Browsing by Author "Freesmeier, Claire"
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Item Clean Water, Clean Soil: City of Ramsey Septic System Engagement Plan(Resilient Communities Project (RCP), University of Minnesota, 2017) Hoffman, Maureen; Engels, Elizabeth; Schutt, Jake; Cloutier, Callissa; Freesmeier, ClaireThis project was completed as part of the 2017-2018 Resilient Communities Project (rcp.umn.edu) partnership with the City of Ramsey. The historic exurban development patterns evident today in the City of Ramsey initially emerged during the 1970s, when residential development was dominated by single-family homes with private wells and septic systems. Today, there are some 4,000 private septic systems in Ramsey. If not properly maintained or if in disrepair, septic systems present a serious threat to ground water quality and public health. The City of Ramsey wanted to improve outreach to septic owners to communicate the importance of regular septic system maintenance, and provide resources to protect the integrity of the systems and extend their useful life. Students in Dr. Dan Milz’s Planning and Participation Processes class evaluated current City communication and outreach efforts to septic system owners, interviewed topic experts and researched septic system maintenance best practices in other communities, and proposed an educational campaign and regulatory strategies to motivate residents to properly maintain their systems. The students’ final report and poster are available.Item Lake of the Woods Sustainability Assessment(2019-05-17) Dix, Alec; Freesmeier, Claire; Helgesen, Erik; Pattsner, MaxThis report is intended to provide the Lake of the Woods Keep it Clean Committee with an improved understanding of the environmental management challenges related to increased ice fishing pressure on Lake of the Woods, particularly in relation to the use of independent wheelhouses on the lake. Uncertainty about the extent and nature of the impacts from ice fishing and wheelhouse use is currently impeding the effective management of lake usage and the delivery of public services. Based on a synthesis of qualitative research, case studies, and literature on environmental management, this report provides the following policy and process recommendations that the Keep it Clean Committee can utilize to help address pollution concerns, protect their fisheries, reinforce strong local governance systems, support a robust ice fishing economy, and serve both residents and visitors to LOW now and in the future: • Develop and implement a lake access surcharge to secure additional project funding • Focus educational efforts on the lake access point-of-contact with wheelhouse users • Expand the role of resorts in the work of the Keep It Clean Committee • Continue community engagement through surveys, town halls, or other methods We have also identified two specific project directions that could form the basis for continued collaboration between the Keep It Clean Committee and the Humphrey School of Public Affairs. These projects are: • Educational program design for angler orientation on sustainable ice fishing • Case study research on local governance approaches to environmental managementItem Lake of the Woods Sustainability Assessment(The Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs, 2019-05-19) Dix, Alec; Freesmeier, Claire; Helgeson, Erik; Pattsner, MaxItem Restoring Our Edge: Rehabilitating the Mississippi Shoreline in Ramsey(Resilient Communities Project (RCP), University of Minnesota, 2017) Dix, Alec; Freesmeier, Claire; Hillstrom, AllyThis project was completed as part of the 2017-2018 Resilient Communities Project (rcp.umn.edu) partnership with the City of Ramsey. The City of Ramsey recently completed a shoreline inventory along the Mississippi River, which borders the city on the south. The results of this study showed significant soil loss and erosion, which equates to loss of property, damage to natural resources, and impacts to water quality. The City requested assistance determining next steps to address shoreline erosion. Students in Dr. Fernando Burga's Land Use Planning course assessed current shoreline erosion in Ramsey along the Mississippi, as well as the causes and impacts of erosion; identified potential shoreline restoration and stabilization techniques and funding sources; recommended outreach and engagement strategies directed at shoreline landowners; and presented example restoration projects based on erosion severity. The students’ final report is available.