8.1 PRSR 09-08-2021 - Laserfiche WebLink

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DRAFT FOR REVIEW ONLY Preserve Natural Amenities Elk River is home to a diverse variety of natural landscapes including forests, wetlands, oak savanna, prairies, agricul- tural lands, the Elk and Mississippi Rivers, and Lake Orono. These incredible natural assets add to the beauty of the community and provide residents and visitors countless recreation and leisure opportunities that add to the high quality of life in Elk River. Preserving these natural ameni- ties is crucial to ensure they are available for generations to come. Key to this will be a balanced approach to develop- ment that is respectful of the existing native landscapes in the community. Promote Conservation Design The City of Elk River has over 5,650 acres of wetlands. Wetland ecosystems have many benefits including naturally improving water quality, protecting against flood damage, promoting diversity of life, and providing a variety of food sources to support the food chain. The City should work to preserve its existing wetlands and natural amenities, include riparian buffers around them, as well as integrates them into proposed developments by promoting conservation design. Additional detail on how the City can encourage and incentivize conservation development is included in the Chapter 2 Housing Plan. Improve Water Quality The Elk River watershed spans 613 square miles. The watershed has suffered from high levels of pollutants in the past and has seen roughly 275 water improve ment projects since 1994. Better water quality has been recorded in both Lake Orono and Elk River over the last 10 years, but the water bodies still exceed the state level for safe bacteria. To mitigate pollutants in Elk Rivers waterways, the City should continue to implement its Stormwater Pollu- tion Prevention Plan (SWPPP) to reduce pollutant run off. In addition, the City should also continue to work with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to improve and monitor water quality in the Elk and Mississippi Rivers and Lake Orono to ensure they are safe for recreational use. Utilize Green Infrastructure The Elk River and Lake Orono are within the Lower Elk River subwatershed of the Mississippi watershed. Roughly 30% of land in this subwatershed is used for crops, nearly twice the area as the St. Cloud subwatershed. Run off from agricultural chemicals and feedlots into waterways has been proven to negatively impact the quality of water bodies and can impact whether they are safe to use as a recreational amenity. To further protect water quality, the City should utilize green infrastructure throughout the community. Green infrastructure helps to naturally retain and filter water as it drains into the ground and re-enters the watershed, these strategies help to keep pollutants from washing directly into waterways and include: • Native landscaping; • Grassed swales; • Infiltration basins; • Bioretention facilities; • Rain gardens; • Green roofs; • Soil amendments; • Fertilizer application control;, and • Non-chloride (road salt) snow and ice controls. Additional detail on these strategies is included in the Chapter 4 Infrastructure & Urban Service Area Plan. 114 Parks, Open Space & Natural Resources Plan • Elk River Comprehensive Plan