01/26/2005 Env Bd Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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development. Since there is no trail need, the achievable greenway area to the South would not need upland. There is reason to establish greenway areas without trails for ecological reasons. From the new Open Space Plan, and the Environmental Handbook for Conservation Development the following reasoning stands beside this: Ecological Buffers as an Integral Part of the Greenway System Ecological buffers provide the physical separation between sensitive or vulnerable natural resources and the built environment, including: • Buildings, roads, yards, lawns, and other active human -use areas. • Source of Stormwater carrying contaminants • Sources of noise, Tight, and other contaminants • Sources of wind blown and water washed debris, etc. Buffers typical fall within the natural resource conservation area or enhancement area of a greenway system and are used to protect the ecological values of the natural resources protection area. Buffers serve a variety of purposes, including: • Preserving the ecological integrity of healthy, sensitive, or rare natural vegetative communities • Preserve water quality by managing stormwater runoff and contaminant loading. • Providing wildlife corridors. In Lino Lakes, where natural break lines (like steep slopes) are limited, using horizontal distances to separate the natural and built environment is most practical. As a baseline, a 300 -foot buffer is optimal to maximize ecological values. The first 100 or so feet of the buffer fall in the primary zone, with the next 200 in an incentive zone. Figure 2 illustrates these zones. •