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TO: <br /> <br />FROM: <br /> <br />DATE: <br /> <br />SUBJECT: <br /> <br />MEMOBANDUiM <br /> <br />Mayor & City Council <br /> <br />Rebecca Haug, Environmental TechniCian <br /> <br />July 12, 2004 <br /> <br />Nonpoint Education for Municipal Officials (NEMO) <br /> <br />Item 5.2. <br /> <br />When thinking of Minnesota, one;s thoughts naturally drift i toward sparkling blue lakes, verdant <br />forests, and gleaming fields of snow and what is described hs "The Good Life"; but more and <br />more, we are seeing our abundant natural resources being cbnsumed by the onslaught of <br />development. In the Twin Cities Metropolitan area it is estimated that there will be an additional <br />950,000 residents and 450,000 homes by 2030 and that is only in the seven county metro area! <br />The Twin Cities are not alone. We are seeing small communities throughout the State faced with <br />the same challenges. Development pressures are immense and the effects on our natural <br />resources and receiving waters are tremendous. <br /> <br />As part of the City's NPDES Permit, Jay Michels from the Minnesota Erosion Control <br />Association will be giving a brief presentation to you on July 12, 2004 on Project NEMO <br />(Nonpoint source pollution Education for Municipal Officihls) which is a nationally recognized <br />educational program for land use decision makers that addrbsses the relationship between land <br />use and natural resource protection. <br /> <br />The basic NEMO educational presentation - Linking Land Use to Water Quality - explains the <br />links between land use, water quality, and community character. Beyond the basics, Northland <br />NEMO works with the community through additional presdntations, materials, and guidance to <br />help move forward on the two major aspects of natural resource-based planning which are <br />planning for areas to be preserved, and planning for developed or developing areas. Northland <br />NEMO has had overwhelming interest in this program from the target audiences and the results <br />have been impressive. The program is already starting to see changes to local plans and <br />ordinances and requests for more follow up information. The momentum for NEMO is building <br />and, with the help of their partner organizations, Northland NEMO will help Minnesota protect <br />its natural resources while facing the pressures of development. <br /> <br /> <br />