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1~~atural Resources Inventory <br />Cottage Grove, MN <br />Natural Resource Inventory Provides City <br />with Valuable Land Use P/arming Tool <br />Residents of this community have identified [he <br />preservation of natural areas as inherent to their quality <br />of life. To ensure these natural resources are protected <br />in [he face of continued residential growth, the City <br />sought information essential to effective land use <br />planning. <br />Bonestroo is providing that information through a <br />natural resources inventory. Aninventory provides the <br />City with technical information on the location and <br />qualities of its natural resources used to help balance the <br />preservation of natural resources with human needs. <br />An ecosystem-based management approach was used <br />that stressed management of the entire ecosystem as <br />one unit by integrating natural communities into <br />environmental corridors and open space. <br />Wetlands: Wetland plant communities were inventoried <br />for functional values including wildlife habitat, flood <br />storage and water quality uses. A wetland plant species <br />list was also compiled. <br />Unique Natural Features: Remnant natural communities <br />such as oak savanna (pictured above) and prairie, and <br />areas high in aesthetic qualities, were identified and <br />inventoried. These are important for wildlife habitat, <br />including a threatened species of bird found in the area. <br />wildlife: A census of wildlife species including birds, <br />mammals, reptiles and amphibians was conducted. Key <br />wildlife habitats were identified for protection and <br />management. <br />The inventory included: <br />Foxes[ Areas: Different forest areas were identified <br />using aerial photgraphy. Field data on density and <br />species composition of trees, shrubs and ground cover <br />species was collected. <br />Bonestroo <br />~ Rosene <br />Anderlik & <br />~,~. Associates <br />Engineers 6 Archirecrs <br />