Lower Minnesota River Watershed and the Southwest loop pond
Minnehaha Creek and MAC & LRT dewatering
Minnehaha Creek and the upper bluff Athletic Fields dewatering
Kelton Barr's report on MnDOT dewatering
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MINNEHAHA CREEK WATERSHED DISTRICT Manager Fisher offered the following Resolution and moved its adoption,, seconded by Manager Calkins; WHEREAS, Camp Coldwater Spring supports important natural communities and is a highly valued public environmental and cultural resource; and WHEREAS, the Spring is designated as a contributing element to the Fort Snelling Historic District, is deemed eligible for the National Register due to its relationship to Fort Snelling, and may be eligible for designation as a Traditional Cultural Property; and WHEREAS, in a September 12, 2000 memorandum to the Board of Managers, consultant Kelton Barr advised that proposed construction dewatering by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), a permanent stormwater pond to be excavated at the Highway 55/62 interchange and subdrains in the roadways could permanently divert from the Spring one-third or more of its baseline flow; and WHEREAS, that memorandum raises substantial concerns requiring immediate attention by MnDOT and water resource protection authorities; and WHEREAS, on September 28, 2000, Dr. Donald Siegel, a nationally respected hydrogeologist from Syracuse, New York, submitted to the Board of Managers a peer review of Mr. Barr's analysis confirming Mr. Barr s conclusions and moreover finding serious deficiencies in the design of MnDOT s hydrogeological studies; and WHEREAS, on April 24, 2000, the Lower Minnesota River Watershed District (LMRWD) petitioned the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) to include the land subject to MnDOT construction within its boundaries, and pursuant thereto committed to "ensure the protection" of the groundwater supporting the Spring; and WHEREAS, in its May 24, 2000 Order granting the petition of the LMRWD, BWSR emphasized "the importance of the ground water and the paramount importance of the protection of Camp Coldwater Spring" and directed the LMRWD to coordinate with the District to avoid any possible adverse impacts of the MnDOT construction on the Spring; and WHEREAS, in supporting the LMRWD petition, MnDOT committed to execute a joint resolution with the LMRWD that would provide the LMRWD with all powers necessary to ensure that MnDOT construction does not harm the Spring; THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that staff shall transmit this Resolution to MnDOT, the LMRWD, BWSR and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and request that these agencies take all appropriate steps to further investigate the potential impacts of the proposed temporary and permanent dewatering on Camp Coldwater Spring and ensure that the Spring suffers no adverse impact from MnDOT construction; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that staff request of MnDOT that construction of the permanent pond and any related features,in any respect that may affect flow to the Spring, be discontinued until investigation is complete and actions to ensure no adverse impact to the Spring are decided on. The question was on the adoption of the Resolution and there were — yeas and nays as follows: BLIXT yea Upon vote, the Chair declared the Resolution adopted.
Dated: September 29, 2000. ______________________________ Lance Fisher, Secretary * * * * * * * * * * * I, LANCE FISHER, Secretary of the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District, do hereby certify that I have compared the above resolution with the original thereof as the same appears of record and on file with the District and find the same to be a true and correct transcript thereof. IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set. my hand
this day of ___________ 2000. Lance Fisher, Secretary |