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North Branch officials certainly don’t anticipate any levees being breached or coastal tides washing into downtown North Branch; but the city is laying plans for expected increases in the quantity of stormwater and general run-off, which, if left unaddressed will create problems in the future.

Julie Dresel, city engineer, released details last week in a public hearing on North Branch’s “surface water management.” The city is not required to do this but Dresel explained that it’s much more effective to look at these issues now. Todd Hubmer of WSB Engineering assisted in the development of the plan.

As North Branch continues to add rooftops, parking lots and other impermeable square footage-- and the old town is gradually redeveloped-- the amount of run-off is only going to increase. “We want to not have to go in and retrofit later,” Dresel remarked.

The plan will be put into a draft form for council to review soon. Council could adopt it as-is or suggest its own changes. Dresel said the council will determine priorty steps to make the plan happen.

North Branch is collecting fees from new developments for stormwater management, and there is a proposal in the plan to spread stormwater management cost over the whole city. This is a recommendation council will look at. (In 2003 North Branch collected $128,000 in fees and in 2004 the fees generated $136,000. The city earmarks $100,000 annually to debt service or payments for projects related to run-off.)

Dresel said there is a recommendation the city also implement a development-funded Trunk Fee which in some cities is referred to as an Area Charge. A specific study is required to incorporate this fee into city code.

North Branch also has policy recommendations coming out of this plan that include new low floor elevations and new structure opening elevations. Dresel said the policy is aimed at avoiding water infiltration into dwellings and other structures.

Stormwater run-off rates (quantity and velocity) are also reviewed in the plan and better defined as to the amount of run-off that’s going to be tolerated as it relates to water quality of the north branch of the Sunrise River.

The plan also includes municipal housekeeping items like promoting streetsweeping and an erosion control inspection system. On-going public education is also recommended.

According to the plan about $5 million in capital systemwide improvements could be undertaken. That doesn’t mean the projects will be done, but they’re in there.

Projects include things like outlets for wetlands, culvert upgrades and ditch system maintenance. (Map illustration.)

County Water Plan hearing

Chisago County holds the public hearing on its water plan at 10:30 a.m. June 28 during the daytime County Board session.

This is a 5-year plan that all counties are required to develop.

The plan details the phosphorus reduction goal for the St. Croix River, which the county contributes to through a number of sub-watersheds. (Chisago Press story in April).

The county plan also recommends implementing the wastewater task force recommendations like mandatory inspection and required mainatenance of individual septic systems.

The county goals also include effective land use rules to “minimize high impact industries in sensitive groundwater areas.”

The abandoned well sealing cost-share program should continue. Workshops and demonstration projects will continue and involve city and town officials and the public.

Erosion control programs need more support and consistent standards throughout the county.

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