1. Washington County Parks and Open Spaces

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

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

4. LAND MAPS 1930 1987-89 1990 2017 Vegetation Map
Natural Communities and Rare Species Map
Forest Map
MLCCS Land Cover Map

5. Rural Character

6. 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)

7. 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.
Policy: Prioritize investment in the protection and management of high quality open space.
Policy: Preserve, conserve, and restore natural resources by implementing sustainable practices that promote biodiversity and healthy ecosystems.

8. Percentage of Park Land Actively Stewarded

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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 and water resources are
adequately stewarded.

12. 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

13. Why It’s Needed Sharpen the collective land and 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

14. 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

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

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

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

18. 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

19. Questions?