Management Plans

Have you ever wondered what happens to the water that flows into the storm drain? Stormwater runoff is the water that flows off streets, driveways, rooftops, patios, lawns or other surfaces because it isn't absorbed into the ground. It can carry with it pollutants such as grass clippings, sediment, fertilizer, or any other materials that it encounters. This runoff-and the pollutants it picks up along the way-usually drains into the nearest wetland, lake, or creek. Read ahead to learn about the ways that Lino Lakes is monitoring our water quality.

Local Water Management Plan

The Local Water Management Plan (PDF) establishes integrated approaches seeking to maintain the quality of life of the City's residents, support the City's continued economic prosperity, and address emerging and existing regulatory challenges. Its integrated water resources management approach recognizes that the health and vitality of the City's lakes and urban streams are linked to how each resident manages their property as well as how the City manages its system of storm drains and sanitary sewers. It defines a future free from the dangers of flooding and water quality degradation that is achieved through integrated efforts on a watershed scale, both within the City and among its neighboring communities.

Storm Water Pollution Prevention Program

The City of Lino Lakes' SWPPP (PDF) is designed to reduce the discharge of pollutants from the City's storm sewer system to the maximum extent practicable. To achieve this goal, standard Best Management Practices have been developed. The BMP measures are intended to address the 6 minimum control measures outlined in the MS4 Permit.

Six Minimum Control Measures

Public Education and Outreach
Public Participation and Involvement
Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination
Construction Site Storm Water Runoff Control
Post Construction Storm Water Management
Municipal Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping

This document is a 2-part application for coverage under a general permit for MS4s that regulates the discharge of stormwater.

Resource Management Plan

The Lino Lakes Resource Management Plan (PDF) came about through a partnership between the Rice Creek Watershed District and the City of Lino Lakes. This collaboration was initiated in 2006 and included extensive coordination between the City, the Watershed and other regulatory agencies. The plan provides a watershed-based approach to wetland management that is consistent with RCWD goals. The approach uniquely addresses management in the context of wetland functions and the effects of anticipated future land use.

Special Area Management Plan

The City of Lino Lakes and the Rice Creek Watershed District have prepared a Special Area Management Plan (PDF) for the subwatersheds within the City. The purpose of the Special Area Management Plan is to provide a watershed-based and conservation-based framework for aquatic resource management, particularly as development and redevelopment occur within the City. The Special Area Management Plan addresses future water quality, quantity, flow rates and wetland function and condition in light of forecasted development and potential changes to surface and groundwater characteristics.

Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL)

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency monitors water bodies for pollution and if a water body is found to be impaired, it is organized into TMDL projects. Each project may contain one or more water bodies or segments of a water body. A TMDL is the maximum amount of a pollutant a water body can receive without violating water quality standards, and an allocation of that amount to the pollutant's sources. The TMDL process identifies all sources of the pollutant and determines how much each source must reduce its contribution in order to meet the standard. The source reduction strategies form the basis of an implementation plan which must be completed within one year after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approves a TMDL study.