Review Lower Rum River Watershed Management Organization's Draft 4th Generation Plan

The Lower Rum River Watershed Management Organization (LRRWMO) has drafted their 4^th Generation Plan (their equivalent of a Comprehensive Plan) and distributed it for comments.  The 60-day comment period will end on July 27, 2021.  Any requested revisions must be submitted to the LRRWMO before the aforementioned deadline.  This will be the Environmental Policy Board's (EPB) only opportunity to provide advisory comments on the draft 4th Generation Plan (the "Plan").  The LRRWMO 4th Generation Plan will also be forwarded to City Council for consideration and for formal direction to submit any advisory comments to the LRRWMO.

After reviewing the Plan, it does not appear that it will trigger any necessary amendments to the City's local controls (ordinances).  Attached to this case are Staff's comments and recommended revisions.  Most recommended revisions are grammatical in nature and do not have any substantial impact on the Plan itself.  However, of note is the classification of three (3) lakes within Ramsey's jurisdiction.  Rogers Lake, Grass (Sunfish) Lake, and Jeglens Marsh are categorized in the Plan as Natural Environment, which has the most stringent setback requirements in the Shoreland Overlay District.  But, as of 2019, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources categorized all three (3) basins/lakes as Recreational Development, which is also consistent with their classification in City Code Section 117-224.

The Plan acknowledges that Ramsey completed a wetland assessment utilizing the Minnesota Routine Assessment Method (MnRAM 3.0) in the mid-2000s.  Staff is seeking clarification as to whether that's still valid as the Plan states that wetland assessments conducted presently need to be done so using MnRAM version 3.2 (or current version).  There is no intention of updating the wetland assessment, Staff just wants to verify that our data, produced using MnRAM version 3.0, is still valid.

 

This case is being handled as part of Staff's regular duties.

Based on discussion.  However, ultimately, Staff would like a motion to forward all comments on the Plan to City Council for consideration.