HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Special Meeting of the Ames City Council 09/16/2008M IN UTES OF THE SPECIAL M EETING OF THE AM ES CITY COUNCIL
AM ES, IOWA SEPTEM BER 16, 2008
The Ames City Council met in special session at 7:00 p.m. on t he 1 6 t h d a y o f S eptember, 2008, in
the City C o unc il Chambers in City Hall, 515 Clark Avenue, pursuant to law with Mayor Ann
Campbell p r esiding and the following Council members present: Doll, Goodman, Mahayni, Larson,
Popken, and Rice.
WORKSHOP ON THE ECOLOGICAL HEALTH OF AD A HAYD EN HERITAGE PARK:
Mayo r A nn Campbell welcomed the expert panel in attendance to discuss the ecological health
of Ada Hayden Heritage Park. Water and Pollution Control Director John Dunn said the Council
gave staff direction to prepare a plan to rep o r t o n the ecological status of Ada Hayden Heritage
Park at the August 12, 2008, City Council meeting. Staff scheduled a wo r k s e s s io n and invited
s p ecific individuals who have completed on-site research at Ada Hayden Heritage Park, and a ls o
some individuals that could offer a broader perspective on priorities and options available.
Mr. Dunn described the watershed that drains to the lake at Ada Ha yd e n He r itage Park as
2 4 th Street on the south, 180th Street on the north, George Washington Carver Avenue on t he
west, and Grand Avenue on the east. Mr. Dunn introduced the first speaker, Dr. Bill S imp k ins.
Dr. Simpkins, a professor at Iowa State Unive r s it y in Geological and Atmospheric Sciences,
conducted research on groundwater quality at Ada Hayden Heritage Park.
Dr. Simpkins spoke of his research, which began in 2005. He said 85% of the water entering the
lake is groundwater. He determined nitrate was occurring in s ha llo w groundwater, and
pho s p ho r us was occurring in deeper groundwater. He described the nitrate load as insignificant,
and the p ho sphorus as more significant. Dr. Simpkins said the sources are local and, most likely,
coming from within the watershed.
Dr. Simpkins said he placed five we lls a t d ifferent locations in the lake to map out water quality.
O ve r two years he found wells had nitrate in them, with the higher concentration of nitrate near
the surface. In terms of Iowa standards, Dr. Simpkins described the levels as low. He said
bacteria are removing the nitrate before it gets to the lake. He said three wells frequently showed
phosphorus, which is more of a problem. Dr. Simpkins said that research shows as much as 42%
of the phosphorus could be coming in from the groundwater.
The next speaker, Dr. Tim Stewart, spok e o f his r esearch regarding the wetland performance.
Dr. Stewart is an assistant professor in the N atural Resource Ec ology and Management
Department at Iowa State University. Dr. Stewart said the purpose of the wetlands is to filter out
sediment and nutrie nt s , mo s t o f which enter from surface flow. He described the wetlands as
three complexes–the north complex, the west complex, and the south complex.
Dr. Stewart stated that organisms a r e c r itic al to the performance of wetlands. He said a high
number of invertebrates and plant abundance is desired. The pres e nc e o f fis h was also studied.
In areas where carp were found, there were not as many invertebrates. Carp feed on the botto m
of the wetlands. When they were present, the wetlands were not working as well.
Dr. Stewart stated that fish management is critical, especially in the southwest area of the
wetlands. He also s a id tha t c a r p prevention is difficult, labor intensive, and expensive. Another
suggestion he had was posting signs to educate the public on the purpose of wetlands,
specifically stating that no fish belong in the wetlands, just plants and invertebrates.
Dr. Chris Rehmann spoke next r e ga r d ing water quality monitoring. Dr. Rehmann is an associate
professor in the Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering Departme nt a t Iowa State
University. Dr. Rehmann has conducted research on water mixing at Ada Hayden Heritage Park.
His focus is on finding w he r e t he mixing occurs in a body of water. Research equipment was
installed in the south basin o f the lake, and was part of an instrument called a Lake Diagnostic
System (LDS), which is a meteorological station co mb ine d wit h a thermistor chain, a device that
measures water temperature at different levels. The LDS measures wind speed and d ir e c t io n,
water temperature, relative humidity, air temperature, solar radiation, and net radiation.
Dr. Rehmann went over some examples of water temperature readings taken from the LDS. He
also described the ability to measure currents near the bottom of t he lake. By getting the
currents, it is possible to estimate the forces on the bottom. Dr. Re hma nn also told the group
a b o ut the dye tracking experiments he has been a part of, which estimate vertical mixing. Dye
was injecte d into the water six meters below the surface. Looking at vertical profiles, it was
found that ther e w e re intrusions from the shores to the interior in 2005, but not in 2007 when the
same experiment was done. In 2005, there was a large storm befo r e t he d ye was injected, and
the wind had energized the waves.
The next speaker, Dr. John Downing, spoke about water quality data collected on the lake and
tributaries. Dr. Downing is a professor in the Ecology, Evo lut io n, and Organismal Biology
Department at Iowa State University. He described the purp o s e o f his research, which was an
ongoing assessment of in-lake water quality, and an assessment of the nutrients a nd materials
contributing to the wa t e r quality. He also looked at the wetlands to determine if they are
working.
Dr. Downing described the lake a s ha ving water flowing in and water flowing out, with the main
element of concern being phosphorus. He said the surface water qua lit y is good, and the bottom
water quality of the lake is poor. He said he has not seen an improving trend in wate r q ua lity
over time. He also said that tributaries are contributing concentrated silt and bacteria. He said
the wetlands are not fully functional to remove silt and bacteria.
Dr. Downing described the south wetland complex as generating more nutrient than wha t go e s
into it. The wetlands are efficient in trapping nutrients and water when there is no outflo w.
However, the need is for water to pass through the wetlands to get clean. If that doesn’t happen,
then there is too much nutrient in the lake. Dr. Downing sugge s t e d inc r e asing awareness of
nutrient transport, specifically phosphorus and silt runoff. He also suggested enc o uraging
development that does not contribute run-off.
Council Member Goodman asked if there is a saturation point for phosphorus. Dr. Downing said
that mo r e nutr ients are coming out of the south wetlands than are going in. He said the opposite
is true in the north complex. In 2001, there were too many nutrients in the lake, and it was
determined tha t we tla nds were needed. He stated that data shows no increase or decrease in
concentrations of phosphorus.
Mr. Dunn introduced the other three experts available to a nswer questions. Mr. Dunn asked
them to compare and contrast the differences in ma naging in-lake water quality when the
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wa te rshed is predominantly urban versus rural. He also asked them what the best management
practices would look like and consist of.
Aaron Musselman, District Conservationist, o f S to r y County Soil and Water Conservation
District, said that they have been working with farmers on nutrient mana ge ment planning. They
a r e recommending options such as no-till, strip tillage, grass waterways, and basins tha t wo uld
trap sediment.
Council Member Goodman asked if farmers are open to doing s o me of these things. Mr.
Musselman said that there are varied opinions. He said they have ha d fa vo r a ble results with the
strip till option. Mr. Dunn asked if any of the practices are mandated. Mr. Mus s e lman said with
private land ownership, all options are voluntary.
Wayne Petersen, Urban Conservationist, of Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land
Stewardship, said there are many options in an urban setting, includ ing r ain gardens, permeable
pavements, bioswails, native landscaping, and soil quality restoration as part of final landscaping.
C o uncil Member Larson asked if zero phosphorus fertilizers are mandated anywhe r e .
Mr. Petersen said that it is recommended and encouraged, but is not mandatory.
The meeting recessed at 8:55 p.m. and reconvened at 9:03 p.m.
Council Member Rice commented on the map of the water s he d . H e asked what could be done
with the developed area no r th of 24th Street. Mr. Petersen replied that it is difficult, expensive
and disruptive to retrofit. He said s o il quality restoration is an option for established lawns and
la nd s c a p es. Mr. Petersen said that the streets and driveways would not be addressed, and the y
are constructed to shed run-off into the storm sewer intakes. One option for that is c ur b c ut s in
front of a storm sewer intake, if the area allows . Dr . Do w ning added that it is possible to
significantly decrease the nutrients transported to the receiving water body by more frequent
street cleaning. He also state d that there are storm drain filtration systems being tested in other
communities.
Council Member Larson asked how developers are influenced to take pa r t in water quality
practices. Mr. Petersen spoke of Dickinson County, whe r e wa t e r q uality practices are required
by the local code because the lake communities realize the economic impor t a nc e o f la k e s to the
community and quality of life . M r. Petersen said he does know of some developers that have
b een able to cut costs and be profitable by adding water quality practices in their deve lo p me nt s .
However, he said that the experience he has had with developers shows an increase in cost for
adding water quality.
Council Member Goodman asked what the first steps would be beyond fish management in the
wetlands. Dr. Simp k ins s t a te d that phosphorus runs free when there is no oxygen. He said the
p r o blem is that they are studying the groundwater at the end of its flow path, so the exact sour c e
of the groundwater is not known.
Council M e mb e r Doll asked the panel of experts to comment on their opinion of water quality
as it pertains to development to the north. Dr. Simpkins suggested planting prairie grasses to
minimize inputs as much as p o s s ib le . He said he is not a proponent of septic systems, and said
at this point in time it is a direction that should not be taken on a large scale.
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Dr . Stewart added that there are many aesthetic and practical things that can happen, s uc h a s
adding prairie grasses and wildflowers. He a ls o suggested promoting plant growth in the
wetland areas.
Mr. Petersen said he recommends doing anything and everything to pr e ve nt s eptic systems from
going in above this water resource that is used and valued by the community. He stated that the
high levels of phosphorus coming into the no r t h cell from surface run-off and high sediment
loading is a big problem, and said he is convinced that d e ve lo pment in the watershed can take
place and enhance ecology and water quality.
Mr. Musselman recommended lo o k ing at the management of agricultural systems and urban
systems. He said good management is key for whichever decision is made.
Mr. Paulin stated the import a nc e o f b e ing proactive versus reactive. He said it is fortunate that
a developer has come forward and p r o p osed a low impact development that will take water
quality into consideration.
Council Member Larson asked Mr. Paulin wha t his feelings were on treating raw sewage on-site
versus at a municipal facility. Mr. Paulin said that hooking up to a munic ip a l s ewer system is
the ideal situation.
Dr. Rehmann commented on the design and implementation. He said his co nc e rn is that
implementation would be done correctly.
Dr. Downing reiterated the value of the lake at Ada Hayden Heritage Park as a valuable resource
and attraction. He said prevention of problems is so much more cost effective, and requires great
care. He recommended figuring out how much nutrient can cause wa te r q uality problems, and
what kind of changes can be sustained for any type of development.
Holly Fuchs, 806 Brookridge Avenue, Ames, asked where the run-off from the area north of 24th
Street goes. Mr. Dunn said the southern wetland cell is taking run-off from that area.
Tom Culek, 2129 Pintail Ridge Lane, Ames, asked if the p hosphorus levels of the groundwater
are high before the water reaches the lake area. Dr. Simpkins said they do not know.
Erv K lass 1405 Grand Avenue, Ames, spo k e a b o ut gr e e n roofs. He said he would like to see
green roofs in Ames because of their ability to absorb water and remove pollutants.
Bob Gibson, 5501 Northwest 112th Street, Grimes, said he is the land planner wo r k ing on the
Rose Prair ie p r o je c t . He encouraged the City to take a good look at working with them on the
project. He s a id the developer is willing to do something out of the ordinary to protect water
quality. He said the tributary that r uns through Rose Prairie will collect almost half of the
nutrients from the watershed.
Matt Eller, 200 Timber Creek Drive, Ames, introduced himself as the d e ve lo p er of Rose Prairie.
He said they have a 12-acre sediment basin in the tributary to slow the water and look at wa t e r
waves. He said the ability to recover some of the cost related to water quality practices is mo r e
feasible as a low-impact developer than a farmer, since a farmer will lose yield.
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Chuck Winkleblack, 105 S. 16th Street, Ames, asked the experts if they have seen any proposed
legislation regarding optio ns o the r than curb and gutter. He also commented that an educational
component for the public is needed regarding low-impact development.
Mr. Petersen said the key is creating highly functional landscapes, and that if the landscapes are
working correctly, they can be socially acceptable.
Holly Fuchs, 806 Bro o k r idge Avenue, asked if the no-till option for farmers is not something that
is done locally. Mr. Musselman said the soil in this ar e a is go o d, but it tends to hold water. To
help the soil dry out, it is tilled, which limits no-till in this area.
Margaret J a me s , 2 0 2 8 Friley Road, Ames, said that septic systems that are maintained correctly
could serve an important purpose. She exp r e s s ed interest in a water-quality discussion regarding
the Skunk River.
COM M ENTS: There were no comments by the Council.
ADJOURNM EN T: Moved by Goodman, seconded by Doll, to adjourn the meeting at 9:51 p.m.
_______________________________________________________________________
Diane R. Voss, City Clerk Ann H. Campbell, Mayor
___________________________________
Erin Thompson, Recording Secretary
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