Master's student Casey Schmidt (MS) investigated impacts of stormwater sediment loads, hydrologic changes and water quality on an urban floodplain. Recommendations to restore floodplain and mitigate loads were provided in a 2005 report to municipality and communicated to stakeholders through several extension workshops – no restoration efforts made at that time. In 2012 the Lake downstream of floodplain was listed as impaired. The municipality is now interested in restoring floodplain to help improve water quality partially pressured by community stakeholders (Feb. 2013) – looking at implementing restoration plan #3 proposed by the student in 2005 report. |