EQC Meeting Date: September 19th, 2024
To: Environmental Quality Commission
From: Risi Karim, Assistant to the City Administrator
Title
Waste Load Allocation Implementation Plan
Body
Action Requested:
Commission receives Load Allocation Implementation Plan presentation from Barr Engineering Co.
Summary Report:
In the Fall of 2021, the City of Northfield was authorized for coverage under the updated Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) General Permit by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). Along with authorization under this new permit, the City received new Waste Load Allocations (WLAs) from the Cannon River Watershed and Restoration Protection Strategies (WRAPS) Report. With the addition and evaluation of the new and existing WLAs, a study was commissioned to identify ways the City can continue to reduce storm water pollution and identify strategies that will assist in meeting WLAs over the next several decades.
Based on current understanding, the long-term goal will be for the City of Northfield to attain a 45 percent reduction from the existing discharge total phosphorous (TP) loading rate from the overall drainage area, which is equivalent to a TP load reduction rate of 4.5 percent every ten years to correspond with a 100-year time horizon. This TP load reduction rate would correspond with approximately 20 pounds of additional TP loading that the city would need to successively reduce on an annualized basis.
The city hired Barr Engineering Co. (Barr) to develop a Waste Load Allocation Implementation Plan (Plan) and adaptive tool that supports the plan and can be used for future modeling scenarios. This Plan is intended to play an active role in supporting the city’s Strategic Initiatives, Climate Action Goals, and relate with the city’s geographic information system (GIS) and 2020 Surface Water Model.
Barr Engineering Co. will share a presentation on the Waste Load Allocation Implementation Plan, including strategies to address specific pollutant sources and/or improve stormwater treatment options and provide the Commission with an opportunity to share their thoughts.
Alternative Options:
N/A
Financial Impacts:
N/A
Tentative Timelines:
N/A