SEH Presentation10/28/2013
Golden Valley Natural Resources
Management Plan
#ctober 28, 2013 Environmental
orMeeting
2002 Natural Resources Inventory
• Completed in 2002, published in 2003
• Three purposes:
1. Complete MLCCS
2. Identify natural resources and management
needs
3. Provide database for future use (Management
planning)
• City divided into 14 Resource Management
Units (RMU)
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14 R M U s
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Data Reviewed for each RMU
• General description area, focus on park, open
space, and natural areas
• Wetlands
• Nuisance vegetation
• Threatened and endangered species
• Greenways and corridors
• Restoration and management opportunities
General Findings
• City mostly developed, no major changes
anticipated.
• Natural areas tend to be mixed deciduous
forests or wetlands of variable quality
- oak, basswood, aspen, and birch limited
- ash, box elder, cottonwood widespread
• Greenway corridors are present along Bassett
Creek and railroads
• Rare or unique communities generally absent.
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Invasive Species
• Buckthorn is pervasive — found in all wooded
areas. Greatest in Wirth Park (>80%), lowest
in Wesley Park (<15%).
• Purple loosestrife and reed canary grass
identified in many wetlands and ponds
• Smooth brome, knapweed, and crown vetch
also identified
Management Opportunities
• Primarily control of invasive species
— Buckthorn removal, reed canary grass, purple
loosestrife
• Restoration of wooded areas
— Restore oak savannas, plantings, selective
removal, controlled burning
• Restoration of wetlands
— Reed canary grass removal, establish buffers
RI
2013 Inventory Update
• Used GIS to update the inventory
• Three types of changes:
1. Updates due to better data — higher resolution
aerials
2. Actual changes in land cover—development,
land use changes
3. Change in attributes — changes due to density, or
invasive species
a. Invasive species data continues to be gathered
2013 Inventory Changes
• In general:
• Some natural resources areas have been
encroached upon for development
— General Mills, Honeywell, residential development
• Some additional wetland through wetland
bank creation
• Most areas unchanged
• Incomplete, but invasive species more
pervasive currently.
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Comparison of
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Going Forward — Identify Challenges
• Identify:
1. What is good versus bad
2. What to preserve and protect
3. Where to enhance and improve
What is Good
• 1. City has natural resources that are worth
protecting
• 2. City has a desire to protect these areas
• 3. City has the resources to implement natural
resource management plans
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What is Bad
• 1. No specific highlight resource defined
• 2. Needs are widespread
• 3. Management takes an extraordinary
amount of time to see results, and persistence
• 4. Resources are limited
Summary — a lot of widespread need, but
nothing that is URGENT
Makes for great planning opportunities!
Where to Focus Attention
• 1. General Mills — Best example of mature
deciduous woods
• 2. Wesley Park — Historically low invasive species
makes it potential low hanging fruit
• 3. Wirth Park — Prominent asset. High quality, but
significant invasive species. What are city's
responsibilities?
• 4. Water Resources - Bassett Creek and Sweeney
Lake — Regionally -recognized assets
• 5. Greenways and corridors — maintain
connectivity, and regional importance
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Where to Focus Attention (cont)
• 6. Invasive species control — focus on wooded
species (buckthorn, garlic mustard)
• 7. Restoration — focus on key areas over
widespread efforts, monitor success
• 8. Forestry - emerald ash borer, tree diversity
• 9. Naturalize areas — convert open space in
parks, golf courses, and city property to
prairie, high quality wetlands, savannas,
deciduous woods.
• 10. Education — teach public and demonstrate
Discussion
• What does the Commission see as key issues?
• Where should attention be focused?
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How to Achieve
• 1. Natural Resource Management Plan
— Make plan a living document
— Identify goals and priorities, but make specific and
realistic; not a wish list
— Provide funding opportunities, think long term
— Focus on most efficient methods to achieve
measureable success
— Adaptive management — prepare in advance to
change plans as needed
Next Steps
• 1. Meet November 25th
• 2. Go over typical plan components
• 3. Determine the desired plan elements
• 4. Develop goals
• 5. Develop priorities
• Does not have to be specific, but needs to
have direction
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