Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 11/18/2004

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d) e) 200_t Com£rehensiw Plan Amended FebruaO, 26, ~ Tree CanoPy The CiEv' ol~ Ramsey has conducted general tree inventories using aerial photography and t-shalom sampling in 1979 and recently in [99Z'937. This report indicated that the predominant tree ~/pe in Ramsev is the Oak tree. This pauern consistent with the Critical Are~"N[N~=k Co~idor. Other species that are commonly (ound in the Critical Area.Comdor include Boxe!der. Chemz, Green Ash, Ehn. Dogwood. Basswood and other bo~omland tree species. Oak ~vilt has been on the rise in Ramsey andis a concern to the stabili~ of the Oak population. Rare Species Other than the t~sh that occupy the Mississippi River, the Cviticai Area~Nff4P,2LK Corridor does not appear to harbor any sibmificant :'are species/ However, given the si~iEcance or' the Mississippi River as a route lyf wildlife.migration and a harborage t'or a variew of species, we should not rule out the possibili~/of' rare species !ivin~ within the Con'idor..:ks development occurs within the coMdor, site analysis should be performed to rule out the presence or' any rare species. Historical and Cultural Features The first white settlement occun'ed at [tasca Village located just southeast of the current Wayside rest along Highway 10. This village was a prime location +~br a trading post as it was near the Mississippi River, the Red River Trail (a.k.a. Militao' Road) and eventually Dayton Station, one of the first depots along the Northern Pacific railroad fi'om Minneapolis to St. Cloud. However, the Village was slowly abandoned during the late t850s as the Federal Government relocated the Winnebago Indians and the nearby town of Anoka grew into a regional center. A monument, which tells the sto~ of [tasca Village and its settlers, is located at the Wayside Rest along Highway 10. Also, a residential subdivision lacated in the general area of the historic village was named Itasca Heights and has a sign that boasts the name. Bowers River Estates subdivision is named after one of the early settlers who helped with the settlement of Itasca Village..V[any settlers established farmsteads along the river and the Rect River Trail. A t'ew old barns remain along the highway, but most remnants early settlement are no longer present. No locally or'regionally des. i~mted historic sites are located within the corridor in Ramsey. North of the Ramsey boarder in Elk River is the Oliver Kelly Historical Farm. This Minnesota State Historical Site, which sits along the Mississippi River, includes a visitor center and a living hJsto~ farm, Information about the early settlement days of Itasca Village and the region can be researched at the visitor center. Several pieces of literature describing the village make reference to indian artifacts remaining in the corricior: however, no physical site has been documented to exist today.'s The Anoka Count/Historical MUseum is also a good source for historical and cultural information- ~'or the rive,,' corridor. (See Figure, XI-3 .) ~eattn'es bia[tu'7i C~gmmuni[ies and R.u'e ' tn~q)nssa~ion on itasca "/illase was obtained fi'om :~c Oli,,'er i<e!l'-, i~istor!cai Ftu'm ',"[si[o~' '.]enmr ~oca~ed south oF HiBi~,..vay I0 in Elk ?~)/ Z~/ms~'., _-':m.,~rT.,>~,~.','A': 22