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STUDY TO FOCUS ON MPLS AND VICTORIA POSSIBILITIES OF CHANGES FOR DEVELOPERS Leslie Yetka, Education Manager for the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District, spoke to councilmembers on March 12th. She informed them that two communities in the MCWD have been chosen for study: Minneapolis and Victoria. Intent of the study, she said, is "to develop a framework for communities" to deal with extreme weather events that cause flooding, for example. The study will provide information for communities who choose to develop a framework. She spoke of it as an adaptation study that is just getting underway and is expected to be completed by August 2013. "The study will take a look at precipitation patterns and land use changes," she said. "Such changes have an impact on how infrastructure handles things. It will look at extreme events." Ms. Yetka referred to a 15-inch rainfall on an August day in 2007. "There is always the possibility of flooding," she said. "Is the existing stormwater infrastructure adequate?" She said the study will focus on two cities -- Minneapolis and Victoria. "Minneapolis, a city of little development and growth, has an aging infrastructure, whereas Victoria is a growing community with development plans and a lot of open space." It has been shown, she said, that in Minneapolis, 30% of the pipe work in the Lake Hiawatha Pipeshed is undersized by current standards. She said that Victoria must look at changes in land cover, that the volume of rain/water runoff is increased by impervious surfaces. Ms. Yetka said there are three options, three responses to the possibility of extreme weather events like flooding or drought: 1) Do nothing, 2) Increase pipe size, 3) Rain gardens and infiltration basins. She pointed out that increasing pipe size in Minneapolis could mean digging up streets and land to get at the infrastructure. Increasing pipe size in Victoria would mean new standards for new developments. *** Councilmember Kim Roden asked, "What does the city tell a developer? What is the message?" Replied Ms. Yetka, "They are required to develop under current standards. They are going to be changing. There will be new stormwater design standards for the future." "What are the downsides if we don't plan?" asked Councilmember Roden. "I know in Minneapolis, it's sewage overflow. What are the risks for us? There are short term and long term risks, and we could do a better job of identifying them." Said Ms. Yetka, "It could impact development plans in Victoria." Councilmember Tom Strigel asked why Victoria was chosen as one of the two communities for study along with Minneapolis. Replied Ms. Yetka, "Because they are two basically different kettles of fish. Victoria is a nice contrast to an ultra urban area. We have a good working relationship with Victoria. We have good information regarding your infrastructure. The University is researching more information on your infrastructure which will also benefit you." Councilmember Jim Crowley asked how data is acquired in order to act upon it. Over a hundred years, or a thousand years, the compiled data is not large, he said. Replied Ms. Yetka, "We've had more frequent rain events, and more frequent droughts. Information will be changing based on oceanological data." Stated Councilmember Tom O'Connor, "It seems there's a burden on you and similar studies to support your data." Said Councilmember Jim Crowley, "I don't see enough data to act either way." He said there is risk in both acting or not acting. It was pointed out that by Leslie Yetka that "this is designed to increase awareness." She explained that funding for the study is through the Climate Program Office of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. She said the primary "investigators" are Syntectic International and Antioch University New England. She said the University of Minnesota is working under a contract with the investigators to complete the stormwater modeling for the project. "Likewise, the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District is working as a project manager to complete the education and outreach portion of the project," she explained. She said the MCWD is hosting a kickoff forum on Tuesday, May 15th, at the St. Louis Park Rec Center from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. After that, workgroups will be formed, including volunteer participants, with a second forum to be held in early 2013. Results of the study will then be brought directly to communities, who can use the information as a framework for stormwater adaptation planning as they deem necessary. Although only Minneapolis and Victoria were chosen for the study, information derived from the study can be applied to all local communities in the metro region.
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April 2012 |
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