Laserfiche WebLink
Mr. Janssen noted that at least 83 additional species of birds would inhabit Saga <br />Hill once the spring migration is completed. <br />Acquiring the property would protect the existing birds and animals, whose <br />habitat is threatened by impending development. <br />D. Vegetation <br />An evaluation of the proposed Saga Hill natural area was conducted by Lee <br />Frelich, Chair, Evaluation Subcommittee of the MNDNR Commissioners <br />Advisory Committee on Natural areas and Nongame Wildlife. Mr. Frelich found: <br />"The parcel consists of several vegetation types: Upland Meadow, formerly <br />agricultural land; Multi-aged forest dominated by sugar maple, basswood and red <br />oak, with some black cherry present; Young, even-aged forest of bigtooth aspen, <br />quaking aspen and basswood, with a few older sugar maples scattered throughout; <br />Red oak, basswood and sugar maple forest; Young quaking aspen and green ash <br />and; Lowland marsh dominated by grasses with thickets of red osier dogwood and <br />clumps of green ash on higher ground." <br />Mr. Frelich estimated that trees within the Multi-Aged forest average 60-80 <br />years of age with some up to 150 years old. He concluded his report with: "It <br />appears that most of this area will succeed to bigwoods if left undisturbed. The <br />area has high quality silt and clay loam soil that will support good tree growth. <br />Even the upland meadows will succeed to bigwoods after several decades." <br />E. Water Resources <br />Saga Hill is the upland watershed of Forest Lake and the West Arm of Lake <br />Minnetonka. Two of the three Sollner-Webb p"\rcels are quite steep. Should they <br />be developed, the hardscape would cause additional run-off into the wetlands at <br />their base, creating the potential for erosion and damage to Forest Lake's water <br />quality. Preserving the land as natural area would help protect that watershed. <br />F. Geologic and Physiographic Features <br />Saga Hill is the highest point of Western Hennepin County and offers panoramic <br />views to the north and glimpses of downtown Minneapolis to the east. The <br />Sollner-Webb property is.comprised of heavily wooded steep slopes. Students <br />from the environmental school, housed in the Fairview Covenant Church on Saga <br />Hill, have, and will continue to use the natural area as their classroom. <br />G. Air Qcality/Noise <br />As Orono continues to develop, acquiring additional property for Saga Hill <br />natural area will have a positive impact on both air quality and noise. Existing <br />and future vegetation provide a sound buffer for adjacent homes. Creating the <br />natural area will have no detrimental effect on either of these factors. <br />1