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

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Wildlife Refuge Management Zone 2 Recommends'non: Access should be limited onto CIoquet Island. Cloquet Island represents a declining flocdplam forest community native to the 3make sand plain. Some human disturbance has occurred on fl:ds island, when the-fiver has been low people 'have been known to take their off-road veh/cles onto the island to drive around (Cox, 1995). Limited access onto this island will help presep/e its ecological mte~ as a wildlife management ZOne. Recommendation: The proposal to develop campsites on Cloquet Island should be eliminated. The 1994 AnoLa County Master Plan recommends that campsites 'be bulk on CloqUet Island. We believe these campsites should not be developed.' Three factors lLmit the development of the proposed campsites: 1) soil erodibilst'y, 2) flooding potential, and 3) potential liability-. Camping generally involves a kigh amount of human traffic and takes place near the water's e~e. Tlxis added hurnmx activrcy w/il involve a high cost and a high level of maintenance to ensure that the soils on the island are nor eroded into the Nfississippi River. The elevation of the high ground on the islands is below the high water level of the Nfississippi R/vet and vail be immersed m the event of a flcod. Flooding usually occurs in the spring-and during wet surrmler_~. Human life rrmy also be at risk in the event of a flash flocc[, l_f campsites are highly desired on this island, ~t is suggested that development be kept to a' minimum and that the campsites have restricted access dUnng t_he spring and other fanes when flooding appears likely. Presetwation Zones The steep slopes along the river ( piesep~ation management zone 1) and the oak woodland~ brushland (preservation management zone 2) in the old gravel pit are the preservation zones within the 'park. Preservation Management Zone 1 Recummendanon: Trct~c and development near the myer banks shouid be kept to a minimum. The zo~!s mv~ro~ m~cares ~ar l~se s~dy sod do~ates ~s area. If trails or o~er de,/eiooment were ~o occur, ~e co~ of ~bii-imng ~e b.~ would be si~fic~t. Veg~tion along e~mg ~raiJs may 2ct as a ba~er to soil erosion. 77