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Trott Brook is named after the Trott family who settled in Ramsey near the brook. Joseph and Ester Trott came from Maine with their two children, Zilpha, age 18, and Vileno, age 8, in 1855. According to the 1860 census they had a third child after moving to Anoka County. It is likely that the Trott family moved to Minnesota looking for white pine to log. Forests in Maine and other eastern states had been depleted and loggers began to move westward (W ovcha et aI., 1995). In 1856, Joseph Trott set aside one acre of his claim in Section 2 of Ramsey Township for a burial ground (Anoka County Historical Society, 1977). The first burial in this cemetery was his daughter Zilpha, on September 29, 1868 (Anoka County Historical Society, 1977). Also buried in the cemetery are the "children of J & E Trott" (Anoka County Historical Society, 1977). Joseph and Ester Trott are not documented to be buried in this cemetery, and their names are not recorded in the 1870 census. Current Uses and Preservation The current growth of Anoka County is rapid. The population exceeds 250,000 people, a 585% increase in the past forty years (Wovcha et al., 1995). In 1990, the U.S. Census Bureau determined Ramsey's population to be 12,408. As a result of increased population growth, land preservation has become an important issue to city residents. Preserving the natural areas around Trott Brook has many benefits for the community of Ramsey. These areas serve as contiguous natural areas for wildlife and recreation. Preservation of these natural areas is dependant upon education and awareness of the community. TERRESTRIAL COMPONENTS Vegetation and Wildlife Three main habitats are located adjacent to Trott Brook. Accordingto "Minnesota's St. Croix River Valley and Anoka Sandplain: a Guide to Native Habitats", the three habitats identified are typical of a dry oak forest, an oak woodlandlbrushland, and a willow swamp. Agricultural development has disturbed the habitats of Trott Brook, but many of the characteristic plant and animal species remain as well as the potential for reintroduction of rare speCIes. Dry oak forests are located on the upland regions of the Trott Brook Corridor. These deciduous forest communities have a short canopy of pin, bur, and red oaks, and a sparse subcanopy of hazelnuts, grey dogwoods, blackberries, and raspberries. This forest supports ahvariety of animals such as deer, squirrels, frogs, songbirds, and more. 4 I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I