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<br />2001Comprehensive Plan <br />Amended February 26, 2002 <br /> <br />XIII. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION! RESOURCE MANAGEMENT <br /> <br />Two sound principles that represent a strong consensus of the Ramsey Community are <br />protecting the environment and managing or preserving the natural resource base. The results <br />of the community-wide vision session and community survey reinforced the importance of <br />these principles as seen in the following two "Guiding Principles": <br /> <br />Ramsey is: <br /> <br />A Place with a Sustainable Clean and Healthy Environment <br /> <br />It is important for residents, business, and industry to be environmentally sensitive and make a <br />conscientious effort to maintain a clean and healthy environment. We must pass on our clean <br />air and clean water to our children and future generations. All future development should <br />minimize the negative environmental impacts on the region's ecological system ensuring that <br />the built environment is in harmony with the natural environment. <br /> <br />A Place to Preserve Natural Resources <br /> <br />Ramsey has an abundance of natural resources. As development occurs, these resources <br />become ever more threatened. It is important to preserve and protect areas that may be <br />suitable to development but more appropriate for their natural use such as wetlands for storm <br />water infiltration, slope preservation for erosion control or woodlands and prairies for wildlife <br />habitat. Encouraging environmentally sensitive design and development will help preserve <br />these natural resources. <br /> <br />A. Existing Conditions <br /> <br />Ramsey is fortunate to have an ample amount of natural resources and open space areas <br />and a community attitude that is increasingly concerned about the environment. The <br />inventory of natural resources and open spaces include a variety of wetlands, woodlands, <br />farmlands, parkland and two golf courses. Many native plants and trees are evident in the <br />community. Early settlers cleared much of the land for farming in the early settlement <br />days, but since then residential development has been the main force behind the loss of <br />native vegetation allowing for the introduction of new species into the Ramsey <br />community. The following is a limited description of the natural features and their <br />characteristics that can be found in the Ramsey community and surrounding areas of the <br />Anoka Sandplain. This inventory includes information that has been gathered at a regional <br />level including sources such as U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, Department of Natural <br />Resources, U. S. Army Corp of Engineering, U.S. Department of Agriculture, the <br />Metropolitan Council and other federal, state and regional resources. Information has also <br />been obtained by local studies conducted by the City of Ramsey. <br /> <br />1. Wetlands <br /> <br />The City of Ramsey has an abundance of wetlands in a variety of wetland types. The <br />following inventory includes two sources of data: the National Wetland Inventory <br />(NWI) and the DNR's Protected Waters Map (see Figure XIII-I). The National <br /> <br />2001 Ramsey Comprehensive Plan Page XIII-1 <br />Amended February 26, 2002 <br />