6.2 at 1 Camp Cozy Park_NRMP_2023

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38 Friends of the Mississippi River Camp Cozy Park NRMP The floodplain and terrace forests surrounding the property act as natural buffers for the waterways, and these wetlands also buffer the river from activities in the upland areas. Future park improvements must be designed so that these buffers are protected from degradation, and plans must comply with local wetland protection rules regarding the increase of impervious surfaces and the location of trails within wetland buffers. Stormwater Management Issues The property is not highly affected by runoff from adjacent properties. Most runoff from adjacent land use flows into the Elk River before it can reach Camp Cozy. Natural flooding of the floodplain and terrace forest within the property can and does occur. However, there are also residential properties north and east of the park that supply some runoff to the site. These properties are mostly located at a similar elevation to the park, but runoff from roads and driveways could conceivably flow onto the property. It could be conceived that these vintage properties might be redeveloped in the future given their proximity to the river. As such, stormwater runoff if impervious surfaces increase on these parcels, will impact Camp Cozy. The paving of some trails with Camp Cozy has been contemplated by Elk River Parks and Recreation staff. If trails were paved, these impervious surfaces would decrease infiltration within the site. Wetlands According to the National Wetland Inventory (NWI) Cowardin Classification of the property, Camp Cozy contains predominantly freshwater forested wetland (20.1 acres) which is connected to a 54-acre hardwood floodplain along the Elk River. This floodplain is bounded by a riverine, non-vegetated aquatic community (Open Water), where the Elk River flows (Figure 15).