9.C.4. PRSR 10-08-2003 r Item 9.C.4
City of
Elk -�.
River
MEMORANDUM
TO: Park and Recreatio. Commission
Lel
FROM: Michele McPherso 7. irector of Planning
DATE: October 8, 2003
SUBJECT: Establish a Greenway Subcommittee
Attachments
• September 24, 2003 e-mail from Hannah Dunevitz
• Natural Resource Guidance Checklist
• September 24, 2003 Memo Regarding MN ReLeaf Grant
• Greenways Natural Resources Assistance List
After the September 22 joint meeting with the City Council,the City Administrator requested that
research continue to determine the cost to complete a natural resources inventory in order to
implement the greenway concept.
I would like to establish a small subcommittee of the Commission to prepare a request for proposal
to accomplish this objective. Rebecca Haug, Environmental Technician will be working with
Sherbume County in order to identify oak forests within the community and then identify areas of
oak wilt and prioritize their treatment. The work that will be done under the ReLeaf grant will be a
small subset of the overall natural resources inventory.
I have contacted Dave Schwarting,County Engineer,regarding the County's plans to fly the City for
aerial photography. We believe that work that we are doing relating to geographic information
systems can be "bartered" for high color resolution orthographic photos. Staff will continue to
work with Sherburne County regarding the photography portion of the project.
I anticipate the subcommittee meeting two - five times to identify the components of the RFP,
review the text of the RFP prior to distributing them to those on the attached Natural Resources
Assistance list, and to review the RFP's once they have been submitted in order to make a
recommendation to the City Administrator regarding the firm to be hired.
The Commission should note that there is currently no money budgeted for this activity,however it
could potentially be a 2004 park CIP budget item.
Memo to the Park and Recreation Commission
Natural Resources Inventory Subcommittee
October 8,2003
Page 2
Recommendation
The Commission is asked to establish a subcommittee of three members to assist staff in the
preparation and review of an RFP to complete a natural resources inventory.
S:\PLANNING\Parks\Greenways\Greenway subcommiaee.doc
Mcpherson, Michele
From: Hannah Dunevitz [hannah.dunevitz @dnr.state.mn.us]
Sent: Wednesday, September 24, 2003 1:12 PM
To: MMcpherson@ci.elk-river.mn.us
Subject: Re: Inventory Pricing
F6F
cklst-nr Consultants Land
inventory.pdf Cover and Pla...
Hi Michele -I'm attaching some information that should be helpful. The
first is some guidance about doing natural resource inventories. The
second is a list of consultants we are aware of that have done land
cover mapping and native plant community inventories and done a good
bob. We recommend that the Minnesota Land Cover Classification System
e used, so that it will be compatible with land cover mapping in
adjacent metro area counties. You can read about this at
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/m1ccs/index.html
One advantage of using mlccs is that you can do the kind of natural
resource analysis we did in the 7-county metro using the mlccs cover
data. We are finalizing a way for communities who have GIS capabilities
to do it themselves, and it is almost ready.
We have found that land cover mapping generally costs between $1.00 and
$2.00 per acre. This involves scanning recent aerial photography,
digitizing polygons on the computer, and doing field checits.
Please note that this is a very important step, but is only the first
tep. Once you know the land cover in the city, it will be important to
nave a process in mind for analyzing this information and putting it
into a greenways or open space plan. Hoisington Koegler can help with
that, or perhaps Renay can provide assistance from the Conservation
Fund.
Another thing that would be really useful would be to collect some
information on wildlife in the city. Joan Galli, our Nongame
Specialist, could provide you with some information about how to do
that. Her e-mail address is joan.galli @dnr.state.mn.us
I will be happy to help in whatever way I can. Let me know if you have
further questions.
> > > "Mcpherson, Michele" <MMcpherson @ci.elk-river.mn.us> 9/23/2003
2:35:18 PM > > >
Hannah and Paul:
Help! Pat asked me to find out how much an inventory is going to cost
He
City for the greenway project. I need names of firms, examples, etc
for the
commission to pick through so that they can put together a project and
get
some idea of cost. I will talk to the County and see if they have
more
recent aerials, but we may have to budget to get them flown next year.
Thanks.
Michele McPherson
Director of Planning
1
Minnesota Department of Natural Resource- Natural Resource Guidance Checklist
Natural Resource Inventory and Analysis for City or County bt s
Why Use This Checklist? NR Checklist ,
This checklist is for a Natural Resource Inventory and Analysis,covering a fairly This is one of a seri:
large land area(e.g.,the whole city or county). This kind of inventory is useful to "checklists'produced •
the local unit(e.g. city or county government) in developing policies, informing of government(LUG)tit
land use decisions,and identifying areas for natural resource conservation and Minnesota Departmegt
management. A natural resource inventory should be done at least every 10 Resources, Metro Ree.._
years or sooner if the resources have changed significantly. checklist is intended to help the
community integrate natural
resources into a particular type of
A. Purpose local policy or plan. Each checklist
• What is the intended purpose or use for this natural resource is an outline of key components of
inventory and analysis? For example, is its intended use one of a typical LUG planning document
the following and how does that suggest what it should entail? with important natural resource-
• to guide development of goals and strategies for related questions to consider and
resource conservation and management some examples,definitions,and
• to identify priorities for resource conservation references.
• to evaluate current natural resource management
practices
• to guide policy development
• to provide information for parks, open space,trails See Another Checklist
and/or greenway planning natural area management plan
• What are the specific products which the inventory needs to specific a fi si is identified detailed
produce to be useful? (e.g. maps, data sets, etc - see section F inventory and management plan
below) tailored to that use is needed. This
• How will specific inventory scope, methods and products be finer scale is addressed in the
chosen to help the community answer its questions, address its "Natural Area Management Plan"
issues, and progress towards sound decision making? Checklist.
B. Context
Larger landscape
Some natural resource issues are best addressed in the context of
the larger landscape, often across jurisdictional boundaries.
• What needs and opportunities exist to address key issues at a
larger scale? (e.g., at a watershed level)
• Have larger landscape patterns been addressed(e.g. using the
Ecological Classification System- see box on next page) and Definition
how might that information be used to suggest opportunities natural area
and needs to coordinate with other communities in the same h human largely y where eg modern
an activity,,where vegetation is
zones? distributed in naturally occurring
• What are the economic, social and/or ecological roles of natural patterns.
areas, commercial forestry lands, and/or agricultural lands, both
within the municipality and among municipalities and
counties?
Natural Resource Guidance Checklist-Natural Resource Inventory&Analysis for City or County-December 2001 1
Community values
• What is known about local values and concerns regarding Resources
natural resources? DNR web pages
Many natural resource data layers,
• Is this inventory process coordinated with a community including native plant communities
participation or visioning process in which local people are mapped by the Minnesota County
identifying the importance they place on natural resources? Biological Survey, are available on
• Are such processes being used to help give direction or identify the"data deli"at
priorities for natural resource conservation? deli.dnr.state.mn.us.
Information about rare species,
C. Inventory Content native plant communities,and land
Natural resources to be inventoried protection options are available on
The community needs to develop a list of the types of natural the DNR's web site at
resources whose locations and characteristics should be identified www.dnr.state.mn.us/ecological_se
and mapped in the natural resource inventory. The decision on vices/nhnrp.
which resources to inventory should be based upon which natural
resources are most important to the local economy and its citizens
and/or it may be ones most unique and/or threatened. Natural Definition
resources which may be inventoried include the following (with native plant community
more specifics provided on some of these in the next sections): A group of native plants(plants
• existing land cover, including the types of forests, wetlands, indigenous to the site)that interact
other types of vegetation, agricultural lands, impervious with ach other and their neatly
surface, etc. environment in ways not greatly
altered by modern human activity or
• significant or sensitive native plant communities (see below) by introduced organisms.
• ecological landscapes (e.g.,using the Ecological Classification
System)
• species that are endangered,threatened or of special concern Resources
(see below) Ecological Classification System
• game and non-game wildlife and wildlife habitat (ECS)
• forest resources (see below) The ecological land classification is
• wetlands, rivers, streams, and lakes part of a nationwide mapping
• surface and groundwater quantity and quality system developed to improve our
• soil types and suitabilities ability to manage natural resources
• landforms, such as hills, streams, and watersheds on a sustainable basis. It is a
• geological hazards, such as floodplains,highly erodible soils, method to identify,describe, and
and areas of karst geological formations map progressively smaller areas of
aggregate resources, such as sand and gravel deposits land of increasingly uniform
• ecological characteristics.
• mineral resources, including precious and ferrous minerals Associations of biotic and
• local energy sources environmental factors that directly
• greenways and habitat connections between sensitive areas affect or indirectly express
• status of land conservation (e.g., public ownership as protected differences in energy, moisture, and
open space and/or as park, enrollment in CRP, etc.) nutrient supplies are used. These
• existing trails and public accesses and their distribution relative factors include climate,geology,
to human populations topography,soil, hydrology and
vegetation.
Natural Resource Guidance Checklist-Natural Resource Inventory&Analysis for City or County-December 2001 2
Native plant communities Resources
• Does the inventory identify locations of native plant
communities in both upland and lowland areas? Natural Heritage Information
• Does the native plant community inventory incorporate these Bystem and Minnesota County
Biological Survey(MCBS)
basic standards? The Natural Heritage Information
• Make use of Minnesota County Biological Survey System provides information about
(MCBS) data. New information should be incorporated rare species and native plant
using an adapted version of their methodology. communities. The MCBS has
• Standard names for plant communities, etc. should be collected these data for many
used. counties. For a MCBS map of your
• An ecological quality ranking, such as that described in county,call(651)296-2835. For a
the Minnesota Land Cover Classification System printout of rare species and native
(MLCCS) handbook, should also be assigned to each plant community occurrences in
native plant community location(polygon). your area,submit a completed data
request form,available on the DNR
Rare species web site(see box below)or by
1? calling(651)296-7863. To obtain
• Does the inventory identify locations of state listed species rare species data electronically, call
(endangered, threatened and special concern)? (651)296-7863. Electronic native
plant community data are available
Forest resources on the DNR's"data deli"(see box at
Forest resources include any rural forest lands (e.g., native forest top of previous page).
communities, woodlands,plantations, etc.) as well as urban forests
(trees within towns and developed areas such as those along
streets, on public property and in private property). Resources
• What are the community's forest resources that should be standard names for plant
inventoried? For example, does it include resources such as the communities
following? see Minnesota's Native Vegetation:
• native forests and woodlands (e.g. mesic oak forest, A Key to Natural Communities.
maple basswood forests, oak savanna, etc.) MnDNR, Natural Heritage Program.
• plantations (e.g., managed for timber, Christmas trees, 1993.
orchards, etc.)
• woodlots, oldfields dominated by trees
• trees on public (city and/or county, etc.)pro e. Resources
p p e ( g' native plant communities
street trees) A regional plant ecologist with the
• historic or champion trees Natural Heritage and Nongame
• hazard trees Research Program can provide
• What type and level of inventory is needed to address the information about the Ecological
forestry issues of concern? Classification System,original
• For example, does an inventory of rural forests provide vegetation,existing natural areas,
information such as the following? and native rare plants and animals
S site characteristics in your area. In the greater Twin
S composition and condition of existing stands Cities metro area,call 651-772-
S presence and condition of wildlife populations 7570.
S presence of any historic or cultural features
Natural Resource Guidance Checklist-Natural Resource Inventory&Analysis for City or County-December 2001 3
Special concerns
In addition to examining particular natural resource characteristics,
the community may want to investigate issues of special concern
that may be affecting or impacting natural resources. Some of
these can only be assessed through field survey work and ground-
truthing.
Depending on the purpose of the inventory they might include:
• invasive-exotic species
• tree canopy cover
• impervious surface
• forest health problems
• fire-prone property
• water management
D. Inventory Methodology
Methodology
The methods used should be based on a standard protocol suitable
for the scale and purpose of the inventory.
• Does the inventory methodology incorporate these basic
standards?
• It combines delineation of land cover on infrared aerial
photos/digital orthoquads (DOQs) and field checking
and/or uses other data layers which are geo-referenced
to DOQs.
• The information is digitized and incorporated into a
geographic information system(GIS).
• The inventory is done by trained natural resource Resources
professionals and ecologists familiar with the particular Minnesota Land Cover
Minnesota natural resources to be inventoried. Classification System(MLCCS)
• Should the inventory incorporate a method being used by other is a new GIS-based inventory
communities within the region(e.g., the Minnesota Land Cover method useful in providing land
Classification System)to assist with sharing data and cover information for land use
coordination? decision making which is being
used throughout the Twin Cities
Existing information Metro Region. It uses aerial photo
g interpretation and ground truthing to
Design the inventory to gather missing information or improve the develop a GIS data layer with
usefulness of existing data(e.g., National Wetlands Inventory, soil detailed native plant community
data, etc.). and cultural land cover mapping to
• How will the format of newly-collected information be 1-2 acre polygon resolution.
integrated with existing information? Contact MnDNR, Metro Region,
• How will both be used? bart.richardsonOdnr.state.mn.us.
E. Analysis
Conducting analyses on inventory data
Once the inventory data is collected, it is used for conducting
various analyses based upon the intended purpose for this work.
Natural Resource Guidance Checklist-Natural Resource Inventory&Analysis for City or County-December 2001 4
Analysis could be done on the following:
• existing habitat for particular wildlife
• potential greenway connections (for natural habitat and/or
recreation purposes)
• opportunities for native plant community or habitat restoration
(see below)
• areas needing vegetation management(e.g., street tree pruning
or prairie burning or weed control)
• wildfire risk assessment
• overall state of natural resource health(e.g.,including insect
and disease problems, invasive exotic species, etc.)
• threats to unique plant communities
• lands with natural resource-based economic resources (e.g.,
tree farms, gravel pits, etc.)
Conservation/preservation areas
The community may want to conserve or protect from development
areas such as commercial forest lands, agricultural lands, and/or
significant natural areas.
• Does the analysis include identifying areas which the
community would like to conserve and protect from
development?
• Has the following information been identified for these areas to
conserve?
• specific sites for different types of conservation or
protection
• specific land protection tools, such as conservation
easements, conservation overlay districts, etc. for each
parcel
• preliminary management goals, objectives, and/or
recommendations for each parcel.
F. Results
Products
Typically, the most useful products of a natural resource inventory
and analysis are coordinated sets of computer databases and GIS
map layers which are compatible with the tools used by the local
unit for planning and management purposes. This allows for the
natural resource information(data layers)to be easily accessed,
frequently used, and as needed updated by local staff.
• What products will make the results of this inventory and
analysis most useful to the local unit?
• Which of these typical products should be included?
• a series of GIS data layers and maps (and related
databases), e.g. on:
S land cover type(with each polygon mapped and
Natural Resource Guidance Checklist-Natural Resource Inventory&Analysis for City or County-December 2001 5
referenced to a table of attributes)
S soils,by type
S wetlands,by type and jurisdiction
S lakes,by state shoreland management classification
S agricultural land,by productivity class
S lands enrolled in a conservation reserve program
S forest cover,by type,age and condition
S steep slopes (e.g., greater than 12 percent)
S flood plains
S important plant and animal habitats
• a description (written narrative) on the community's
major and most unique natural features
• brief lists of key elements, e.g. dominant species or rare
species found in community
• a discussion(written narrative) of issues, problems,
threats, etc. related to natural resources
• recommendations,priorities, or next steps (see below)
Using the results
Depending on the purpose of the inventory and analysis,the fmal
report or product may suggest additional uses for this information.
Additional uses could include:
• developing a set of goals and strategies for resource
conservation and management for the overall area, as well as
specific goals and strategies for key natural resource areas
• identifying priorities for natural resource management and/or
conservation, and/or protection (e.g., this could involve rating
or ranking conservation of areas or features with consideration
given to factors, such as, how imminent is the loss or
destruction of the resource, relative rarity of the resource,
community values, economic or commodity value of the
resource, etc.)
• evaluating current development patterns and practices (e.g.,
how well are natural systems and the services they provide
being maintained or restored? Are renewable resources being
managed in a sustainable way?)
• guiding local policy development(e.g., how would the
information be used in comprehensive planning, development Reference
review, recommendations for future growth patterns, etc.?) This checklist includes ideas from
• providing information for parks, open space,trails, and "Under Construction:Tools and
greenway planning. Techniques for Local Planning"
Minnesota Planning,2002.
Natural Resource Guidance Checklist-Natural Resource Inventory&Analysis for City or County-December 2001 6
U,,
City of
Elk
River :
MEMORANDUM b
;> t
TO Mayor & City Council
5, S rt 3
FROM Rebecca Haug, Environmental Technician
DATE: September 24, 2003
SUBJECT: MN ReLeaf Grant
Recently the City of Elk River along with Baldwin, Livonia, and Big Lake Township, and
Sherburne County applied for a grant to the Minnesota Department of Natural
Resources — Division of Forestry. The grant monies will be used to conduct a
community forest assessment. The community forest assessment will provide an
overview of what exists, what the current condition of the woodlands are, and what
direction or approach might best be followed toward establishing a community forestry
program within the financial means allowed. By developing a community forestry plan
that is supported by the City's residents, future decisions can then be made on allocating
funds in the geographic areas most needed and in the programs most desired. The
project will also include the implementation of an oak wilt cost-share program, which
will provide financial assistance to landowners for oak wilt suppression, removal of
infectious trees, and restoration of affected sites. The Oak Wilt Program is expected to
treat about 20 oak wilt sites but this number could fluctuate depending on assessment
results and local interests and needs. Landowners will be offered 2 options concerning
remaining trees within vibratory plow line. Based on the option selected, they will be
eligible to receive between $50 up to $300 for assistance with removal of eligible trees
with a match equal to or greater than the amount received.
The County Forest Resource Specialist (Tim Edgeton) will serve as the initial
coordinator of the program and will help the city with most aspects of the grant,
including arranging and designing the forest assessment work and developing the oak
wilt suppression program. A forest consulting company will be hired to conduct the
assessment, interpret the data, and present the findings. Kunde Co., who has been
involved with the majority of suppression work since 1991 under the County program,
has indicated they would like to continue work with the township and city programs in
the county. County staff, local community members, and other volunteers will assist
with interpreting the data. A contractor will be responsible for the line layout and
installation of control line using a vibratory plow. The same contractor to ensure
compliance of necessary tree removals will conduct post-monitoring work. Volunteers
who are working either under the Woodland Advisor Program or the Master Gardener
Program will be available for a variety of jobs/needs including site inspections, tree
marking, ground truthing, and community outreach. The City will provide staff for
administrative work. The Sherburne SWCD will provide seedlings and literature for
tree planting component. Support from the Sherburne Extension Service and the
Woodland Advisor Program will also assist with fieldwork and outreach.
The City of Elk River will be responsible for maintaining the management plan and
updating it as needed. County staff and volunteers will also provide assistance for this
such as updating maps, providing field data summaries, and financial reports.
Maintenance of the trees will be encouraged through fact sheets and supporting
literature on buckthorn control, mulching, and brush control. Upon completion of the
project (after a plan is in place, assessment data is obtained, and a long-term direction is
identified) the city will evaluate what steps to take for a long-term community forestry
plan.
Because the area is comprised mostly of an oak forest covertype and that the area is
located in one of the fastest growing counties in the nation, the continued development
and implementation of an oak wilt suppression/education program is vital for having a
forest resource to manage in the future. The data collected from the assessment will
serve as a basis for determining a long-term Community Forestry Plan.
Metro Greenways Natural Resources Assistance List
Draft, Revised September 24, 2003
The following is a list of consultants, in alphabetical order, that we are aware of that have
technical expertise in land cover mapping and native plant community inventory
techniques. It is not a complete list nor is it an endorsement of any one firm over another.
Natural Resource Inventory —Native Plant Communities:
Paul Bockenstedt
Bonestroo, Rosene, Anderlik&Associates " z y,.
2355 West Highway 36 r� r
St. Paul, MN 55113
(651) 604-4812 ,t{v.
pbockenstedt@bonestroo.com
Barb Delaney
1038 200` St.
Dresser, WI 54009
(715) 294-3635
bdelaney@scc.net
Tony DeMars
Emmons & Olivier Resources
3825 Lake Elmo Ave. N.
Lake Elmo, MN 55042
(651) 770-8488
(651) 770-2525 fax
tdemarsna,eorinc.com
Jason Husveth
Critical Connections, Inc.
163 Victoria Street, Suite 4
St. Paul, MN 55104
(651) 222-2009
(651) 247-0474 cell
CCIEcology(aatt.net
Cynthia Lane, PhD
Ecological Strategies, Inc.
P.O. Box 3
Maiden Rock, WI 54750
(715) 448-4331
clane@cannon.net
I
L. Peter MacDonagh
The Kestrel Design Group
5136 Hankerson Avenue Suite 1
Edina, MN 55436
(952) 928-9600
(952) 928-1939 fax
pmacdonagh @a,kestreldesigngroup.com
Fred Rozumalski
Ban Engineering
4700— 77th Street, Suite 200
Minneapolis, MN 55435
(952) 832-2733
(952) 832-2601 fax
frozumalskiAbarr.com
2