HomeMy WebLinkAboutStory Mill Community Park Public Comment from MT DEQ 3-21-14"Ueart0J environment hearth:; (Jeopk II
Montana Department of
Steve BUllock, Governor JE NVrnONMENT lL QUAU Y Tracy Stone-Manning, Director
P. O . Box 200901 • Helena, MT 59620-0901 • (406) 444-2544 • Website: www.deq.rnt.gov
March21,2014
Mayor and Commissioners
City of Bozeman
P.O. Box 1230
Bozeman, MT 5977]
Dear Mayor and Commissioners:
The Montana Department of Environment Quality's mission is to protect, sustain, and
improve a clean and healthful environment to benefit present and future generations. Our guiding
principles inform the choices and decisions we make at DEQ and give direction to the work our
employees conduct. The Story Mill Community Park proposal that the Trust for Public Land has
submitted to the Bozeman City Commission reflects many of the guiding principles, visions, and
values that support DEQ's mission. DEQ has been a partner on the Story Mill Community Park
project from early 2012. We recognized early on the importance of restoring Story Mill 's
wetlands, streams, and floodplains for water quality and quantity and the benefit to present and
future generations. We also recognized the tremendous opportunity that the Trust for Public
Land has presented to protect and restore one of the largest undeveloped tracts ofland within
Bozeman city limits.
The Story Mill property has a surprising amount of aquatic resources within its 54-acre
boundary. These include eight acres of degraded wetlands, a half-mile of the East Gallatin River
and its floodplain, a small portion of Bozeman Creek, and half-acre open water pond . Both the
East Gallatin River and Bozeman Creek are not meeting several State Water Quality Standards.
DEQ believes that restoring existing wetlands, increasing wetland acreage, developing an oxbow
swale on Bozeman Creek, and reconnecting the East Gallatin River to its floodplain will have a
positive impact on the quality and quantity of water downstream of Story Mill. The actions the
Trust for Public Land are proposing for restoration at the Story Mill Community Park will help
DEQ meet the federal Clean Water Act objective to protect and maintain the chemical, physical,
and biologic aspects of our waters and the objectives of the Montana Water Quality Act.
The Story Mill Community Park provides a unique opportunity to educate the public on
the land use decisions we have made and their impacts to the quality of our waters and health of
the surrounding lands .The Story Mill Community Park proposal combines restored natural areas
with nature trails, interpretative signage, and recreational opportunities to educate visitors about
the importance of protecting the environment. The Trust for Public Land has actively encouraged
classes of all ages to visit and use Story Mill as a living classroom to learn about the importance
of wetlands, riparian areas, and floodplains for water quality. DEQ recognizes the value of the
educational activities the Trust for Public Land is taking and will continue to support these
Enforcement Division • Permitting & Compliance Division • Planning. Prevention & Assist ance Division • Remediation Division
City of Bozeman Mayor
and Commissioners
March 2 I, 2014
Page 2 of2
actions at the Story Mill Community Park through work with the City of Bozeman and Montana
State University.
The Trust for Public Land has created through the development of the Story Mill
Community Park proposal overwhelming community support and partnerships. The support and
partnerships created demonstrate the value Montanans put on the environment and the quality of
life that we enjoy. At DEQ we encourage everyone to share responsibility to protect these values.
For this reason, DEQ has made professional time and financial investments in the Story Mill
Community Park proposal and remains committed to the success of this project.
The Story Mill Community Park provides a unique opportunity to restore and protect a
large natural area within Bozeman's city limits for present and future generations. The Montana
Department of Environmental Quality supports the Trust for Public Land's goals, vision, and
values presented in the Story Mill Community Park proposal. We encourage you as Mayor and
Bozeman City Commissioners to approve and support the Story Mill Community Park proposal
and create a clean and healthful environment at Story Mill for the benefit of present and future
generations.
Thank you for considering this proposal.
~ Tracy Stone-Manning
Director