Transcript Mississippi River Natural Resources Inventory From Partnerships to

Mississippi River Natural
Resources Inventory
From Partnerships to Product
Mississippi River NRI
Project Area Description
29 miles of Mississippi River corridor between the Blanchard Dam
near Royalton and the 10th Street Dam in St. Cloud.
High quality fishery including Smallmouth Bass, Walleye and
Musky.
This reach of river includes two pools created by dams at Sartell and
St. Cloud. The entire reach of the river includes three dams.
Much of the pool areas are developed to very high densities.
Free run of the river areas are largely undeveloped.
Region continues to be a growth hub.
Commuter rail has potential to accelerate growth further.
Growth while accommodating natural resources is the challenge.
Mississippi River NRI
Other Significant Events
Bioblitz Event – Residents help discover
living things in and around river
St. Cloud and Sartell enact
environmental ordinances
U of M landscape architecture students study the area
St. Cloud State University research in biologically
active toxins in waste water and how they combine
to affect aquatic life in the Mississippi River
The MN DNR begins a comprehensive fisheries survey
Mississippi River NRI
What Started It
Both north and south of this reach of the river, higher level
management plans are in place to guide development to maintain the
quality and the character of the River.
Benton County Comprehensive Local Water Management Plan
called for increased cooperation between counties with the goal of
water quality and quantity protection along the Mississippi River.
Mississippi River NRI
Beginning with the Benton SWCD and the Mid Minnesota
Mississippi River Resource Conservation and Development Council,
assistance was sought for developing strategies to help maintain the
quality of the Mississippi River despite growth and increased use.
The Minnesota DNR became aware and contributed $45,000 to
complete a Natural Resources Inventory for this reach of the river
1,000 meters from it’s banks. The McKnight Foundation, then
joined with an additional $30,000 and was this was used for
increasing the extent of the area in the South, where more growth is
currently occurring. The inventory was completed by Jason
Husveth, Critical Connections Ecological Services, Inc. in June, 2006
Mid Minnesota
Mississippi River
RC&D
Benton SWCD
Mississippi River NRI
Organizational Support
•In October of 2006, the DNR placed staff in Sauk Rapids, in part to
continue this effort.
•The DNR also received a Bush Foundation grant to foster
interjurisdictional cooperation and, among other things, was used to
fund the assistance from Jean Coleman with CR Planning who
assisted with meeting coordination and strategic planning.
•In addition, Jason Husveth, CCES, Inc., was made available to all
city councils and counties for map presentations to LGUs and NRI
Technical Training, held this spring.
Mid Minnesota
Mississippi River
RC&D
Benton SWCD
Mississippi River NRI
The NRI…
The NRI data was begun by
printing hard copies of FSA
aerial photographs and
identifying areas of similar
land cover.
Other data sets were referenced
including the DNR Forestry
infrared photographs, NWI.
Mississippi River NRI
The NRI…
The data was field checked
to the greatest extent possible
and values were assigned to
the cover types using the
Minnesota Land Cover
Classification System, or
MLCCS.
The data represents data
gathered to Level 5, or
the greatest level of detail
used in the MLCCS.
Mississippi
River NRI
Coverage of NRIs
Using the MLCCS…
Green Infrastructure Mapping
Creating
Connections in the
Community
In
Benton, Stearns, Todd, Morrison,
Mille Lacs and Kanabec Counties
Green Infrastructure Mapping
Partial DNR Central Region
Green Infrastructure Mapping
Partnerships•Along with the Natural Resources Inventories and Minnesota County
Biological Surveys, the Green Infrastructure product helps identify
opportunities for planning and protection strategies at the county and city
level
•Local Water Management Plan meetings were identified and meetings
were held. Partners include NRCS, P&Z, SWCD, FWS, Co.
Commissioners, lake associations, multiple DNR divisions, cities,
townships
•Hannah Texler, plant ecologist drafted the maps, sent them to me, I met
with the counties and Bart Richardson, GIS Project Coordinator
cleaned up polygons and managed the regional data set.
This includes making the maps available not only on the Data
Deli, but on a map server for easy access.
Green Infrastructure Mapping
What Are The Mapping Goals and Benefits?
Green Infrastructure mapping is intended to begin a discussion about, and
support for, a regional land and water network. By collaborating, a
network of significant natural areas, open spaces and connecting greenways
can be identified in the six non-metro counties of DNR’s Central Region.
•Helps communities provide multiple opportunities for residents to
understand and enjoy our natural resources.
•Identifies important natural areas to sustain their ecological functions as
well as potential connections to and buffering areas around natural areas,
and open spaces.
•Helps the community gain a better understanding of
existing opportunities to create an interconnected web of natural
areas for the betterment of the habitats and people of Minnesota.