10.C.3. PRSR 03-10-2004Item # I O.C.3.
MEMORANDUM
TO: Park and Recreation Commission
FROM: Michele McPherso~(D~ for of Planning
DATE: March 10, 2004
SUBJECT: Discuss Greenway Natural Resources Inventory
Attachment
• Work program -Natural Resources Inventory
Paul Bockenstedt and Liza Gould will be in attendance at the Mareh 10 meeting to discuss
the Natural Resources Inventory project goals and objectives, and review the work program
and schedule. A public open house is included in the work plan and we anticipate
scheduling this for either May 13 or May 18 if Lions Paxk Centex is available.
Please be prepared to discuss the Natural Resources Inventory work program and ask the
consultants any questions that you may have regarding the project.
S:\P1,ANN[NG\Michele McPherson\PAItKNRNIC\Namcel 2esoueecs Invcmory\03 10 04 P&R memo.doe
Work Program
Task 1: Project Initiation
March 2004
Project Initiation Meeting
Two Bonestroo staff members will attend a project initiation meeting
with City Staff and Park & Recreation Commission to be held at a
regular Park Commission meeting on March 10, 2004 to discuss
project goals, objectives, and schedule.
Throughout this project Bonestroo staff will participate in up six
meetings. Bonestroo staff will be responsible for facilitation and
recording/distribution of minutes for the Park & Recreation
Commission and public meetings.
Deliverable:
Meeting with City staff/Park & Recreation Commission
_; Task 2: Assemble Existing Information
March -April 2004
Relevant natural resource information will be gathered and organized.
The following information will be collected, where available:
o DNR Natural Heritage data bases, records and maps
on rare features, including natural communities and
endangered plants and animals
o Previously conducted studies of natural resources
within the Elk River
o National Wetlands Inventory
o DNR Protected Waters and Wetlands Inventory
o MN DNR Ecological Classification System -
Subsection coverage
o Sherburne County Soil Survey
o Landform data from the MN Geological Survey
o Other applicable surveys and studies
The city/county will be responsible for obtaining the most recent black
and white aerial photography for the study area to enable accurate
mapping later in the project.
Task 3: Aerial Photo Interpretation
During this portion of the project, we will use aerial photo
interpretation to delineate natural and semi-natural communities. MN
DNR Color Infrared and FSA true color aerial photos will be used to
map these vegetative cover types. Preliminary natural community
and MLCCS polygon boundaries will be mapped on mylar overlays
City of E/k River Natura/Resources Inventory/MLCCS
Bonestroo & Associates
and/or plotted true color 36 X 36 (1"=200') images for natural and
semi-natural areas that either occur within or intersect the boundaries
of parcels greater than 5 acres in size within the study area. Infrared
photos with overlays and the plotted true color maps will be used
during the field inventory/ground-truthing portion of the project.
Task 4: Landowner Contact
April/May 2004
Bonestroo ecologists will identify parcels of parcels greater than 5
acres in size within the study area where a detailed field inventory by
a plant ecologist is appropriate.
We will provide parcel information to the city along with an electronic
template of a sample landowner contact letter and response postcard.
City staff will send a letter requesting property access to the
landowner of each of these properties that included apre-paid
postage return postcard. Bonestroo staff will handle landowner
questions regarding the NRI.
Deliverable:
• Electronic template for Landowner Contact Letter & response
Postcard
• Sample landowner contact letter
• Data base of landowner responses to access request
i Task 5: Pre-inventory Public Meeting
May 13, 2004
Bonestroo staff will attend one pre-inventory public informational
meeting/Open House within 2-3 weeks after. property access letters
are mailed.
Bonestroo will provide up to four large-scale plotted graphics for the
meeting, these may include:
•: NRI Fact Sheet/What is an NRI/MLCCS?
•:• What are the steps of an NRI?
:• How will information from the NRI be used?
•:• Up to 36 X 48 inch plotted aerial photo with parcel lines and
major street names.
Other graphics may be substituted as identified by the Parks/Planning
Commission
Deliverable:
City ofE/k River Natural Resources Inventory/MLCCS
Bonestroo & Associates
Open House design and presentations by Bonestroo staff on
project goals, activities, and products
Task 6: Field Inventory
May -August 2004
Bonestroo ecologists will conduct detailed field inventories for natural
areas on properties greater than 5 acres, where property access is
granted. Where property access is not granted, we will gather
information by viewing natural areas from an accessible viewing point
and through aerial photo interpretation. The final data set will reflect
level of field visit for each natural/semi-natural area.
Bonestroo ecologists will use methodologies employed by the DNR
Natural Heritage Program, County Biological Survey to determine
natural community type and quality. MLCCS methods and standards
will be followed for classifying semi-natural community types.
During the field inventory, a broad range of information will be
gathered, depending on community type. Examples of the type of
information that will be gathered includes
•: Landcovertype
•:• Significant or sensitive upland and wetland communities
e Rare species
•: Exotic/invasive species
:• Wildlife occurrences and wildlife habitat
•:• Forest resources
:• Wetland features, including streams, ponds, lakes, and
wetlands
:• Water quality and quantity
In addition, landform and any notable geological features or hazards
will be noted, where they occur. At a minimum, this information will
be incorporated into the data through the use of modifier codes in the
MLCCS database.
For all natural areas that are field visited, the composition of dominant
tree, shrub and groundcover species will be recorded. Particular
emphasis will be placed on identifying plant species that indicate the
quality of the natural community. Examples of indicator species
include invasive/exotic species, those species considered
"conservative" for the community type, and rare species found only in
exceptional quality natural areas.
City of f/k River Natural Resources Inventory/MLCCS 3
Bonestroo & Associates
Additional field notes will also be gathered on related natural resource
management concerns such as excessive erosion/sedimentation, fire
danger, stormwater runoff, and incompatible land use/management
practices.
Task 7: MLCCS Digitizing and Data Entry
June -August 2004
MLCCS Mapping and Data Entry
Natural and Semi-natural land cover polygons will be digitized and
coded in ArcView GIS software. Whenever possible, classification of
land cover type will be to Level 5. Where Level 5 codes do not exist
for a particular cover type, MLCCS coding will be done to the highest
level available, or to the highest level of accuracy permitted by the
level of property access. Preliminary mapping, field checking, and
final digitizing will be according to standards and procedures outlined
in the MN DNR publication Minnesota Land Cover Classification
Svstem Training Manual, Version 5.2 ,August 2003. Field collected
data and other related information will be recorded in a data base
within ArcView, and/or a compatible Microsoft Access database.
Bonestroo ecologists will include the following MLCCS modifiers for
natural areas and appropriate natural areas:
• 257 -Trails
• 33X series -natural area quality
• 4XX series -records invasive species and how frequently they
occur in a particular natural community
• 6XX series -Forestry modifiers including health, stand age,
and other information
• 72X series -Water modifiers, Built features
• 73X series -Water modifiers, Wetland features
• 74X series -Water modifiers, Stream features
• 75X series -Water modifiers, Spring feature
Bonestroo staff will provide written monthly updates to City staff by
the first. Wednesday of each month on recently completed project
activities. This will allow updates to be provided to the Park &
Recreation Commission at their regular meetings.
Deliverables:
• ArcView coverage of:
o MLCCS polygons/data base for natural/semi-natural
areas
o Soils, by type
yl City of Elk River Natural Resources Inventory/MLCCS 4
lal--- -._- ---- -- _ ____.._---------
Bonestroo dAssociates
o Wetlands (both National Wetland Inventory and as
defined by MN DNR Natural Heritage classification)
o Agricultural lands, by productivity (as available from
NRCS or other)
o Lands within CRP (as available from NRCS or other)
o Forest cover by type, age, condition (MLCCS modifiers)
o Floodplains (FEMA flood zones)
o Steep Slopes (based on USGS topographic data and/or
soils)
Task 8: Ordinance Review and Parcel
Evaluation
Bonestroo ecologists will review existing city subdivision requirements
and provide recommendations on how these can be updated relative
to low impact development strategies such as clustering. Bonestroo
will identify parcels greater than 40 acres in size that are suitable for
cluster development and other non-standard design methods. Where
property access prevented a field inventory, sites with potential
suitability will be noted (based on aerial photo review) and
recommended for inventory prior to, or at the time of development.
Deliverables:
• Report section providing recommendations for updating city
rules/ordinances
• Map highlighting parcels of greater than 40 acres where
alternative design methods are appropriate
~- Task 9: Report Creation & Draft Report
Presentation
August -September 2004
After completion of field work and data entry, a draft report will be
created that includes site-specific information regarding community
type, quality, restoration potential, and other pertinent information
mentioned above. Also included will be:
• Project Methodology
• Natural Resource Inventory/Land Cover Classification results
o Summary of land cover by natural community type
o Location of significant concentrations of natural areas
• Recommendations on
o Priority lands for protection/acquisition
o Potential Greenway connections
o Summary of restoration practices and threats to natural
areas
o Revisions to subdivision requirements
of E/k River Natural Resources
5
Bonestroo d Associates
o Priority conservation areas
Color figures will be provided for:
o Community types and quality
o MLCCS land cover types
o Potential greenway corridors
Priority lands for protection/acquisition by City, DNR, or
others
Rare species findings will be provided for each of the
project areas
Ten copies of the draft report will be provided by September 30, 2004
to allow time for City Staff and Park & Recreation Commission
members to review the document. We propose to present the Draft
NRI Report at the October 13, 2004 Park & Recreation Commission
meeting in a workshop prior to the regular meeting. At this time, Park
& Recreation Commission members and other stakeholders present
will be engaged in a dialog to review report contents and solicit input.
We recommend feedback on the draft report be provided to
Bonestroo by October 29 to allow time for comments received to be
incorporated into the document and a Final NRI Report to be printed.
After comments are received and any necessary revisions made to
the report, Bonestroo will print and bind 10 copies of the final report.
Deliverables:
• Ten copies of the Draft NRI Report, including color figures
• Presentation of the Draft NRI Report to Park & Recreation
Commission
• Incorporation of comments
• Ten copies of Final NRI Report, including color figures
• CD with electronic data of report in Microsoft Word
• CD with pdf files of Final NRI Report with figures in a suitable
format for posting on city website
• One 36 X 48 plotted color wall map including Level 5 MLCCS
coverage for entire project area
- Task 10 -Presentation of Findings
October 2004
We propose that the Final Report be presented to the Park &
Recreation Commission members and City Staff for approval at their
November 10, 2004 meeting.
~~ City of Elk River Natural Resources Inventory/MLCCS 6
Tu ------- --
Bonestroo dAssociates
After acceptance by the Park & Recreation Commission, Bonestroo
Staff will participate in up to two meetings to present the results of the
inventory. These may include a public informational open house held
to coincide with the Park & Recreation Commission regular meeting
and the Elk River City Council.
Deliverable:
• Presentation of NRI Final Report to Park & Recreation
Commission
• Presentation of NRI findings at two additional meetings that
may include:
o Public Open House
o City Council meeting.
Cost of Service
Task Lump Sum Fee
1 Pro'ect Initiation 1,072
2 Assemble Existin Information 760
3 Aerial Photo Inter retation 2,400
4 Landowner Contact 600
5 Public O en House 1,292
6 Field Invento 9,504
7 MLCCS Di itizin and Data Ent 7,352
8 Ordinance Review and Parcel Evaluation 1,708
9 Re ort Creation & Draft Re ort Presentation 4,296
10 Presentation of Findin s 2,972
Subtotal 31,956
Miscellaneous Ex enses
Milea a 600
Printin , Plottin , Photoco in , Bindin 449
Color Infrared Photo ra hs 50 @ $8.50 ea. 425
TOTAL COST 33,430
C:IDocuments and SettingslpjblLocal SettingslTemporary Internet FilesIOLK39FlElk
River NRI-MLCCS Contract Scope_3-3-04.doc
of E/k River Natural Resources Inventory/MLCCS
Bonestroo & Assoc,ates