimal effect on the water quality of the <br />wetlands and Trott Brook." What information is available to substantiate this claim? <br /> <br />520 Lafayette Rd. N.; St. Paul, MN 55155-4194; (612) 296-6300 (Voice); (612) 282-5332 (TTY) <br />Regional Offices: Duluth · Brainerd · Detroit Lakes · Marshall · Rochester <br /> <br />Equal Opportunity Employer · Pdnted on recycled paper containing at least 20% fibers from paper recycled by consumers. <br /> <br /> <br />