Citizens of Afton obtain their drinking water from the ground. It is therefore essential that thoughtful developmental planning be followed in order to protect this vital resource. Because groundwater and surface water are connected, it is essential to protect the streams and lakes. Afton residents pride themselves in protecting the surface water resources. The St. Croix River, Valley Creek, Trout Brook, Mays Lake (Lake Edith), Kelle's Coulee and a variety of wetlands are exceptional water features which define Afton and are highly valued resources. As such, the City will develop an educational plan to encourage citizens who impact Afton's surface water features to utilize low impact chemical use practices on their properties.
(WATER RESOURCES MAP)
Afton is a rural community with primarily large lot single-family residential and agricultural land uses. Due to the emphasis on low-density development, stormwater control is typically handled by minimizing impervious surface and preserving large amounts of natural and pervious surface cover.
The biggest threat to Afton’s water resources is continued urban development within the Valley Creek watershed passing through the northeastern portion of the City of Woodbury. There is concern that urban development and increased impervious surface in northeast Woodbury will have a profound negative impact upon surface water quality in Afton.
Afton is cooperating with the Metropolitan Council and the Belwin Nature Center by allowing surface water monitoring of Valley Creek. Afton intends to work with the Metropolitan Council, the DNR, and the City of Woodbury to protect water quality upstream of Afton’s border and expects these agencies to be vigorous in their protection efforts.
The City of Afton establishes the following groundwater and surface water goals:
1. Maintain and preserve all wetlands identified within the City.
2. Maintain or improve the quality of water in the lakes, streams and rivers withini the City.
3. Prevent erosion of the land and sedimentation in the City's surface waters.
4. Manage groundwater resources through a combination of regulation and public education.
To bring about these goals, the City of Afton hereby adopts the following policies:
- Use the DNR approved ordinances for shoreland, bluffland, floodplain and wetland protection.
- Use erosion control policies to protect surface water resources during development and agricultural practices.
- For every proposed subdivision, the drainage pattern, runoff, and surface and ground water resources will be analyzed in detail and appropriate preservation measures will be taken.
- All storm water ponds need to be designed at minimum, to meet National Urban Runoff Program (NURP) standards and all subdivisions and grading projects must follow Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Best Management Practices.
- Encourage Best Management Practices for mitigating stormwater runoff such as rain gardens, permeable pavers and infiltration swales in new subdivisions.
- Adopt by reference the Water Management Plans of each of the four Watershed Management Organizations (VBWD, SWWD, LSCWMO, MSCWMO) that serve the City in their respective areas.
To enact these policies and perpetuate the goals of the city, the City of Afton seeks to implement the following strategies:
