EC Sum 2011 12 14 Chanhassen Environmental Commission (EC)
Regular Meeting
December 14, 2011
Members Present: Denny Hansen, Amy Wenner, Glenn Kaufmann, David Christianson, Katie Mahannah,
Robert Kircher, Matthew Myers
Members Absent: none
Staff Present: Jill Sinclair, Environmental Resources Specialist; Terry Jeffery, Water Resources Coordinator
Guests Present: none
Minutes: November minutes were approved.
Chanhassen Surface Water Management Plan Overview:
Terry Jeffery presented an overview of the plan and the city's endeavors at surface water management.
Highlights of the presentation:
• Terry explained the main rules and regulations for the State and Federal levels. These include the
Wetland Conservation Act,NPDES, Clean Water Act, etc.
• The Watershed District Authority was created in 1955 which provided the means to create watershed
districts.
• There are 2 types of water management administrations: Watershed Districts and Watershed
Management Organizations. The former covers a specific watershed area; the latter can be organized by
watershed district,joint powers agreement or by county governance.
• Surface water rules began in 1990 with Met Council's approval of 473-157 Act for `target pollution
loads' for metro watersheds.
• Water management plans must plan for a minimum of 5 years,but no more than 10 years.
• Chanhassen's first SWM plan was completed in 1994. The 2nd generation plan in 2006 and it will need to
be revised again in 2016.
• All municipalities have to incorporate all watershed district rules into their own plans. If a city fails to do
so, then jurisdiction falls back to the watershed.
• A watershed district can choose whether or not to have rules. The Lower Minnesota and Riley-Purgatory
do not have rules.
• NPDES standards endorse a /z" abstraction for rainfall,but the state allows flexibility. Each WD may be
more or less stringent. Carver WMO calls for 1/2" abstraction; Minnehaha requires 1"; Scott Co WMO
requires pre-development abstraction.
• The deadline to adopt or amend a plan is two years from the time a plan is adopted by a WD.
• The city is restricted in how it can meet the goals of its plan due to limited control of property (only right-
of-way) and costs.
• During the street reconstruction in Minnewashta Heights in 2012, the city will be including rain gardens,
iron filings/sand filtration basin and diverting water from one side of the neighborhood to the other.
• The watersheds around Lotus and Minnewashta Lakes are a priority since they were mostly developed
prior to the NURP standards and therefore lack adequate capacity to deal with surface water.
• As part of the MS4 permit, the city is required to look at all water bodies for non-degradation. The anti-
degradation rules attempt to figure out how to avoid pollutants from entering the watershed. Cities have
to show how they can return to pre-1988/1990 levels.
• The city's next step is to update SWPPP.
• 305B and 303D—Clean Water Act—Impaired Waters. Lotus, Riley, Susan—impaired for total nitrogen
and phosphorous. Bluff Creek is impaired for sediment/turbidity and fish IBI(indices of biological
integrity).
David wondered if an abstract summary of SWMP could be developed to pull out the priorities in order to use
it as a quick reference internally. Maybe make a checklist.
Amy asked if the commission could utilize the information presented somehow to assist the city with its plan
and goals. Terry said there was an educational component to the MS4 permit and the commission could assist
with that. Terry would like to have a work session with the commission to develop ideas for public
education. Currently the city has a memorandum of understanding with Carver County to do education for
Chanhassen. He thinks shoreland management would be a great topic to start with. Additionally, the
commission could review the minimum control measures and suggest further inclusions. A request was made
for tonight's PowerPoint to be provided to the commission for future reference.
General Discussion:
• Bob reminded the commission that next month the Surface Water and Forestry sections of the
sustainability plan will be reviewed and to come prepared to discuss the 2012 work plan.
The next meeting will be held Wednesday, January 11 at 6:00pm.
Meeting adjourned at approximately 7:50 PM.
Minutes prepared by Jill Sinclair