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HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Conceptual Plan to Acquire a Portion of Ryerson Property for Future Water Well Field and Nutrient Reduction Credit RESOLUTION NO. 23-494 RESOLUTION APPROVING CONCEPTUAL PLAN TO ACQUIRE A PORTION OF THE RYERSON PROPERTY FOR FUTURE WATER WELL FIELD AND NUTRIENT REDUCTION CREDIT FOR THE CITY OF AMES,IOWA WHEREAS, the Ames Water Plant owns approximately 73 acres for a future "I-35 East Well Field." The FY 2018/19 Capital Improvements Plan included the "South Skunk River Well Field Land Acquisition" project to acquire additional ground at a then undetermined location somewhere between the Hunziker Youth Sports Complex and the I-35 East Well Field. Staff has been working to acquire two adjacent parcels of land southeast of Ames in the South Skunk River flood plain to secure a site for a future well field and to provide source water protection for future wells. Additionally, land retirement on the parcels would generate nutrient reduction credits that can be claimed by the Water Pollution Control Facility; and, WHEREAS, the Ryerson property is being pursued by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and the US Department of Agriculture — Natural Resource Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS) for conservation purposes. The concept being considered is that the USDA will purchase a conservation easement on the property and maintain it as a diverse, restored native prairie with oxbow restorations. Story County could then acquire the parcels outright for the residual value and would manage the ground for conservation, habitat restoration, and public hunting purposes; and, WHEREAS, the proposed land management scheme of the Ryerson property is an ideal way to achieve source water protection, making the parcels a high-quality location for the future well field. Both USDA-NRCS and Story County Conservation have been working with the Water and Pollution Control Department to set aside a portion of the property for a City well field. Ames would need to acquire the portions of land it needs for the future wells,pipeline, and access roads prior to the USDA placing its easement. Last fall,test wells confirmed the ground water under the parcel meets all Safe Drinking Water Act requirements, including for PFAS chemicals; and, WHEREAS,the Water Fund contributions will come from carryover from the FY 2018/19 CIP well field land acquisition project. The Sewer Fund contribution will come from the FY 2023/24 Watershed-Based Nutrient Reduction project. Of the $1,017,938 in current year adopted and carry-over funds for these watershed projects, $169,714 is currently unobligated; and, WHEREAS, the two property acquisitions would provide approximately 162 acres of restored native landscape for which the City could claim nutrient reduction credits. The action requested at this time is non-binding, and the City could back out if the final terms and cost share arrangements do not meet the City Council's desires. If the City Council does not support the overall concept, it would be important to the other partners to know that now. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Ames, Iowa, that the conceptual plan, subject to negotiation of acceptable terms and conditions, to acquire a portion of the Ryerson property for a future water well field and nutrient reduction credit in partnership with the USDA-NRCS, Iowa DNR, and Story County Conservation is hereby approved. ADOPTED THIS 12th day of September, 2023. Renee kall, City Clerk John A. Haila, Mayor Introduced by: Betcher Seconded by: Rollins Voting aye: Beatty-Hansen, Betcher, Corrieri, Gartin, Junck, Rollins Voting nay: None Absent: None Resolution declared adopted and signed by the Mayor this 121h day of September, 2023.