04/26/1999 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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John K. VonDeLinde Director April 9, 1999 Anoka County Department of Parks & Recreation 550 Bunker Lake Boulevard NW • Andover, Minnesota 55304 Mr. Jeff Smyser, AICP City Planner City of Lino Lakes 1189 Main Street Lino Lakes, MN 55014 Dear Mr. Smyser, Telephone (612) 757 -3920 • FAX (612) 755 -0230 As the City of Lino Lakes is aware, the St. Paul Water Utility Board of Water Commissioners have declared many parcels of their land in Lino Lakes as surplus and have directed their staff to investigate the disposal (i.e. sale) of the property. The Water Utility is offering the property at fair market value to interested governmental units. The majority of this declared property falls within the official master plan boundaries of the Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Regional Park Reserve, which presents an obvious acquisition opportunity for inclusion into the Park Reserve. In addition, eleven (11) parcels of surplus property, totaling 133.2 acres (see attachments A and B), are located directly adjacent to the Park Reserve, which also presents a logical opportunity for acquisition. Considering the unique ecological significance of these parcels, the Anoka County Parks and Recreation Committee is interested in pursuing their possible acquisition as an addition to the Park Reserve. In accordance with analyses of vegetation, soils, and hydrology data, the Anoka County Parks and Recreation Department believes that all 133.2 acres of the above mentioned property meets the criteria to be classified as jurisdictional wetlands under the Wetland Conservation Act of 1991. Consequently, no development would be possible. The three primary agencies that have jurisdictional authority over the wetlands are the Rice Creek Watershed District, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MN DNR), and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. In terms of ecological significance, the wetlands consist of a biologically diverse matrix of plant and animal communities. The vegetation includes emergent marshes, sedge meadows, wet prairies, and shrub swamps. The MN DNR's Minnesota County Biological Survey has identified the majority of this property as harboring highly valuable natural communities which are ecologically functional units of the natural landscape. In addition, the area provides habitat for rare plants such as waterwillow and wildlife such as osprey. In like manner, the Metropolitan Area's second largest heron rookery is located approximately 600 feet to the west of this surplus property. This unique heron rookery provides breeding and nesting habitat for three species of herons to include great blue herons, great egrets, and black- crowned night herons. Also, this area provides excellent fishing habitat for the herons, as well as a beneficial ecological buffer for the rookery. To this end, the Anoka County Parks and Recreation Committee has expressed an interest in pursuing the acquisition of this 133.2 acres of surplus property located directly adjacent to the existing Park Reserve boundary. On April 26th I will be presenting information to the Lino Lakes City Council in regards to the new master plan for the Park Reserve. If it would work into the schedule, this would also present an opportune time to discuss the additional acreage for consideration by the City. Our plans are to submit the final master plan to the Affirmative Action / Equal Opportunity Employer