06/27/2001 Env Bd Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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An Assessment of Important Wildlife Habitats in the City of Lino Lakes Introduction: The adjoining cities of Lino Lakes in Anoka County and Hugo in Washington County are among the cities located in the urban fringe of the fast growing Twin Cities metropolitan area. They, like other fringe cities, are experiencing difficulty in accommodating development while also protecting their natural resources. The City of Lino Lakes has articulated it's environmental vison and goals in its Comprehensive Plan Update, still under review. The City visualizes "sustenance of the natural environment of Lino Lakes through the protection and management of the wildlife, habitats, and other natural resources and to pass on to future residents a community still rich in these resources." More specifically, the Plan states: "Lino Lakes is a growing community that contains rural and environmentally diverse areas. A priority of the community is to maintain its rural character through preservation of open space and environmentally sensitive areas (including) the establishment of greenways corridors ... the physical features of Lino Lakes lends itself to greenway planning. The objective is to preserve large areas of open space as a means of preserving the City's rural character. The establishment of linear greenways will serve to break up the urban land use pattern and define neighborhoods. The City will establish greenways that will connect the Regional Park with other natural open spaces in adjoining communities." In 2000, these two cities sought the assistance of the Department of Natural Resources through a program called the Wildland Urban Interface. The DNR agreed to assist Hugo and Lino Lakes with an assessment of the location and management needs of important natural resources, including wildlife habitat, within the Cities' boundaries and across their borders. It is the intent of the Wildlands Urban Interface project to help Lino Lakes achieve it's natural resource objectives by providing information to define some of the important natural resources within the City. Background: This assessment of important wildlife habitats in the City of Lino Lakes has been prepared by staff of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. The assessment is based on field observations conducted May 25, 2000 by Joan Galli, Regional Nongame Wildlife Specialist, Conrad Christianson, Environmental Review Program Supervisor and Bill Penning, DNR Metro Greenways Outreach Coordinator. Information to supplement the field observations has been provided by Mr. Art Hawkins, wildlife biologist (retired, US Fish and Wildlife Service) and a resident of Lino Lakes for 47 years and Mr. Jay Hamernick, (wildlife biologist retired, U S Fish and Wildlife Service and resident of Shoreview). Additional data on colonial waterbirds and nesting bald eagles was obtained from the MN DNR's Natural Heritage Information System and from the regular observations of eagle and heron activity in the Lino Lakes area by DNR Nongame Wildlife Program personnel.