Agenda - Environmental Policy Board - 03/16/2020

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unaccounted for in models, such as climatic variability, land cover changes, and land use management practices. As such, ACD relies on a rigorous routine monitoring program of target natural resources. Long term routine monitoring provides a baseline, trends, and pace of progress. As goals are reached for a particular resource, management efforts are shifted to maintenance mode. IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY Implementation is the process of taking actions to improve, or slow the deterioration of natural resources. Limited technical and financial resources make it necessary to adopt extended implementation time frames to achieve natural resource stewardship goals. As a matter of policy, ACD distributes staff and financial resources across many natural resources while pursuing large grants to accelerate progress on higher priority resources. To optimize progress toward goals, ACD pursues projects ranked as the most cost-effective in completed analyses. By taking this approach, we rely on the best available data to ensure that we achieve the greatest possible outcomes with limited available staff and financial resources. Annual efforts are determined in part by the willingness and readiness of local partners to invest in project implementation. PRIORITY RESOURCES Informed by the ACD 2014-2019 Comprehensive Plan and the 2020-2029 Comprehensive planning process currently underway, the following is a list of ACD's priority natural resources as approved by the ACD Board of Supervisors. Generally, ACD serves as the lead for projects in the Anoka County portions of the Rum River and Lower St. Croix watersheds, and a support capacity elsewhere unless requested to lead a project by partners in other areas. ACD LED PRIORITIES ➢ Impaired waters (sediment & nutrients - Golden Lake, Martin Lake, Typo Lake, Linwood Lake, Mississippi River) ➢ Declining water (Lake George) ➢ Nearly - barely (Rum River) ➢ Protection — (Coon Lake) 10