Orono Community Management Plan 2020-2040

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City of Orono Surface Water Management Plan February 2019 12 Most private wells, along with those of the City, draw water from the Prairie du Chien-Jordan complex. The St. Peter and quaternary aquifers are utilized primarily as domestic well sources. Well yields and water table elevations in the quaternary aquifer are dependent on local conditions. In this part of Hennepin County, groundwater flow in the Prairie du Chien-Jordan aquifer is generally to the east/southeast. Groundwater elevations through Orono are about 900 feet (as compared to surface elevations of 930 to 1,060 feet). In the quaternary aquifer, groundwater flow is generally oriented from northeast to southwest to about the middle of Long Lake, and then generally north to south. This may vary locally due to the influence of surface water bodies, the effects of wells, and areas of high aquifer recharge. Elevations of groundwater range from about 970 feet in the northeast corner to 930 at the Lake Minnetonka shoreline. In addition to the known aquifers, areas of perched groundwater have been encountered. Perched groundwater occurs above deposits of low-permeability clay or silt. The clay or silt deposits are apparently not extensive. Perched groundwater often intersects the ground surface to create wetlands or ponds. WELLHEAD PROTECTION The Safe Drinking Water Act requires states to implement protection programs to prevent contamination of public drinking water sources. Therefore, the Minnesota Department of Health requires public water suppliers to delineate and manage Wellhead Protection Areas (WHPA) surrounding public water sources. Orono has an approved Wellhead Protection Plan and designated WHPA and Drinking Water Supply Management Area (DWSMA) boundaries. Orono’s DWSMA has a very low to low vulnerability to contamination. However, the City should review potential developments within these areas to ensure incompatible industries or activities are not located where they will affect water quality of the existing wells. Incompatible activities may include infiltration Best Management Practices in close proximity. Additional information regarding groundwater resources can be found in the City’s Wellhead Protection and Water Supply Plans. Also, information regarding DNR permitting for each City well, its location, permitted volume, and number of gallons withdrawn each year can be downloaded from the DNRs website at www.dnr.state.mn.us. 2.8 ECOLOGICAL RESOURCES MLCCS AND MCBS The Minnesota Land Cover Classification System, or MLCCS, categorizes urban and built up areas in terms of land cover rather than land use. MLCCS serves as a tool for City staff to integrate land cover preservation into land planning, land use, and zoning decisions.Figure 5 provides MLCCS coverage for Orono. Natural land cover in Orono is dominated by planted and cultivated vegetation or herbaceous vegetation. Orono's planted and cultivated vegetation consists primarily of golf courses, large estate lawns and pasture, while herbaceous vegetation generally occurs in wetland and wetland fringe areas. The Minnesota County Biological Survey (MCBS) began in 1987 as a systematic survey of rare biological features on a county by county basis. The survey for Hennepin County is complete and the Hennepin County map is available on the DNR website. According to the County Biological Survey, a natural community is a certain assemblage of flora and fauna that have a unique set of characteristics. Examples are a "dry prairie", or in Orono, an area of "maple-basswood forest" (big woods). Areas that may not be dominated by a natural community can nonetheless be considered important areas.