My major concern here is that a wetland, important to this area in
mitigating drought and flood will be paved over and filled in. That means
we will be more vulnerable to drought and flood.
Next I am concerned about the paving and filling of yet another natural
area in Iowa. We have very few left.
Peggy Murdock
At 09:57 PM 12/9/99 , you wrote:
>Are you worried about storm drains, or water from gutters? SCS advises
>farmers to use small earthern berms perpendicular to the downhill flow to
>control runoff from fields. Perhaps proper contouring of yards by the
>developer could solve some of the problems. I am sure the local SCS experts
>can provide the expertise needed.
>
>Are they planting aquatic plants in the storm water retention area?
>Developers do not like to do it, but in some states they are now required
>to do so. The plants help reduce some of the lawn nutrients. Would also
>suggest a ban on Chem Lawn applications within the development, and allow
>dry fertilizer applications only in the fall. Our neighbor in MI had to
>stop his Chen Lawn treatments so he could refinance his house at a lower
>mortgage rate. His well water tested 11ppm for nitrates (limit is 10).
>After 6 months of no Chemlawn, he passed the nitrate test, but mortgage
>rates had already gone up again! Anyway, if this development is bordering a
>source of important drinking water, it is something to consider.
> Linda Bystrak
>
>At 08:23 PM 12/9/99 -0600, you wrote:
> >For the past few months the area called Hallett's Quarry just north of the
> >Ames city limits has been the focus of development planning by Hubbel
> >Construction. Brian O'Connell, Director of the Department of Planning and
> >Housing in Ames has listened to environmentalists and negotiated some
> >concessions from the firm in the past few months, notably a 3-4 acre
> >wetland to process some of the runoff. It's a five year storm water
> >retention area, and will not be able to handle the run-off from the kinds
> >of rain events we have seen this past decade.
> >
> >This is an area characterized by hydric soils (that means it is a
> >wetland). It protects our area in drought and flood. The quarry has no
> >outlet, so everything that goes in stays in, and because this is ground
> >water, it is additionally critical that the water remain clean. In times
> >of drought, the city pumps water from the lake over to the South Skunk so
> >that it will refresh our aquifer which lies just below a dam just
> downstream.
> >
> >The plans for the area are actually quite attractive. They include a bike
> >path, a lighthouse (a private club for the residents, but attractive to
> >passers by), and many walkways. The lake would be open for paddle craft
> >and electric motors so fishing would be an option. If it were not for the
> >destruction of this wetland and the possible disturbance of migrating
> >birds, this would be an ideal development for any area.
> >
> >A minimal riparian area has been planned around the waterbody of 70 feet
> >which will include the bike path. The last time I inquired the riparian
> >area was to go around only 3/4 of this groundwater lake, leaving the rest
> >without any buffer whatsoever.
> >
> >Next Wednesday the commissioners will decide whether to send this on to the
> >city council for their approval. Comments to go in the packet to be
> >considered by the commissioners should be in the Planning and Housing
> >office by noon tomorrow. The public will be given an opportunity to
> >comment at the next meeting, which will be held at 7pm Wednesday, December
> >15th.
> >
> >Peggy Murdock
> >
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