Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 04/13/2017

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A sustainable development framework is utilized in all new park and trail development and redevelopment to ensure ecologically sound land stewardship with an emphasis on maintaining the longevity of the facilities for public benefit. Figure 26 shows the existing land cover in the park, based on the Minnesota Land Cover Classification. The legend can be found in the Appendix as Exhibit 3. Based on the land cover and restoration projects that have occurred within the park, the following natural resource management components are an integral part of Anoka County's planning efforts associated with the development of Mississippi West Regional Park: Anoka County's Natural Resources Unit will be directly involved with the design, construction and monitoring of the proposed park redevelopment. A concerted emphasis will be placed on avoiding and minimizing any adverse impacts to the plant and animal habitat, as well as to the river. In addition, Anoka County will focus on incorporating local native seed and plant material that will compliment the ecology and function of the surrounding native plant communities. Protection of surface water resources will be a top priority for this project. Anoka County will work very closely with the City of Ramsey, the local Watershed Management Organization, the National Park Service's Mississippi National River Recreation Area, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), and the Metropolitan Council to ensure that the standards and requirements for resource protection are met. The MPCA's best management practice guidance document recommendations will be followed in the design and incorporation of stormwater pollutant and runoff flow reduction measures constructed in conjunction with Park upgrades. The MPCA best management practices guidance documents can be found at: http://www.pca.state.mn.us/index.php/water/water-types-and- programs/stormwater/index.html. The overall vegetation management goal for Anoka County is to identify restoration needs and to define and implement adaptive management strategies that will sustain the biological diversity, production, and function of native plant communities. Vegetation management within the park will focus on preserving native plants, introducing local native plants, eradicating invasive species, maintaining water quality within the watershed and providing for linear plant and wildlife corridor connections. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources reference "Guidelines for Managing and Restoring Natural Plant Communities Along Trails and Waterways" will be used as part of the long term management plan for this park. Considering that ecosystems are dynamic and continually changing over time and space, an adaptive management approach and framework fits very well with the County's practice of ecological restoration and stewardship. In the context of ecological restoration, the following adaptive management principles will guide the stewardship plan the Rice Creek West Regional Trail Corridor: 3/6/2017 Mississippi West Regional Park Master Plan Amendment 21