03/11/2002 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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COUNCIL MINUTES MARCH 11, 2002 "I support passage of Ordinance 03-02 as quickly as possible in hopes that it is not too late to save the crown jewel of the Anoka County Chain of Lakes Parks and Judge Wargo Nature Center as well as the City's identity (and logo). The undisputed fact is that the Peltier island heronry, one of the best in the State, was deserted in 2000 and 2001 with eggs or young in the nests so that the production of two years was lost, totaling an estimated 2,400 birds. For nesting birds to desert with young or eggs in the nest requires some catastrophic event, either natural or man-made. Dr. Scott Lanyon, Director of the Bell Museum and Professor in the Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, and former Chairman of the City of Lino Lakes Environmental Board, has examined nine possible scenarios that might explain the sudden mass exodus from this nesting colony. His analysis included such factors as disease, weather, food, tree health, presence of eagles, noise from highway construction, h an disturbance other than noise and motor boat disturbance close to the island. His conciusf ollows: `It remains • possible that the noise associated with the construction (35W) was p is •r even completely responsible for the abandonment of the colony in 2000. However 't cannot be the primary cause...in 2001.' (No construction was going on in 1 1) Regarding the motor boats close to the island he said: "It appear likely that this coul�r sufficient disturbance to cause a mass abandonment of this colony...' As part of my job as consultant for the M management of the Peltier island hero desertion in heronries across the Co or other natural causes but the gre iY ests' Department of Natural Resources on ed the literature regarding causes of Occasionally, desertions are due to weather events are due to human disturbances. From my studies of this situat recommendation that a no -w urgency of such actio hould providing another ch opportunity is extremel with the findings of Dr. Lanyon and with his motor boats be created around the island. The e underestimated. If the colony reassembles this year, em, we can all thank our lucky stars because another Vicki Nass stated she serves as the supervisor of the Soil Water Conservation Department of Anoka County, however, she was not present this evening in that official capacity. She stated she lives in East Bethel and indicated the birds which the proposed ordinance would attempt to save are the same birds that come to her backyard. Therefore, the decision made this evening will affect all of Anoka County and likely a large amount of Washington and Chisago Counties. She stated the birds are not just the City of Lino Lakes' resource, rather they are every citizen's resource. Ms. Nass stated she has been involved in the nest counts at the Peltier Lake island, which reduced from 1,100 to 350. She stated she has been a State and Federally licensed wildlife rehabilitator for over 10 years and has had the joy of having herons living with her in her house while attempting to save their lives. Additionally, people from all over the State as far as 100 miles away have driven to her home to bring injured birds to her for her care. 6