HomeMy WebLinkAbout1979-12-11 Park Board PacketEDINA PARK BOARD MEETING
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1979
7:30 p.m.
EDINA CITY HALL
AGENDA
I. Approval of Minutes from November 13, 1979
Meeting
II. Bredesen Park Development
III. Golf Course Report; Fee Structure for 7.980
IV. Recreation Report
ENGINEER'S REPORT
Edina's'Petition to the Nine Mile Creek Watershed District
BREDESEN PARK/MUD LAKE
BASIC WATER MANAGEMENT
IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
BARR ENGINEERING CO.
November, 1979
11
ENGINEER'S REPORT
BREDESEN PARK/MUD LAKE
BASIC WATER MANAGEMENT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
Nine Mile Creek Watershed District
Table of Contents
Page
Introduction 1
Background Information
1
Study Area 3
General Site Description 3
Hydrology 5
Proposed Improvement Plan 6
Description of Plan 6
Environmental Assessment 11
Property Ownership 13
Cost Estimate 13
Recommendations 13
I hereby certify that this report was
prepared by me or under my direct super—
vision and that I am a duly Registered
Professional Engineer under the laws of
e State of Minne a.,.
ohn D. Dic son
Date • //A"/;,.,Reg, No. 8044
List of Figures
Page
Figure
1
- Location
Map
2
Figure
2
- Drainage
Area Map
4
Figure
3
- 100 -Year
Flood Level Profile,
North Fork of Nine Mile Creek 7
Figure
4
- Improvement Plan
8
Figure
5
- Index of
Improvements
9
Figure
6
- Property
Ownership Map
14
List of Tables
Table l - Preliminary Cost Estimate 15
Table 2 - Project Financing 16
Appendices
Appendix 1 - Nine Mile Creek Watershed District, "Petition of 1-1
the City of Edina for Bredesen Park - Mud Lake Water
Management Project"
Appendix 2 - Nine Mile Creek Watershed District, "Policy Statement 2-1
Regarding Project Financing -Watershed District
Participation"
is
ENGINEER'S REPORT
BREDESEN PARK/MUD LAKE
BASIC WATER MANAGEMENT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
Nine Mile Creek Watershed District
Introduction
This report summarizes technical and economic data relevant to the feas-
ibility of the Bredesen Park/Mud Lake Basic Water Management Improvement
Project proposed by the City of Edina, Minnesota. The report was prepared in
accordance with Section 112.49 of the Minnesota Watershed Act upon direction
from the Board of Managers of the Nine Mile Creek Watershed District. The
Bredesen Park/Mud Lake area is shown on the Location Map, Figure 1.
Background Information
The Nine Mile Creek Watershed District was established by the Minnesota
Water Resources Board in 1959 as a governmental subdivision of the State of
Minnesota. Urban development within the District has been guided by two
overall plans prepared by the District's Board of Managers and prescribed by
the Water Resources Board. These plans are presented in two reports by Barr
Engineering Co. entitled "Overall Plan, Nine Mile Creek Watershed District"
(March, 1961) and "Overall Plan, Nine Mile Creek Watershed District" (April,
1973). The 1973 plan guides current development within the District. Mud
Lake is designated in both plans as a flood water storage area for the Nine
Mile Creek watershed.
Several studies have been completed to identify improvement options for
the Mud Lake area. The first of these studies, entitled "Feasibility Study of
Mud Lake Improvement" (Barr Engineering Co., 1966), indicated that Mud Lake
could be maintained as a marsh area or that the lake could be enlarged by
constructing dikes across Nine Mile Creek and between small knolls south and
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west of the lake. Brauer & Associates, Inc. completed a study in 1971 to
determine Mud Lake's suitability as an interpretive and recreational park
site. The Brauer report, entitled "Mud Lake: Recreation: Wildlife
Preserve," recommended that the park be designed to maintain a balance between
the flood control objectives of the Nine Mile Creek Watershed District and the
habitat requirements of the area's wildlife. An inventory of plant and animal
life within the Mud Lake area was included in the Brauer study. The Mud Lake
Hydrologic Study, published by Barr Engineering Co. in 1972, concluded that
Mud Lake could be developed into an interpretive and recreational area without
seriously affecting the flood control plan for the Nine Mile Creek watershed.
Since 1972, the City of Edina has been working on a plan to develop the
natural resources of the Bredesen Park/Mud Lake area. The feasibility of
excavating open areas of water and constructing islands and embankments using
the excavated materials was investigated by Barr Engineering Co. in 1976 and
1977. The study concluded that such a plan would be feasible as long as
embankments were limited to those areas where floating bog conditions do not
exist. The results of this study are summarized in a report entitled
"Bredesen Park Nature Center, Feasibility for Construction of Ponds and
Islands in Mud Lake" (Barr Engineering Co., 1977).
The City of Edina submitted a petition on July 18, 1977 to the Board of
Managers of the Nine Mile Creek Watershed District for initiation of the
Bredesen Park/Mud Lake Basic Water Management Improvement Project. The Board
approved the petition on July 20, 1977 and Barr Engineering Co. was instructed
to prepare the Engineer's Report. A copy of the Bredesen Park/Mud Lake
petition is presented in Appendix 1.
Study Area
General Site Description
The Nine Mile Creek Watershed District consists of approximately 50
® square miles of land that drain into Nine Mile Creek in southern Hennepin
County, Minnesota. As shown on Figure 2, the District includes portions of
the Cities of Bloomington, Hopkins, Minnetonka, Richfield, Edina and Eden
3
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� NINE MILE CREEK WATERSHED DISTRICT
H 0 P I N S Hennepin County
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Drainage Area Upstream
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Landlocked (Mirror Lake)
2 Direct Drainage Area (Mud Lake)
iL 3 Indirect Drainage Area (Mud Lake)
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6S Lake
BLOOM I NGTON
FIGURE 2
DRAINAGE AREA MAP
Bredesen Park/Mud Lake
Basic Water Management Improvement Project
Prairie, Minnesota. Topography in the District varies from flat in the
eastern two-thirds of Bloomington and along the North Fork of Nine Mile Creek
through Edina and Hopkins to very hilly in west Bloomington, in southwest
a
Edina and along the South Fork of Nine Mile Creek through Eden Prairie and
Minnetonka. A steep valley extends from just downstream of Marsh Lake to the
District's southern boundary about 1? miles upstream of the Minnesota River.
The last 1� miles of the creek are in the Minnesota River floodplain.
Nine Mile Creek is approximately 16 miles long from the beginning of the
North Fork at Highway 3 in Hopkins to the creek's outlet into the Minnesota
River. The creek's two major branches, the North Fork and the South
Fork, meet north of 84th Street just east of Bush Lake Road in Bloomington.
Because urban development in the Nine Mile Creek floodplain has increased
r runoff from the watershed, control structures are needed at the outlets of
r
storage areas to prevent severe erosion in the steep portion of the creek
valley.
i
The Bredesen Park/Mud Lake area of the Nine Mile Creek Watershed District
is located along the North Fork of Nine Mile Creek in west -central Edina. As
€ shown on Figure 1, the area is bounded on the south by Crosstown Highway 62,
on the north by Vernon Avenue, on the east by Olinger Boulevard and on the
west by Gleason Road. The perimeter topography of the park, except for that
in the southeast corner, is characterized by hills, prairies, and open
meadows. The interior consists primarily of marsh and other wetland areas,
the largest of which is Mud Lake in the southeast portion of the park. Some
open water is present in the northern portion of Mud Lake and in smaller
ponding sites to the north. The south side of Mud Lake is covered by a
floating bog. Nine Mile Creek flows through the southwest corner of the park.
Hydrology
As shown on Figure 2, the total drainage area of Nine Mile Creek upstream
of Crosstown Highway 62, including the Mud Lake drainage area, consists of
approximately 3 square miles in Edina, 2 square miles in Hopkins, and 2 square
miles in Minnetonka, a total of 7 square miles. The total Mud Lake drainage
area consists of 1-3/4 square miles in Edina; this total includes a direct
E
drainage area of ;I square mile, an indirect drainage area of 3/4 square mile
and a landlocked area of ;i square mile (Mirror Lake).
The direct drainage area of Mud Lake is the area bounded by Crosstown
Highway 62, Olinger Boulevard, ;Schaeffer Road and Vernon Avenue plus land that
drains into storm sewers discharging into that area. The indirect drainage
area is the drainage area of Hawkes Lake; outflows from Hawkes Lake into the
Mud Lake system are regulated by a lift station at the Hawkes Lake outlet.
The northern and central portions of the Bredesen Park/Mud Lake area drain
into Mud Lake, which outlets into Nine Mile Creek on the south edge of the
park. The southwest corner of the park drains directly into Nine Mile Creek.
Backwater computations and field survey data indicate that Nine Mile
Creek does not back up into the Mud Lake area during floods less than the 50 -
year frequency event on the creek. The creek does back up into Mud Lake from
the south during floods exceeding the 50 -year frequency event, however.
Figure 3, 100 -Year Flood Level Profile -North Fork of Nine Mile Creek, shows
the 100 -year flood on the creek between Crosstown Highway 62 and Gleason Road.
The elevations shown on Figure 3 are based on the assumption that encroach-
ments into privately -owned floodplain areas along the creek will be limited to
20% as set forth in the Overall Plan, Nine Mile Creek Watershed District (Barr
Engineering Co., April, 1973).
Proposed Improvement Plan
Description of Plan
The proposed Improvement Plan for the Bredesen Park/Mud Lake area is
illustrated on Figure 4. Figure 5, Index of Improvements, shows the major
items requiring construction under the plan. The primary features of the
project are discussed in further detail in the following paragraphs.
The major work performed under the improvement project will consist of
dredging and flooding in natural ponding areas to create small ponds visible
from a system of trails. Water levels in the ponds will be maintained by
dikes constructed across the pond outlets. Mud Lake will also be dredged and
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diked to create a large open pond in the center of the site; islands will be
constructed in the open water area of the lake. Ponds created under the
improvement project will have: a combined surface area of approximately
f 18 acres. Other marsh areas can be developed into ponds if additional open
water is desired for the final improvement plan.
' f
Ponds in the northern part of the park will be connected by open ditch
and pipe sections to provide stream environment and to facilitate augmenta-
tion of pond water levels during drought periods. A well will be installed at
the approximate location shown on Figure 5 and water will be pumped from the
well into the pond system when water levels fall below normal. Ponds receiv-
ing direct 'urban runoff will act as settling basins to remove settleable
impurities in stormwater; these ponds will be equipped with skimming devices
at their outlets to collect floating impurities.
The park's trail system will consist of two perimeter trails, one for
walking and jogging and one for non -motorized biking, and an interior trail
system for walking, photography and other interpretive uses. The interior
trails will pass by or through all of the area's varied wetland environments,
including streams, marshes, and ponds, to maximize the public's opportunity
{ to observe and enjoy nature from the trails. An asphalt biking path and wood
chip walking path are currently, in place around the perimeter of the park;
these paths will be improved, realigned and resurfaced as needed to create the
perimeter trail system. The perimeter pedestrian path will be located inside
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the bike path at all points, and bridges will be provided at the two locations
where the perimeter paths cross Nine Mile Creek. The two perimeter trails are
shown as a single line on most of Figure 4.
Vehicle access and parking will be provided off Olinger Boulevard on the
northeast side of the park and off Gleason Road in the southwest corner of the
park. Perimeter and interior trails will be accessible from Olinger
3
Boulevard, but only perimeter grails will be accessible from Gleason Road.
The Olinger Boulevard access will consist of a one-way entrance road leading
to a 50 -stall parking lot and a one-way exit road extending from the parking
lot to Olinger Boulevard; space will be graded for an additional 75 parking
stalls along the exit road. A 30 -stall parking lot will be constructed at the
10
;lesson Road access. Bicycle racks will be available in both parking areas
and bus parking will be provided in the northeast lot. Rest areas with
lomfort stations and drinking water and picnic facilities will be provided at
both points of public access.
Low-intensity lighting will be provided in the Olinger Boulevard parking
area, but existing lighting at the Crosstown Highway 62 -Gleason Road inter-
change should provide sufficient light for the southwest parking area. Rest
areas will be graded and landscaped, and sewer and water lines will be
extended into these areas from Olinger Boulevard and Gleason Road. Lighting
r will not be provided on interior or perimeter trails, although a portion of
the perimeter trails will be lit by existing lights on roads adjacent to the
park. Existing power lines in the northeastern part of the park will be
relocated underground as part of the improvement project.
The entire interior of the park will be fenced to control access and to
protect habitats in interior areas. Fencing currently in place will be
upgraded and relocated as necessary to accommodate changes in the location of
perimeter paths. As shown on Figure 4, fencing will be located on the inside
of the perimeter trails. Trees will be planted as required along existing
perimeter roads to provide a sight barrier from adjacent urban areas.
The existing house in the interior of the park will be maintained in its
present condition under the improvement plan. The building may be developed
into an interpretive nature center in the future, but such work is outside the
scope of the improvement project. The existing entrance road to the building
will serve as the entrance to the interior trails; the road will be narrowed
and realigned to limit visibility of interior areas from the outside. A gate
will be erected at the east end of the road to allow the City of Edina to
control access to the interior trails.
9
Environmental Assessment
The Bredesen Park/Mud Lake area contains an unusual diversity of plant
® life, wildlife and terrain that: together create a wilderness environment of
unique value to the City of Edina and the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
11
Because it exists within an urban environment, however, the Mud Lake ecosystem
must be carefully managed and protected to prevent further urban encroachment
within its boundaries. The primary environmental impacts of the improvements
shown on Figures 4 and 5 are discussed in the following paragraphs.
The diversity of Mud Lake's natural resources will be greatly enhanced
under the improvement project by the creation of small and large fresh water
ponds, stormwater storage ponds, inundation areas, marshes with fluctuating
water levels, floating bogs, and continuous and intermittent streams within
existing wetlands. These varied water resources will increase the area's
flood control potential, provide additional wildlife habitat, and increase
the area's scenic and interpretive value to the public. Floods on Nine Mile
Creek exceeding the 50 -year frequency event will back up into the Mud Lake
area, thereby reducing flooding downstream of Crosstown Highway 62.
The stormwater storage ponds included. in the plan will increase water
quality within the system by removing settleable impurities in urban runoff
entering the area. Skimming devices will be provided at the outlets of these
ponds to remove floating impurities. Materials excavated for the construc-
tion of ponds and parking areas will be used as fill for the construction of
trails, dikes and roads. Such a. balance of materials eliminates the need for
the detention of spoils or for the removal of spoils from the project area.
The effects of increased noise and activity within the park boundaries as
a result of increased public usage will be minimal under the proposed plan,
Recreational activities such as biking and jogging will be limited to peri-
meter trails, and interior trails will be reserved for more interpretive uses.
Fencing and the placement of picnic areas and biking and jogging paths on the
outside of the fences will help to control pet access, littering, and the use
of motorized vehicles within the interior of the park. Trees planted along:
existing perimeter roads will enhance the park's wilderness quality by
obstructing the view of urbanized areas outside the park.
The proposed Mud Lake improvement plan meets the basic flood control,
erosion control and water quality objectives of the Nine Mile Creek Watershed
District. Flood storage is provided by marshes and open water within the
i area, and water levels in ponding areas are maintained by controlled outlets.
Storm drain outlets for runoff entering the: Mud Lake area will be relocated as
necessary under the plan to direct urban runoff into designated stormwater
storage ponds.
Property Ownership
As shown on Figure 6, Property Ownership Map, the City of Edina owns all
of the property that will be affected by the Bredesen Park/Mud Lake Improve-
ment Plan. No privately -owned acreage will be required as right-of-way for
the improvement project.
Cost Estimate
The preliminary cost estimate for the Bredesen Park/Mud Lake Improvement
Plan is shown in Table 1. The estimate is based upon the preliminary project
design shown on Figures 4 and 5. Table 1 will be updated upon completion of a
detailed analysis and design.
The Bredesen Park/Mud Lake improvements will be financed in accordance
with the Nine Mile Creek Watershed District's Policy Statement Regarding
Project Financing. A copy of this statement is presented in Appendix 2..
Under the terms of the financing policy, the Watershed District will finance
up to 100% of project items relating to water resources management (Priority
1), up to 50% of project items pertaining to the enhancement of water and
related land resources (Priority 2), an(; up to 25% of land acquisitions
(Priority 3). The breakdown of the Preliminary Cost Estimate (Table 1)
between the City of Edina and the Watershed District is shown in Table 2;
previous expenditures by both parties are included in this table.
Recommendations
The Bredesen Park/Mud Lake Basic Water Management Improvement Project is a
feasible and necessary part of the overall. water resources plan of the Nine
Mile Creek Watershed District. The plan meets the flood control, erosion
control and water quality objectives of the Watershed District and at the same
time enhances the public's opportunity to observe natural resources and to
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TABLE 1
PRELIMINARY COST ESTIMATE
Bredesen Park/Mud ]Lake
Basic Water Management Improvement Project
Engineering and Administration (207)
187,100
$ 19125,000
SUBTOTAL
580,000
Land already purchased
0
Additional Land and/or Easements
TOTAL PROJECT COST $ 1,705,000
*Based upon 1979 costs for projects of similar scope.
15
ESTIMATED COST*
ITEM
$ 263,000
Excavation
259000
Select Borrow
176,000
Pedestrian and Bicycle Trails
Pedestrian and Bicycle Bridges
35,000
51,000
Storm Sewer and Appurtenances
61,000
Well and Pump
150,000
Comfort Stations
43,500
Parking Lots and Roads
70,500
Utilities
12,500
Fencing
50,000
Landscaping
$ 937,500
SUBTOTAL
Engineering and Administration (207)
187,100
$ 19125,000
SUBTOTAL
580,000
Land already purchased
0
Additional Land and/or Easements
TOTAL PROJECT COST $ 1,705,000
*Based upon 1979 costs for projects of similar scope.
15
TABLE 2
PROJECT FINANCING
Bredesen Park/Mud Lake
Basic Water Management Improvement Project
New Items
Priority 1
Priority 2
Priority 3
TOTAL
Previous Expenditures
Land Purchase
TOTAL
16
Cost Breakdown
Watershed City of
District Edina
$ 314,000 $ 0
311,750 3119750
0 0
$ 6259750 $311,750
$ 145,000 $435,000
$ 770,750 $746,750
4
1
recreate within a protected wilderness environment. It is recommended that
the improvement project be implemented in accordance with the Bredesen
Park/Mud Lake Improvement Plan shown on Figures 4 and 5 of this report.