A watershed is all the land area that drains to a specific water resource, such as a lake or stream. Watersheds range in size from a few square miles to an entire continent. As rainwater and melting snow run downhill, they carry sediment and other materials into streams, lakes, and groundwater. The land use activities within a watershed have a direct impact on the quality of the water. 96% of the land use within VLAWMO is urban with a small area of agricultural land in the northern end.
Watersheds provide water for drinking, irrigation, streams, and activities such as fishing, swimming, and boating. In addition, watersheds also provide food and shelter for wildlife.
Water does not follow political boundaries such as city or county lines. A watershed's boundary is based on how the water flows in a particular area. Topography of the land, storm sewer pipes and groundwater flow all must be considered when determining a watershed boundary.
All land within the metropolitan area must be within an organized watershed (State Statutes Chapters 103B & 103D). A watershed organization is charged with protecting water resources within its boundaries. Watershed Districts are governed by County Commissioners while Water Management Organizations are governed on the municipal level.
VLAWMO was formed in 1983 to protect the Vadnais Lake watershed area in northern Ramsey County and a small portion of Anoka County, Minnesota. Vadnais Lake is used as the final water storage reservoir for the drinking water supply system operated by the St. Paul Regional Water Service (SPRWS). VLAWMO was formed through a Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) that was ratified by the 6 units of Minnesota government that VLAWMO encompasses (City of Gem Lake, City of Lino Lakes, City of North Oaks, City of White Bear Lake, White Bear Township, and City of Vadnais Heights) to comply with the State of Minnesota Metropolitan Surface Water Management Act. VLAWMO is governed by a 6 member Board of Directors that is represented by an elected official from each of the communities. VLAWMO has a comprehensive Water Plan, approved by the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources, which guides water management through goals, policies, management strategies and an implementation program for the watershed. VLAWMO has been authorized by the Minnesota State Legislature to act as the local government unit responsible for administering the Wetland Conservation Act (WCA) for this watershed area (to read the WCA documents click here. All construction and development activities that affect any wetlands in this area must be approved by VLAWMO.
VLAWMO shares the responsibility with its member communities to:
manage stormwater and control flooding
protect and manage wetlands through the Wetland Conservation Act
require good erosion control practices
promote good groundwater quality and healthy stewardship practices
protect and enhance the water quality in lakes and streams
VLAWMO is empowered under Minnesota Statutes 103A – 103H to manage the Vadnais Lake area watershed. These statutes address:
Protection of surface water quality. (This includes monitoring, maintaining, and in some cases improving quality.)
Flood control and stormwater management.
Wetland protection – and management through the Wetland Conservation Act and local efforts.
Communities need to manage stormwater to protect people's homes and properties, the environment, lakes, streams, rivers. If this is not done, stormwater will cause flooding, pooling, erosion and pollution. Heavy rains that flood streets and yards can result in property damage. Stormwater runoff also picks up pollutants and debris from streets, parking lots, and yards and carries them into our streams, rivers and lakes. Poor stormwater management can also affect the quantity and quality of our drinking water supply.
Impervious areas are surfaces where water cannot flow freely into the ground. Examples of impervious surfaces include, but are not limited to the following:
The watershed approach to protecting our vital water resources has become the primary approach across the country. As water flows across political boundaries, partnerships among local governments, regional, state and federal agencies are vital. Land and water stewardship protects not only the local resources, but also those downstream from pollution and degradation.
Programs and projects:
Water quality and lake level monitoring
Data analysis and watershed modeling
Compliance with the State and federal impaired waters programs
Development of sustainable lake management plans with implementation programs.
Implementation of water quality standards.
Public education and information
Lambert creek restoration projects
Property owner cost –share program for best management practices.
VLAWMO is empowered under Minnesota Statutes 103A – 103H to manage the Vadnais Lake area watershed as well as joint powers agreement statutory language Minnesota Statutes 471.59. These statutes address:
Protection of surface water quality. (This includes monitoring, maintaining, and in some cases improving quality.)
Flood control and stormwater management.
Wetland protection – and management through the Wetland Conservation Act and local efforts.
Groundwater protection and recharge.
Share municipal authority as identified in the Joint Powers Agreement
More information may be found on the third generation Water Management Plan.
State and federal regulations require an active local watershed organization to protect the water resources in our communities. In the past, VLAWMO was funded by assessments made to the six communities that are in the VLAWMO watershed area. Those assessments were paid either through the city or township general funds or a municipal storm water utility. Through this method, property owners within neighboring watersheds contributed financial support to the VLAWMO program although they were not within the VLAWMO boundary. In an effort to charge ONLY the property owners within VLAWMO for its support, the VLAWMO Storm Water Utility (SWU) was initiated. All of your communities have formally approved the SWU as the most equitable way of paying for watershed activities. The stormwater utility fee is based on how much impervious surface in a given parcel, if effect how much stormwater is it generating. While some properties may generate little or no runoff, fees from them will help support public spaces such as road right of way area which was exempted.
Two communities within VLAWMO currently use SWU fees. These fees are used to fund municipal projects rather than watershed-wide projects. Contact your municipality for more information.
Your community and VLAWMO sought a more accurate way to charge property owners for VLAWMO’s services. The stormwater utility fee divides stormwater fees fairly among owners of developed and undeveloped properties. That way, each one only pays for the estimated effect that each property would have on the watershed.
At this time, VLAWMO has not implemented a credit system. However, the Board of Directors will look into a credit system in 2008 possibly to take effect with the 2009 billing. Typically, credits are given to property owners who request them and show that they have implemented environmentally friendly practices which reduce the amount of stormwater runoff. Such practices may include using or installing stormwater management tools/practices on their properties. Installing rain gardens or other materials, such as impervious pavers, allows stormwater to soak into the ground, rather than run into storm sewers.
No. The stormwater utility fee is a user fee. Although the fee is a cost to property owners, it is based on estimated stormwater runoff from the property rather than its market value. Some tax exempt land uses may still need to pay this utility fee.
A consulting firm was used to determine the fees for properties within VLAWMO. All single family residential lots will pay $26.40 for 2008 regardless of the size of the property. Parcels with other land uses such as commercial, institutional, or multi¬family residential have a rate based on how much impervious surface they have and the acreage of the parcel. The chart showing how the fees were calculated is listed below.
The fees are due by November 30, 2007. Please use the enclosed payment stub and envelope for timely payment. This is the least expensive option for you.
VLAWMO is required to certify all unpaid fees to Ramsey and Anoka Counties by December 2007 for collection in 2008. The additional expenses incurred in county certification will be passed on the property owner.
At this time, VLAWMO can only accept payment through check or cash. You can pay in person or mail it to: 800 East County Road E, Vadnais Heights, MN 55127. VLAWMO will pursue credit card and/or electronic payments for 2009. When remitting your bill, please include the payment stub for more efficient processing.
