6.b II Water_Resources
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IV. WATER RESOURCES
Water Resource Goals and Policies
Goal: Preserve and protect the quantity and quality of surface water and groundwater.
Policies:
Work cooperatively with all State and Federal agencies to comply with and enforce
regulations and standards such as Shoreland Management Regulations, Erosion and
Sediment Control Standards, Floodplain Regulations, and Stormwater
management.
Identify sensitive groundwater recharge areas and groundwater dependent natural
resources to guide development and land use to minimize potential contamination
and incompatible uses.
Require developers to restore the ability of soils to absorb, retain, and infiltrate
water following site development.
Goal: Improve stormwater management and land stewardship practices.
Policies:
Provide educational resources and materials to residents and businesses regarding
water quality, stormwater runoff, best management practices, and impaired waters.
Incorporate low-impact techniques and best management practices on City owned
property.
Goal: Protect the natural and scenic resources of the St. Croix River Corridor, both within and
adjacent to the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway.
Policies:
Work cooperatively with the National Park Service, Department of Natural
Resources, and Carnelian Marine St. Croix Watershed District and adopt their
Local Water Management Plans.
Goal: Ensure financial and environmental accountability for installation, maintenance,
remediation, and management of any permitted private wastewater system.
Policies:
In cooperation with Washington County, enforce strict conformance with
regulations for the design, installation, and maintenance of on-site treatment
systems including minimum design, licensing, and installation requirements of the
Minnesota Rules Chapter 7080.
Surface Water
1. Background
The City completed its Surface Water Management Plan (SWMP) and it was adopted in
(DATE PENDING). The plan serves as a comprehensive planning document to guide the
City in conserving, protecting and managing its surface water resources. The plan was
developed to meet the requirements of Minnesota Statutes 103B and Minnesota Rules 8410,
to be consistent with the goals and policies of the Metropolitan Council’s Water Resources
Management Policy Plan, and the goals and policies of the three watershed management
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organizations that have jurisdiction within the City. The plan and its amendments will be by
the City as an element of this Comprehensive Plan.
The SWMP includes a detailed description of the City’s natural resources, including water
resources, past studies and inventories, and current surface water management. An
assessment of the existing and potential water resource and stormwater related concerns
within the City and associated corrective actions are provided. The SWMP also includes
goals and policies to address the long-term surface water management needs in the City, and
outlines the regulations, standards, practices, projects and funding that will be needed to
implement the goals and policies.
The lakes and other critical environmental features in Scandia are one of the reasons the city
is an attractive place to live. However, residential development on and near these lakes can
impact the water quality and wildlife habitat if not properly managed. One of the primary
concerns is the impact of impervious surfaces on water quality. In order to protect lakes from
the negative impacts of development, federal, state and local authorities have established
rules that protect natural resources against the impacts of development. The City of Scandia
is generally subject to the following regulatory authority and strategic plans.
City of Scandia 2040 Comprehensive Plan
City of Scandia Ordinances
Carnelian Marine-St. Croix Watershed District, Watershed Management Plan, amended
2015
Comfort Lake-Forest Lake Watershed District, Watershed Management Plan, 2012-2021
Rice Creek Watershed District, 2010 Watershed Management Plan, updates in 2018/2019
City of Scandia Comprehensive Plan Update, 2018
City of Scandia Development Code, 2011
City of Scandia, Shoreland Management Regulations, 2007
Washington County Groundwater Plan, 2014
Washington County Model Groundwater Rules, 2004
North and East Metro Groundwater Management Area Plan, 2015
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources North & East Metro Groundwater, 2015
Management Area Plan
2. Watershed Management Organizations
Scandia is located in three watershed districts: Carnelian Marine-St. Croix, Comfort Lake-
Forest Lake, and Rice Creek. This section briefly describes the most recent local water
management plan for each of the three watershed districts within the City of Scandia,
followed by a comparison of the goals, objectives and policies of each plan. Management
districts and subwatersheds are also noted. Subwatershed plans provide more geographic
and issue specific management within the larger watershed.
Carnelian Marine-St. Croix Watershed District, Watershed Management Plan, 2015
About 78% of the City of Scandia falls within the CMSCWD, encompassing the whole
eastern and southern halves of the city. The Carnelian Marine-St. Croix Watershed
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District’s (CMSCWD) most recent watershed management plan was created in 2011 and
was amended in 2015 to better address invasive species and groundwater quality. The plan
contains the goals, policies and management plans of the CMSCWD and guides the
watershed’s activities until 2020. CMSCWD also developed individual lake and stream
plans for all waterbodies in the District.
The plan includes a Focused Watershed Management process based on three levels of
activity:
Routine Watershed Management for the non-impaired water resources of the
District—these are the basic, day-to-day programs implemented throughout
the District.
Impaired Watershed Management for water resources that are classified as
impaired waters—includes completion of TMDL studies for impaired
waters and implementation of the recommendations from these studies
Focused Watershed Management for non-impaired waters—includes efforts
to protect non-impaired waters so they do not become impaired, by
enhancing routine management activities on identified water bodies.
CMSCWD completed a district-wide Wetland Management Plan in July 2010. An
electronic version of the plan can be found on the District’s website. The plan includes a
wetland function and value assessment, wetland management goals, management
standards, buffer standards, and identification of Wetland Preservation Areas within the
District.
Based on the functions and values assessment, the plan includes a wetland classification
system with four categories. The categories include:
High Quality/Highest Priority
Stream Corridor and Shoreland Wetlands
Isolated Wetlands
Utilized Wetlands
Comfort Lake-Forest Lake Watershed District, Watershed Management Plan, 2011
The northwest quadrant of the city falls within the Comfort Lake-Forest Lake Watershed
District (CLFLWD). Drainage from the watershed enters the Sunrise River, a tributary of
the St. Croix River. The CLFLWD’s most recent watershed management plan was created
in 2011 with revisions adopted and approved by the BWSR in August 2015. The plan
contains the goals, objectives, and actions of the CLFLWD and guides the watershed’s
activities until 2021.
The CLFLWD plan has eight core goals areas:
Floodplains
Lakes
Streams
Wetlands
Uplands Resources
Groundwater
Public Education
Interagency Coordination
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Most of Scandia within the CLFLWD falls within the Bone Lake Management District. A
small portion of the city (northwestern most corner) belongs in the Little Comfort Lake
Management District. CLFLWD developed a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan
for Bone Lake, which is discussed in the section on Impaired Waters. The District
completed a Partially Drained Wetland Assessment in 2014.
Rice Creek Watershed District, Watershed Management Plan, 2010 (amended 2016)
The Rice Creek Watershed District’s (RCWD) most recent watershed management plan
was created in 2010. The plan contains the objectives, policies, and management strategies
of the RCWD and guides the watershed’s activities until 2001. Only 0.2% of the City of
Scandia falls within the RCWD. This area encompasses all of White Rock Lake and is part
of the Hardwood Creek Planning Region. The primary issues within the Hardwood Creek
Planning Region are related to water levels within Rice Lake, the lack of a well-defined
regulatory floodplain along the Hardwood Creek, and appropriate management methods for
Hardwood Creek and its riparian corridor.
The RCWD’s 2010 Watershed Management Plan has 8 objectives:
Increase knowledge, awareness, and capacity for decision-making among
District constituents
Manage water systems for their ecological and community value while
Recognize the origin and interconnectedness of water systems while planning
for current and future needs
Improve diversity and ecological integrity of wetlands
Minimize damage to infrastructure and property caused by flooding and
excessive runoff
Capitalize on open space opportunities to enhance water quality, reduce runoff
volume, and enhance ecological resources
Incorporate groundwater into the decision-making process
Manage District property and resources responsibly
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Map: Watershed Drainage Area
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3. Physical Environment and Land Use
Public waters are all water basins and watercourses that meet the criteria set forth in
Minnesota Statutes, § 103.005, subd. 15. Of the many wetlands and water bodies within the
city’s boundaries, 40 of them have been classified as public waters in accordance with the
guidelines of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
Public waters within Scandia range in size from 2 acres to nearly 2,000 acres of water
surface and include several water bodies of regional significance. Table XX provides
information on all public waters and their acreage. The St. Croix River, a Federally-
designated National Scenic Riverway, forms the eastern border of the city. Big Marine
Lake, in the southwestern portion of the city, is the second largest lake in Washington
County. Existing and future development in areas surrounding public waters should be
carefully managed and planned to prevent adverse impact on water resources.
Table XX – Waterbodies within Scandia
Water Body Name Public Water
Inventory ID
Shoreland
Management
Classification
Acres
Alice 82-287 P Natural Environment 26.03
Big Marine 82-052 P Recreational
Development 1902.59
Bone 82-054 P Recreational
Development 218.47
Clear 82-078 W Natural Environment 35.28
Elwell 82-079 W Natural Environment 18.86
Falls Creek (Section 1.6.7.12) Wild and Scenic -
Fish 82-064 P Natural Environment 64.99
German 82-056 P Natural Environment 151.20
Goose 82-059 P Natural Environment 84.04
Sylvan 82-080 P Recreational
Development 108.25
Hay 82-065 P Natural Environment 59.32
Long 82-068 P Natural Environment 46.12
Nielson 82-055 W Natural Environment 49.65
Pitzl Pond 82-282 W Natural Environment 36.19
Rasmussen Pond 82-070 W Natural Environment 18.24
Sand 82-067 P Natural Environment 47.41
Sea 82-053 W Natural Environment 51.67
St. Croix River 82-001 P Wild and Scenic River -
Washington 82-169 W Natural Environment 22.34
White Rock 82-072 P Natural Environment 80.88
Wojtowicz Pond 82-058 W Natural Environment 16.8
Unnamed 82-057 W Natural Environment 27.52
Unnamed 82-060 W Natural Environment 26.26
Unnamed 82-061 W Natural Environment 14.37
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Unnamed 82-062 W Natural Environment 17.44
Unnamed 82-066 W Natural Environment 33.75
Unnamed 82-081 W Natural Environment 41.29
Unnamed 82-171 W Natural Environment 14.54
Unnamed 82-172 W Natural Environment 26.95
Unnamed 82-173 W Natural Environment 10.49
Unnamed 82-174 W Natural Environment 26.49
Unnamed 82-210 W Natural Environment 25.12
Unnamed 82-211 W Natural Environment 10.84
Unnamed 82-212 W Natural Environment 17.46
Unnamed 82-213 W Natural Environment 10.88
Unnamed 82-280 W Natural Environment 19.48
Unnamed 82-281 W Natural Environment 7.46
Unnamed 82-283 P Natural Environment 8.46
Unnamed 82-284 P Natural Environment 2.08
Unnamed 82-285 P Natural Environment 14.73
Unnamed 82-286 P Natural Environment 5.17
a) National Wetland Inventory
The National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) is a national program sponsored by the US
Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Based on the NWI data, the City of Scandia has
approximately 3,128 acres of wetlands.
4. Existing and Potential Water Resource Related Problems
In 2015, 12 lakes in or partially located in Scandia were monitored as part of the
Metropolitan Council’s Citizen-Assisted Monitoring Program (CAMP). In this program,
lakes are sampled every two weeks from mid-April through mid-October. During each
sampling, temperature, dissolved oxygen, and Secchi depth transparency were measured
and recorded. A surface water sample was also collected and analyzed for total phosphorus,
total Kjeldahl nitrogen, and cholorophyll-a. Total phosphorus is a key measure of lake
nutrients, chlorophyll-a is a measure of algae abundance, and Secchi depth transparency is
a measure of water clarity.
The Metropolitan Council uses the monitoring data to assign each lake a water quality
grade using an A through F grading system. The grading system uses percentile ranges for
three water quality indicators-summertime average values for total phosphorous,
chlorophyll-a, and Secchi depth transparency. An overall grade is calculated as the average
grade for the three individual grades. The individual grades given to the lakes can be seen
in Table XX. Five of the monitored lakes yielded insufficient information, five were given
a “C” grade, none were given a “B” grade, and two lake received an “A”.
Table XX – CAMP Ratings for Lakes
Within Scandia
Lake Rating
Alice Insufficient Data
Big Marine A
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Bone C
Fish Insufficient Data
German Insufficient Data
Goose C
Hay Insufficient Data
Jellum’s Bay C
Long B
Sand C
Sylvan A
White Rock C
Under the federal Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C.) the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
(MPCA) is required to set standards and assess Minnesota waters for impairments. The
standards are set on a wide range of pollutants, including bacteria, nutrients, turbidity, and
mercury. A water body is listed as impaired by the MPCA if it fails to meet one or more
water quality standards. If a water body is listed as impaired, a Total Maximum Daily Load
(TMDL) must be established for the pollutant, and plans must be created to reduce TMDLs.
Scandia will be required to participate in TMDL plans for impaired water bodies within its
borders. Figure XX shows the locations of impaired water bodies in Scandia while Table
XX and XX provide detail on specific impairments.
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Map: Impaired Waters
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Table XX – Impaired Water Bodies in Scandia
Water Body Nutrients Invasive Species PCBs Mercury
Big Marine
Lake X X
Bone Lake X Eurasian watermilfoil;
Curly-leaf pondweed
Fish Lake X
Goose Lake X
Hay Lake X
Long Lake X
Sea Lake Eurasian watermilfoil;
Curly-leaf pondweed
St. Croix River X X
White Rock
Lake X
Table XX – Water Bodies Listed on Minnesota’s 303 List
Water Body
Concerns
Other Considerations Total Phosphorus Chlorophyll-a Secchi
Transparency
Fish Lake X X X Walleye Rearing
Goose Lake X X Bluegill; northern pike
Hay Lake X X
Jellum’s Bay
(Bay in Big
Marine Lake)
X X Walleye Rearing
Long Lake X X X Walleye Rearing
Source: Carnelian-Marine Watershed District TMDL Plan, 2011
5. Local Implementation Plan/Program
Implementation of the Scandia Local Water Management Plan will require cooperation
with local Watershed Districts to implement projects within the City that are identified in
the District Plans. The City supports the projects identified in the District Plans and
Capital Improvement Plans that are within Scandia, including the projects listed in Table
XX.
The CMSCWD plan describes three categories of activities that are included in the
District’s Implementation Program: routine watershed management, focused watershed
management, and impaired watershed management. Most of the activities included in these
efforts are implemented by the District. Some are implemented in cooperation with local
landowners and volunteers. Cost-share Program, and identifies several existing or potential
water quality and environmental issues that will be addressed by the program. The District
has ranked the proposed projects on a watershed basis. Many of the projects will be carried
out in cooperation with private landowners.
The CLFLWD’s Management Plan includes three categories of implementation activities:
Administration, Programs and Projects. Administration activities are carried out by the
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CLFLWD. Programs include development of District rules and permitting activities,
education and outreach. As noted above, the City concurs with and adopts the District’s
Water Management Plan, standards and rules. The CLFLWD Districts will continue to
enforce surface water regulations and permitting within the City, within its geographic area.
A small portion of Scandia is included within the Rice Creek Watershed District—the area
around White Rock Lake. The District’s Plan includes no implementation projects for the
White Rock Lake area. The City supports the District’s efforts to study this lake and
identify potential issues related to water quality and lake management.
Table XX – Future Surface Water Improvement Projects
Watershed
District
Project
Improvement Cost
Estimate1
Low High CMSCWD 205th Street – St. Croix River Bluff
Erosion Control and Stormwater Quality
Project
$15,000 $25,000
Neighborhood Small Lot Stormwater
Management Incentive Program in
Downtown Scandia and Lake
Neighborhoods
$30,000 $50,000
TMDL Study Implementation Projects TBD – As Constructed
Ravine Reconstruction $60,000 $85,000
Non-Specific Project in its Focused
Watersheds, including Sand Lake $40,000/Year for 10 Years CLFLWD Bone Lake TMDL Implementation Plan –
Numerous Projects TBD – As Constructed
Water Quality Studies and Develop
Management Plans for Sea Lake, Nielsen
Lake and Clear Lake
TBD – As Constructed
Stream Assessment of the Bone-Birch-
School-Little Comfort Lake Tributary TBD – As Constructed
RCWD White Rock Lake (RCWD) No Projects Planned
1 Cost estimates include only stormwater related improvements.