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Thursday, August 02, 2007

Did you know - there is a Ramsey water plan, and the Bonestroo consultancy worked on it before taking on the 2008 Comprehensive Plan?



Here is all I know about it.

Also, there is the following, from here:

A Natural Resources Inventory (NRI) is a thorough accounting and assessment of natural resources within the city. An NRI will provide baseline data that can act as a blueprint for the city to guide more sustainable development. The city has hired Bonestroo & Associates to complete a city-wide NRI throughout this summer. The results will be incorporated into the Comprehensive Plan Update that the city is required to complete in 2008.


Water is a concern. Water moves. That makes it different from other things "property rights" advocates may talk about. Most of it here is underground, not in swamps or winter snow cover. The river is quite low these days, with two drought years in a row. How much lower is lowest? How does that affect plans for the good folks of Ramsey to drink river water, at considerable treatment capital expense?

I cannot answer that, I have not read the study, but I don't think the question should be lightly dismissed or ignored. It appears the City takes the question seriously as a policy, environmental, and engineering issue. That's far better than ducking the issue. It has to be a big part of the planning process. Staff and the Bonestroo consultants realize that. We need to have water, in its many aspects as a part of discussions, in multiple places where appropriate, in future 2008 Comprehensive Plan public sessions.