Orono Community Management Plan 2020-2040

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City of Orono Surface Water Management Plan February 2019 13 There may be individual occurrences of rare, threatened, or endangered species that can also be considered valuable resources yet are not identified by the survey. For Orono, the County Biological Survey map for Hennepin County lists the following important resources. 1.A small portion of maple-basswood forest and cattail marsh within Baker Park Reserve in the very northwest part of the City. 2.A maple-basswood forest referred to as Lowry Woods near the middle/western edge of the City. 3.Noerenberg Memorial Park and Garden along the northern and eastern shores of Crystal Bay and Maxwell Bay, respectively. 4.A small wet meadow and maple-basswood forest on Big Island. There are also two Element Occurrence records (EO) of state or federally listed animals, and one EO of a state or federally listed plant on Big Island. 5.An EO for a state or federally listed animal on the west shore of Carman Bay, and one on the boundary between Orono and Tonka Bay along Highway 19. 6.Two state or federally listed EOs at the channel between Crystal Bay and North Arm. 7.The Ferndale Marsh, owned by The Nature Conservancy at the eastern edge of the City, just south of Hwy 15. 8.Maple-basswood forest, wet meadow, mixed hardwood swamp, tamarack swamp, and three listed EOs in the Wood-Rill State Scientific and Natural Area (SNA) in the northeastern corner of the City. 9.Maple-basswood and lowland hardwood forests in the portion of the Wolsfeld Woods SNA in Orono along its middle/northern boundary. There may be other “remnant” natural communities, and EOs do not necessarily represent existing occurrences of plant or animal species. However, the DNR should be consulted prior to any construction activities at or near these locations. SCIENTIFIC AND NATURAL AREAS The Wolsfeld Woods and Wood-Rill Scientific and Natural Areas (SNA) are located in Orono. The MnDNR manages these and all other SNAs in Minnesota. Minnesota statute stipulates that any water within an SNA is an Outstanding Resource Value Water or ORVW. Specifically, Minnesota Rule 7050.0180 on Nondegradation for Outstanding Resource Value Waters prohibits discharge from the City’s stormwater system to Wolsfeld Woods and Wood-Rill. Additionally, Orono is not allowed any new or expanded discharges to these SNAs since the date they were established. Refer to the City’s Comprehensive Plan for more information on natural areas, open space, and regionally significant ecological areas. KEY CONSERVATION AREAS The Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD) has prepared a map identifying key conservation areas found throughout the District. The map identifies several areas within the City of Orono. These key conservation areas consist of wetland complexes and adjacent high priority uplands. The District's strategy in preserving these areas ranges from outright acquisition of high value resources to land owner assistance for enrolling property in conservation programs. Orono’s role is to assist MCWD in preserving these areas through municipal planning and zoning authority. The City will be able to use these mapped conservation areas, along with the MLCCS and MCBS data as a tool to integrate preservation of natural resources, including upland areas, into land planning, land use, and zoning decisions. The map of the Key Conservation Areas can be found on the districts website under their comprehensive water resource management plan at:http://www.minnehahacreek.org. Public Park and Open Space The City of Orono has a number of areas designated for park and open space within its corporate boundaries, owned and controlled by a variety of entities, including the City, Hennepin County, Three Rivers Park District, the State of Minnesota, and private owners. The typical uses at these facilities may include recreation, walking, swimming, and passive uses. A number of these areas have been set aside in