Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat News
The Newsletter of the Great Lakes
Aquatic Habitat Network and Fund
Volume 10, Number 1 • January-February 2002
Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat NewsThe Newsletter of the Great Lakes
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Lynne Olson
Environmental Association for
Great Lakes Education (EAGLE)
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency recently ruled that an Environmental Impact Statement is not required before construction can begin on a new sewer line along Lake Superior’s North Shore. A high percentage of failing septic systems has been causing water quality problems and a solution needed to be found. It’s unfortunate the only “alternative” that was really explored was a sewer line, with its incumbent “out of sight, out of mind” mentality of water usage.
In a narrow band of land, stretching approximately 10 miles up the Lake Superior shore, parts of three municipalities and two counties, including far outreaches of the City of Duluth, will be hooked up to the Western Lake Superior Sanitary District. There is concern whether the District can actually handle the increased flow; it already experiences severe inflow and infiltration problems during significant rain events with sewage often spilling directly into Lake Superior and its tributaries.
Is addressing the septic problem with a sewer line a trade-off for future water quality problems associated with the excessive commercial and residential development potential along this section of relatively unscathed lake shore? Based on current zoning regulations, if the maximum build-out should occur, what is a quiet rural community filled with middle class homes and “mom and pop” commercial establishments would likely eventually turn into a suburban sprawl situation with upscale development.
A steering committee of environmental organizations, citizens, and government representatives have met over the last year to formulate a land use plan to address the myriad of potential development issues. Unfortunately, the plan, called The North Shore Land Use Plan, has no regulatory teeth —governmental units are not required to adopt it. The good news is that the involved city, township, and county governments have undertaken comprehensive planning processes that seemingly will incorporate the North Shore Land Use Plan into their individual land use plans. While change is definitely in the air, there is hope that the North Shore communities deciding tomorrow’s future land use trends will be responsible enough to be outstanding stewards of the resource that holds 10% of the world’s fresh surface water—Lake Superior.
The saga of Spirit Mountain continues. In the latest developments, the City of Duluth administration seems intent on moving forward with seeing that work permits are granted for a project.
Issues surrounding the golf course development mainly rest on the provisions of federal grants using Land Water and Conservation Funds (LAWCON) to purchase the city-owned property in the 1970s. The developer is proposing a golf course using a combination of city and private property—it is the city land and the environmental impacts of the entire 18-hole course that are embroiled in controversy.
On a mid-December evening the Duluth City Council Chambers were packed to the brim with concerned citizens opposing the development. Councilors were going to vote on the approval of work permits. Also on the table was a resolution that would not approve a proposed land swap that is part of the mix.
After four hours of testimony, the City Council voted to deny the work permits and to not approve the land swap. Project opponents were temporarily ecstatic and Lake Superior may have been too—as the gavel came down on the work permits, a ship arriving in port blew its whistle as it passed under the Aerial Lift Bridge.
Mayor Doty could not veto the land swap resolution, but he could veto the work permit denial. Despite advice from the Minnesota DNR Commissioner to hold off on city action regarding work permits until LAWCON issues are resolved, and rather than follow the City Charter, Doty used a little known state law to veto the work permit denial. The council needed a 6-3 vote to override the veto, which they couldn’t muster. This means that work permits will be automatically approved, unless the City Council votes again to deny them before June.
In the meantime the City has been told that a more extensive federal environmental assessment of the golf course’s natural resources, environmental impact, and viable alternatives will be completed. It will include a far more complete and accurate environmental assessment than that provided in the developer’s Environmental Assessment Worksheet.
Because of the breathing room provided by the unresolved LAWCON issues, golf course opponents are taking time to develop their own alternatives for the site. As Mike Furtman from the Duluth Chapter of Izaak Walton League states, “[W]e have a lot of creative people in this city who—freed up from fighting with each other—might just figure out a way to meet everyone’s interests. Not only would this be good for Spirit Mountain’s natural assets, it would still create jobs and development. It would also be good for Duluth by fostering cooperation.” Stay tuned.
The land and aquatic habitats surrounding the headwaters of Lake Superior’s largest U.S. tributary, the St. Louis River, now enjoys new protection. The Nature Conservancy of Minnesota (TNC) recently acquired 7,464 acres of undisturbed woodlands and peatlands, known as the Sand Lake/Seven Beavers Preserve. The area is home to one of Minnesota’s largest areas of lowland conifers and rare plants such as Michaux’s sedge. TNC will permit traditional local recreation to continue as it works with Blandin Corporation to develop a forest management plan. The acquisition has been added to TNC’s other preserve in Northeastern Minnesota, 2,000 acres of northern hardwood forest in the Lake Superior Highlands along the Upper Manitou River.