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• REUTILIZATION PLAN FOR THE TWIN CITIES ARMY AMMUNITION PLANT DEVELOPED JOINTLY BY: AUDUBON SOCIETY, MINNESOTA AUDUBON COUNCIL IZAAK WALTON LEAGUE, AGASSIZ CHAPTER PRESERVE OPEN SPACE ENVIRONMENT SIERRA CLUB, NORTH STAR CHAPTER INTRODUCTION Because of the location and size of the site, as well as its The Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant (TCAAP), located tremendous natural resources, many parties have in northwestern Ramsey county, is almost 4 square miles expressed an interest in acquiring all or part of the area of land (2,340 acres) owned by the federal government. It Public meetings to discuss reutilization of the TCAAP have demonstrated a strong citizen preference to main- was purchased by the Army from private landowners in fain all or most of the TCAAP as open space parkland. the early 1940's for use as a munitions production facility. Prior to then, the land was used primarily for low-intensity To facilitate this effort and to begin discussions on farming -mostly pasture and some cropping. During peak appropriate land use on a decommissioned TCAAP, •munitions production, the Army developed over 300 representatives from four conservation groups jointly buildings, miles of intersecting roadways, an elaborate developed this plan for reutilization of the TCAAP. The heating system, several firing ranges, railroad spurs, and four groups were: Minnesota Audubon Council, Sierra extensive fencing. Even with this development, however, Club North Star Chapter, lzaak Walton League Agassiz substantial acreage remained virtually untouched in Chapter and Preserve Open Space Environment. Many natural vegetation. thanks are due to the representatives who used their Early surveyor's notes indicate that the presettlement extensive knowledge of the TCAAP and gave their time to vegetation of the TCAAP was oak savannah (DNR Files) - develop this plan. a distinctive plant community of the Anoka Sand Plain. HOW THIS PLAN WAS DEVELOPED The presence of one large and several small marshes Representatives of the above four organizations toured was also noted. Ramsey county's highest point - the top the TCAAP, studied available maps and plans, and met of Reservoir Hill in the center of TCAAP - is an ice age on several occasions to discuss land use options for the relict known geologically as a kame. The hill was formed TCAAP. A guiding principle of the group was that a by meltwater rushing through a fissure in the retreating significant proportion of the TCAAP should be devoted to glacier. The meltwater carried vast amounts of geologic till open space or outdoor recreation uses. Substantial (sand and gravel) that accumulated to form the unique justification for this principle is provided in the next hills of the TCAAP. section. The discovery in the early 1980's of extensive groundwa- To facilitate planning discussions and provide justification ter pollution resulting from inadequate disposal of toxic for resultant recommendations, the TCAAP was divided materials has led to a massive pollution cleanup effort on into 11 tracts (Figure 1). The tracts were selected the TCAAP. While most pollution is in the groundwater, because they demonstrated similar environmental charac- numerous surface sites have been identified for cleanup, teristics or levels of disturbance. and are underway. Similarly, efforts are also underway to remove lead and unexploded ordnance from the entire Based on the natural resources in each tract and the •area. Experts believe it could be 20 years or more before impact disturbance has had on these resources, each all cleanup is finished. tract was assigned one of three land use categories: Recently, the Army has initiated discussions to dispose of A. Low intensity recreation/habitat preservation: the TCAAP site - that is, give or sell it to another owner. acceptable recreational developments include: unpaved TCAAP REUTIUZATION PLAN PAGE 1