Restoration plans completed for newly protected Dakota County lands

While the field season was winding down for most ecologists in December, the writing season at FMR was in full gear. Four natural resource management plans were completed for properties that will be permanently protected through Dakota Countys voluntary land protection initiative, the Farmland and Natural Areas Program.

The largest and most diverse site is an 80-acre property in the Marcott Lakes area in Inver Grove Heights, including a lake and pond, mesic oak forest, oak woodland and grassland. The other sites were 30- to 50-acre properties located along Chub Creek and the Cannon River, just upstream of Lake Byllesby in Cannon Falls. Although the creek and river are impaired in spots, they have retained some very good water quality traits, supporting mussels, northern pike and other wildlife.

Protection of all of these properties is an important step for protecting the water quality of the on-site water bodies as well as all the downstream sites, including the Mississippi River. FMR extends our congratulations to each of the landowners for the stewardship they have shown.

Additional information on the Farmland and Natural Areas Program is available on the Dakota County website.

Lake and oak forest at Marcott Lakes area provide diverse wildlife habitat.

Wide vegetated buffers filter runoff and anchor the streambanks at this Chub Creek property.

Rare mussel species have been found near this site along the Cannon River. The vegetation helps protect the banks from erosion.

Discontinuing pasture use of the grassland at this site on Chub Creek is an important component of improving watershed health.