10-23-1995 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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ENVIRONMENT JUNE, 1980 GENERAL POLICIES FOR NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT 1. ORONO WILL PROMOTE THE FORMULATION AND ACTIVE USE OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION POLICIES BY OTHER LAKE MINNETONKA AREA MUNICIPALITIES AND RESPONSIBLE GOVERNJ’ENT AGF-.CIES. Even though Orono plays a key •ole in the protection of Lake Minnetonka, permanent preservation of the quality of Lake Minnetonka is impossible without coor<?inated policies and without active implementation of proven protective measures. Environmental enforcement may be difficult in the face of development pressures, but without commitment and sacrifice, a nibbling effect will surely place the goal beyond reach and beyond recovery. 2. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION POLICIES WILL BE UTILIZED IN THE FORMATION OF ALL OTHER GOALS AND POLICIES IN THIS CMP. Orono’s commitment to environmental quality is carried throughout each element in this comprehensive plan, coloring the goals, policies and implementation practices in every facet of municipal responsibility. 3. DEVELOPMENT DENSITY WILL BE LIMITED TO A LEVEL WHICH WILL NOT OVERLOAD THE NATURAL SURFACE LVTZR DRAINAGE AND FILTRATION SYSTEM. Urbanization increases the speed ai.d quantity of surface runoff while decreasing the water quality. Developed land use densities will be determined by comparison between known levels of volume and pollution generation and known, marshland capacity for ponding and nutrient assimilation. 4. SURFACE WATER RUNOFF WILL BE DIRECTED THROUGH THE NATURAL DRAINAGE SYSTEM. DIRECT RUNOFF INTO THE LAKE WILL BE AVOIDED AND WILL BE PROHIBITED WHENEVER POSSI'LE. The longer the routing of storm water between source and the lake and the longer the duration of ponding in a wetland, the more nutrients are assimilated and the more silt is settled. The transfer of storm water runoff from one local watershed to another or recycling water through the sam.e marsh, will be pursued and encouraged as a practical method for increasing the duration of water retention before runoff enters the Lake. The result of extended retention will be improved lake water quality. i. NATURAL DRAINAGEWAYS WILL BE FAVORED OVER ARTIFICIAL STORM SEWERS. Storm sewers speed runoff and provide no natural filtration or nutrient assimilation. Storm sewers will onl-- be utilized in local flood prone areas or where there is soil erosion insolvable by natural means. Whenever possible, storm sewer outlets will be directed into marshland or natural drainageways and not directly into the lake. Storm sewer systems will not be considered for new developments or where satisfactory natural drainage systems already exist. CMP 3-19