04-22-2019 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Big Island Nature Park Management Plan November 2011 ____________________________________________________________________________ 38 VII. PARTNERSHIPS AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT Partnerships Many opportunities exist for partnering with the community to protect, preserve and improve Big Island Nature Park and enhance the visitor experience. Current partnerships include: ▪ Partnership with the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD) to accomplish acquisition and protection of the Park, including joint management of the Park‘s natural resources via a Conservation Easement which prohibits activities that could be detrimental to those resources. Projects in which the MCWD has either coordinated or been involved include shoreline stabilization using rock rip-rap and native vegetation establishment; biological control of leafy spurge via flea beetle release in partnership wit h Hennepin County Environmental Services (HCES); and planning for potential wetland restoration. ▪ Partnering with the Museum of Lake Minnetonka, operators of the historic steamboat Minnehaha, in providing visitor access to Big Island Nature Park for its grand opening in June 2008 as well as for additional events. ▪ Working with the Hennepin County Sheriff‘s Water Patrol in providing enhanced enforcement at the Park. ▪ Lake Minnetonka Conservation District ▪ Minnetonka Portable Dredging ▪ Clean-up crews organized by Gabriel Jabbour ▪ Minnesota Department of Natural Resources ▪ Three Rivers Park District Volunteer Opportunities Big Island Nature Park has the potential to provide a number of opportunities for volunteer projects and community stewardship. At the same time, the remote location of the Park adds a level of complexity to the coordination of volunteer efforts. Following are general guidelines for future management of volunteer activities within the Park: 1. Building on the current Big Island support network, formally establish a volunteer organization (such as ―Friends of Big Island Nature Park‖) with key persons who will assist the City staff in identifying and coordinating volunteer-appropriate projects. 2. Utilize volunteers and partnerships as much as possible. Their assistance can provide a valuable service to the park, allowing for projects to be completed that could not be done by City staff alone, and producing long-term benefits to the Park and its resources. 3. Project assessment and review should be completed by City staff and subject to City Council and MCWD approval. If a project is not appropriate, staff should work with volunteers to modify it if possible. Occasionally a project may be turned down due to limited time, funding, inappropriateness, or other reasons. The City should prepare a list of suggested or approved volunteer projects.