01/03/2001 Env Bd Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Ingrid Verhagen, MPCA, noted that MPCA owns four superfund sites in the county. Two of them are in identified corridor areas. Another has a nice oak savanna on it and the other is in the riparian corridor of Coon Creek. Everyone agreed that there is a good opportunity for prairie establishment on these sites. Clarence Lehman described the Cedar Creek Natural History Area, noting it is the U of MN's largest land holding with over 6 square miles, one of the nations premiere long - term ecological research sites, the home of radio tracking, one of the most diverse areas in the state with examples of ecosystems from all of the major biomes in the state. They are also conducting open -air research on atmospheric carbon change. He noted that they are very interested in how the area surrounding the CCNHA is managed because it will undoubtedly impact them. The group noted the great resource the CCNHA represents to show residents what is meant by natural communities and how unique they are. CCNHA staff, researchers and former research papers were also noted as a potential references /resources for improving techniques to manage for functional wildlife corridors. There is also a great opportunity for new research to investigate current wildlife movement compared to that of the 1970's prior to much of the development that has occurred. The group discussed how to coordinate future planning and benefit from each others efforts. There is support for additional planning in Linwood, East Bethel and Lino Lakes. Chris Lord agreed to prepare planning grant outlines for Linwood Township, the City of East Bethel, and Lino Lakes to complete inventories and do some cursory planning. Parks and ACD will jointly prepare an application to conduct additional planning and implementation in the already inventoried Cedar Creek Corridor and Northeastern Anoka County project area. Implementation will involve parcel prioritization for education and outreach and then providing workshops and on -site consultation to interested landowners on how to manage their property and land protection options. Long term, there is a need to pursue additional inventories in Oak Grove and St. Francis. The group agreed that everyone would greatly benefit from the hiring of a county -wide greenway coordinator to provide planning and inventory expertise to all interested municipalities, coordinate efforts between municipalities, and promote land protection options and beneficial land management techniques in high priority areas. ACD could house such a person. Potential funding sources were discussed and include DNR, Met Council, Anoka County Parks and municipalities (more likely the county with municipal support since funding could come from property tax revenue anyway and the county already contributes significantly to ACD). Lord will try to coordinate meetings to pursue discussions on this. A plan would have to be well underway by April to accommodate budget planning for 2002, with a start date of January 2002. Thanks to everyone for attending and to Anoka County Parks for the great facility and lunch.