Houlton Farm Planning Committee Meeting 2016-02-02

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District (SWCD) staff evaluated the extent of the issue, and determined that full erosion control would be a large scale process, though there would be no guarantee that efforts would be successful on a river of this size. After re -grading the slope, rip -rap or gabiens would likely be necessary to avoid any under -cutting of stabilization efforts, making for a less natural shoreline. For now, fixing any outwash areas should be the top erosion priority. Stormwater Management Issues The property is not very affected by runoff from adjacent properties. The Orono dam largely controls the flow of the Elk River along the north and east sides a property, while the Mississippi borders the property to the south. Thus, most r o . om adjacent land use flows into those two rivers before it can reach the Conse Area. Natural flooding of the property can and does occur, especially on the p land, and to the south and east sides of the property. However, there are also entia perties on the north and west sides that supply some runoff to the site. p operties os ly located at a higher elevation than the farm, and rAroads and drivew Qulci conceivably flow onto the property. However, thelow-1 marshyare hatruns along the base of the hill that serves as a cat( ltr rea for this water. This small area, full of cattails and other marshy speci protection for the rest of the site. Currently, runoff from the farm field has created som wash areas along the south side of the property. Revegetating the retain water and prevent runoff from Land use around the urban development I the north and south, the north and j� Elk River li o the n-1 mix of red&ntial and H. native pecies will help to z the rive ACENTMND USE Area is dominated by residential and d Mississippi Rivers border the property to urban land use begins on the other side of the rivers. To I i borhoods, while the historic district of the city of oft . operty. Across the Mississippi River to the south is a ural se. Within the Mississippi River to the south are high quality70 islands, wflr are part of the Mississippi Islands SNA. The Elk and Mississippi__ s run thrJFgh rural and agricultural land to the west and north (upstream from the site), until theyach the outskirts of Elk River, where they begin to pass through more residential and: OF urban landscapes. This means that urban and residential runoff, agricultural 46 trient loading, pollutants, and warm water from streets, roads, parking lots, buildings, etc., all affect these waters before they arrive at the site. East of the property, the Elk and Mississippi Rivers combine and turn southward, flowing southeast through a more urban landscape and eventually reaching the Twin Cities metro area. Friends of the Mississippi 30 W. H. Houlton Conservation Area NRW