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strong encouragement toward recreational uses as opposed to full time <br />residential uses which would require a greater level of services than the City <br />can reasonably provide. <br />Physical Features <br />Big Isit> ‘.d encompasses approximately 250 acres in area, of which <br />approxin atelv acres ts wetland. A navigable channel actually separates <br />Rig Island into two distinct islands. The shoreland ranges from flat, low <br />wetland areas near th* jiilv'g.it vel to steep and often eroded bluffs extending <br />ns much as 10-40' -‘.hove lake level. The topography is hillv. The highest <br />point on the island is 9RR'. ntvtrlv oQ' above lake level, located near the south <br />end of Morse Island Park. <br />Soils on Big Island are mapped as Havden loam and clav loam, typical of <br />soils located in central and northern Orono. Beach sand soils occur in a <br />number of flat, low areas near the shoreline. Except for scattered clearings <br />to accommodate individual cabins or recreation areas, the island remains <br />heavily vegetated with hardwood species typical of the ''Big Woods ”. <br />SeiT'iccs <br />Big Island is provided with only a minimal degree of municipal services. <br />There is no municipal sewer or water on the island, hence the use of <br />individual septic systems and wells is common. The island is provided with <br />telephone serv'ice and electric power via lines from the mainland. Police <br />protection is minimally provided bv the City of Orono and the Hennepin <br />County Sherriff. Fire protection is provided bv the Long Lake Frire <br />Department although response time is understandably poor due to the lack of <br />roads or bridges connecting the island to the mainland, and access to the <br />island makes firefighting extremely difficult. Other services such as <br />street repair, snow removal, inspections, and regular garbage removal are <br />difficult, uneconomical and in some instances virtually impossible to provide <br />to residential property located on the island. <br />Access <br />There are no improved roads on Big Island. A limited system of roadways <br />and alleys was platted more than a century ago in the Morse Island Park and <br />Plea.santview subdivisions, which primarily created narrow lakeshore lots but <br />also resulted in a small number of inland lots not abutting the lakeshore and <br />needing access to the lake. These platted corridors exist today as walking <br />trails which on occasion are used for vehicular access. Since most lots do <br />abut the shoreline, use of the interior roadway system has been primarily by <br />CMP3B-42