Agenda - Planning Commission - 03/06/2014

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recreational open space has been, and will continue to be, an important tool for the region in protecting high quality natural areas. Council Role • Integrate natural resource protection strategies into regional system plans for infrastructure investments. • Collaborate with local, regional, and state partners to expand the regional parks system, as appropriate, to conserve, maintain, and connect natural resources identified as high quality or of regional importance, consistent with the 2040 Regional Parks Policy Plan. • Collaborate and convene with state, regional, and local partners to protect, maintain, and enhance natural resources protection. • Maintain an up-to-date regional Natural Resources Inventory and Assessment (NRI/A) in partnership with the Department of Natural Resources. • Provide technical assistance and tools for natural resources protection, conservation, and restoration. • Promote the implementation of best management practices for habitat restoration and natural resource conservation. Community Role • Include goals, priorities, and natural resource conservation strategies in the local comprehensive plan to protect and enhance natural resources identified in regional and local natural resource inventories. • Adopt and enforce ordinances for the conservation and restoration of natural resources within the community. • Work with regional partners and regional park implementing agencies to identify, plan for, and acquire natural areas and resources prime for preservation and protection. • Plan for aggregate resource extraction where viable deposits remain accessible, as required by the Metropolitan Land Planning Act. Water Sustainability Conserve, restore, and protect the quality and quantity of the region's water resources to ensure ongoing availability, to support public health, and to maintain a high quality of life. The prosperity, quality of life, and continued development of our region all depend on the sustainability of the quality and quantity of our region's water resources. As discussed earlier, an abundance of natural resources, particularly water, has long contributed to the vibrancy of our region. Early in the region's history, the Mississippi River provided an important source of energy and transportation for the milling industries, and shaping the region's development. The region is also home to two other major rivers, the Minnesota and the St. Croix, an expansive network of streams including high -quality trout streams, and over 900 lakes and numerous wetlands. In addition to the surface waters, the region also boasts access to a multi -layered aquifer system capable of yielding a large supply of good -quality water. These water resources DRAFT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT Last revised: February 21, 2014 69