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City of Ramsey 2030 Comprehensive Plan Update <br />Chapter 13: Environmental Protection /Resource Management <br />13. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION / RESOURCE MANAGEMENT <br />A. Existing Conditions <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 />1. Wetlands <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 13 -1). The National <br />Wetland Inventory put together by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers includes a more <br />thorough inventory of land areas that have an impact on maintaining and enhancing <br />the quality of the water. Table 13 -1 represents the wetland types as designated by the <br />U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services that can be found in the City of Ramsey. <br />Table 13 -1 NWI Wetland types found in the City of Ramsey <br />Wetland Type <br />Wetland Description <br />Type 1 <br />Floodplain Forest and Seasonally - <br />Flooded Basin <br />Type <br />2 <br />Wet Meadow or Prairie <br />Type <br />3 <br />Shallow Marsh <br />Type <br />4 <br />Deep Marsh <br />Type <br />5 <br />Open Water (Pond) <br />Type <br />6 <br />Scrub Shrub Swamp <br />Type <br />7 <br />Wooded Swamp <br />The Minnesota Wetland Conservation Act (WCA) of 1991 outlined a program for the <br />conservation of wetlands. The WCA is directed through the Minnesota Board of <br />City of Ramsey 2030 Comprehensive Plan Page 13 -1 <br />