Washington County Parks and Open Spaces Purpose of

Washington County Parks and Open Spaces

Purpose of Today’s Workshop: Seek direction on development of a Natural Resources Protection and Management System Framework

Aquifer Pollution Sensitivity Map Dark pink = Very High Light pink = High Orange = Moderately High Yellow = Moderate Green = Low Blue = Water

L A N D M A P S 1987 -89 MLCCS Land Cover Map Forest Map Natural Communities and Rare Species Map Vegetation Map 1930 1990 2017

Rural Character 250 000 USDA Ag Census: Acres in Farm Land 221 749 Acres 200 000 176 459 136 620 150 000 106 620 100 000 96 089 80 901 2002 2012 50 000 0 1950 1964 1978 1992

Current Land Protection 4, 421 acres in County Parks system (1. 6% of county’s land area) 7, 698 acres in private and scenic easements (2. 8% of county’s land area)

DRAFT Comp Plan: Parks, Trails and Open Space Goal: Protect, enhance, and provide access to precious public resources – our land, water, open space - through conservation and stewardship. o Policy: Prioritize investment in the protection and management of high quality open space. o Policy: Preserve, conserve, and restore natural resources by implementing sustainable practices that promote biodiversity and healthy ecosystems.

Percentage of Park Land Actively Stewarded

Role of Staff Natural Resource Coordinator Impacts • Vegetation management: controlled burns, prairie plantings, forestry mowing • Wildlife management, buckthorn and other invasive species management, tree disease removals and plantings, rain gardens, wetland mitigation • Writing, implementation of and reporting on state grants • Partnerships with numerous local and state agencies • Volunteer coordination

Natural Resource Coordinator Impacts • Active land stewardship • Participation in pollinator initiatives, master plans, Aquatic Invasive Species efforts, Sentence-to-Serve Coordination, guest services responses, trail grooming and coordination, studies, mapping, construction project design • Project Management of $430, 000 Outdoor Heritage Fund Grant for habitat enhancement and restoration of 250 acres at Lake Elmo Park Reserve, St. Croix Bluffs Regional Park and Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park • Communications with County Board and others • Ag and weed inspector

An Implementation Framework Designed to: 1) Implement Comprehensive Plan natural resource goals, policies and strategies. 2) Fulfill our responsibility of protecting our shared natural resources. 3) Ensure land water resources are adequately stewarded.

What It Costs To Not Do It Well • • • Impaired lakes, rivers and streams Contaminated groundwater Illness Poorer quality of life Lower property values Time and money to restore and meet regulations Fragmented, poorer quality natural areas Less animal and plant diversity, more extinctions Challenges for farmers Fewer recreational opportunities

Why It’s Needed • • • Sharpen the collective land water vision Improve agency/group coordination and communication Correct under-management and update practices To protect current and future residents Keep costs as low as possible – it’s financially responsible To fulfill the County’s vision, goals and responsibilities

Outcomes Sought • • • Protect high quality natural areas Restore and enhance native plant communities Protect groundwater and surface water Manage land around lakes, streams and rivers Create, enhance and manage wildlife habitat Develop Best Management Practices to support working lands including agroforestry, perennial crops, continuous living cover, and conservation grazing • Manage County and WCD project areas in the long-term

How We Will Do This o Engaging stakeholders o Mapping the network of protected lands and current management efforts underway o Gathering, reviewing, developing, refining, and creating new maps as needed o Updating priority areas for protection o Articulating issues and needs o Making recommendations for long-term management of natural resources to achieve the County’s vision

Key Stakeholders • • • Leadership Team Technical Advisory Committee Parks and Open Space Commission Washington Conservation District Board Washington County Board

Funding • $11, 600 from Public Works and Public Health and Environment for updated Land Water Legacy Program mapping • $11, 600 Washington Conservation District grant funds

Final Deliverables • A report: “A Natural Resource Protection and Management System Framework for Washington County” • Updated mapping • Improved working relationships, collaborations and project coordination across natural resource entities and staff • A plan that can be used to leverage state grant funds

Questions?