Washington County St. Croix River Land Protection
Washington County seeks to preserve the ecological integrity of the St. Croix River by completing a 85-acre permanent conservation easement to protect critical riparian habitat and over one mile of shoreland. The property is located in Denmark Township within the state-managed portion of the St. Croix Scenic Riverway and is one of the remaining large lots along the lower St. Croix River. It provides a critical connection needed to create a continuous corridor of forested bluff lands and ravines. This funding will address three of the Outdoor Heritage Council's priority actions for the Metropolitan Urbanizing Section: to protect a prairie and habitat corridor along the St. Croix River and to protect, enhance and restore big woods forests and oak savanna with an emphasis on areas with high biological diversity.
This project works with the Thomas E. and Edna D. Carpenter Foundation to fund a 85-acre conservation easement in southern Washington County. The Carpenter Foundation will remain owner and manage the property. Funding partners include Washington County through its Land and Water Legacy Program that ranks land along the St. Croix River as high priority for its funding because these parcels help preserve critical habitat, protect water resources, create networks of protected habitat and protect lands that are accessible or highly visible to the public. Carpenter Foundation is also making a donation to the project.
The St. Croix River and its watershed is a national treasure whose habitat and water quality is threatened. The St. Croix River watershed is considered to be one of the most biologically diverse rivers in the Upper Mississippi River basin. Its waters support 95 fish and approximately 38 mussel species, many of which are on the state and federal endangered species lists. Its forested lands provide nesting habitat for Bald Eagles and are home to several threatened and endangered species. Although the waters of the St. Croix River are very pristine, they are impacted by nutrient and sediment pollution. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency designated Lake St. Croix, the lower 25 miles of the river, as an ?impaired water? due to high levels of phosphorus. This designation mandates that the federal, state and local governments take actions to ensure the lake's recovery. With increasing urbanization in the watershed is will be difficult to do. By limiting development and maintaining mature forests along the river, the proposed acquisition will help defray pollution impacts and will aid in arresting the decline in water quality in the lower stretch of the river. The proposed acquisition will maintain essential habitat for resident and migratory wildlife, both game and non-game species. This acquisition helps maintain a high quality river fishery that is dependent on clean water.
The design of this project involved three funding partners: the State of Minnesota, Washington County and the Carpenter Foundation. The State provided funding through its Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Fund. Washington County funded its portion of the project using its Land and Water Legacy Program (LWLP) funds. The LWLP ranks land along the St. Croix River as high priority for its funding because these parcels help preserve critical habitat, protect water resources, create networks of protected habitat and protect lands that are accessible or highly visible to the public. The Carpenter Foundation also made a donation to the project.
The scope of this project involved Washington County working with the Thomas E. and Edna D. Carpenter Foundation to place an 85-acre conservation easement on the Carpenter property in southern Washington County. The Carpenter Foundation remains owner of the property and has developed a management plan for maintaining the property into the future as part of this process. Washington County holds the easement protecting the property from development in perpetuity.
The Carpenter property is located within the state-managed portion of the St. Croix Scenic Riverway. The St. Croix River watershed is a national treasure whose habitat and water quality is threatened. The St. Croix River watershed is considered to be one of the most biologically diverse rivers in the Upper Mississippi River basin. Its waters support 95 fish and approximately 38 mussel species, many of which are on the state and federal endangered species lists. Its forested lands provide nesting habitat for Bald Eagles and are home to several threatened and endangered species. Although the waters of the St. Croix River are very pristine, they are impacted by nutrient and sediment pollution. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency designated Lake St. Croix, the lower 25 miles of the river, as an “impaired water” due to high levels of phosphorus. This designation mandates that the federal, state and local governments take actions to ensure the lake’s recovery. With increasing urbanization in the watershed this is difficult to do.
This conservation easement preserves the ecological integrity of the St. Croix River by protecting a segment of its shoreland. This helps maintain a high quality river fishery dependent on clean water. Critical riparian habitat and a continuous corridor of forested bluff lands and ravines for resident and migratory wildlife, both game and nongame species are also conserved. By limiting development and maintaining mature forests along the river, the easement helps defray pollution impacts and aids in arresting the decline in water quality in the lower stretch of the river.
$1,033,000 in fiscal year 2011 is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Washington County to acquire permanent easements to protect habitat associated with the St. Croix River Valley. A list of proposed acquisitions must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. The accomplishment plan must include an easement stewardship plan. M.L 2013, Chapter 137, Article 1, Section 2, Subd. 10. Appropriations Carryforward; Fee Title Acquisition The availability of te appropriation for the following project is extended to July 1, 2015: Laws 2010, chapter 361, article 1, section 2, subdivision 5, paragraph (h), Washington County St. Croix River Land Protection, and the appropriation may be spent on acquisition of land in fee title to protect habitat associated with the St. Croix River Valley. A list of proposed acquisitions must be provided as part of the accomplishment plan. ML 2015, Ch. 91X, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd 10 Sec. 8. Laws 2013, chapter 137, article 1, section 8, ML 2013, Ch. 137, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd 10, is amended to read: Subd 10. Appropriations Carryforward; Fee Title Acquisition The availability of te appropriation for the following project is extended to September 1, 2015: Laws 2010, chapter 361, article 1, section 2, subdivision 5, paragraph (h), Washington County St. Croix River Land Protection, and the appropriation may be spent on acquisition of land in fee title to protect habitat associated with the St. Croix River Valley. A list of proposed acquisitions must be provided as part of the 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
Protected 8 acres of prairies, 67 acres of forest and 10 acres of habitat including 3,780 feet of St. Croix River Frontage.
County Levy/Landowner Donation, DNR Appraisal Review and none