Dakota County Habitat Protection, Phase I
The Dakota County?Farmland and Natural Areas?Program will protect over 350 acres of high quality wildlife habitat including 1.7 miles of Cannon River shoreline, 2.0 miles of Chub Creek and .70 miles of shoreline along Marcott Lake in Dakota County. Permanent conservation easements from willing landowners will be acquired and landowners will be required to complete natural resource management plans.
Dakota County has experienced significant residential growth over the last two decades and the most highly desirable location in suburban and rural areas are near rivers, lakes and relatively few remaining natural areas. In addition, the price of agricultural crops is placing intense pressure to reduce vegetated buffers, CRP land, etc. Though there may be a lull due to the economic downturn, there will be increased stresses placed on these areas in the future.
Dakota County, through the Farmland and Natural Areas Program (FNAP), has been protecting natural areas for wildlife habitat and water quality improvements outside of the regional park system since 2004. The County anticipates completing each of the easement acquisition projects, totaling a minimum of 350 acres, by June 30, 2011. As a condition of funding, a detailed natural resource management plan will be completed with County funds used to begin implementation. Activities will be prioritized based upon respective sites, with some habitat improvement such as the removal of invasive species or the planting of native grasses taking place as early as 2010.
=> FNAP has had a? very successful track record or working with landowners, multiple agencies and non-profit organizations and all levels of government in completing 50 projects since the program's inception.
=> Townships are involved in the initial support of rural land protection projects with formal resolutions and The City of Inver Grove Heights is supportive of both? projects located there.
=> All funding decisions are reviewed by a Citizen Advisory Committee and approved by the Dakota County Board of Commissioners.
$1,000,000 in fiscal year 2010 is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Dakota County for acquisition of permanent easements. A list of proposed acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.
A network of natural land and riparian habitats will connect corridors for wildlife and species in greatest conservation need
Core areas protected with highly biologically diverse wetlands and plant communities, including native prairie, Big Woods, and oak savann
Protect in easement 568 acres of habitat