|
Chapter 01 � Intro + Context
<br />Existing Context
<br />SETTING/REGIONAL CONTEXT
<br />The Great Northern Trail straddles two of the
<br />three major biomes in Minnesota: deciduous and
<br />coniferous forests. The pre-settlement vegetation
<br />included Big Woods hardwoods with scatterings of
<br />coniferous bogs and swamps in the north, and oak
<br />openings and barrens with patches of aspen.
<br />SITE INFORMATION
<br />The Great Northern Trail is equally split between
<br />Sherburne and Mille Lacs County, passing through
<br />Elk River, Zimmerman, Princeton, the town of
<br />Pease, and Milaca. The southern half of the trail
<br />in Sherburne County is primarily wooded, located
<br />a few miles west and parallel to Hwy 169. The
<br />landscape is peppered with lakes that have been
<br />developed with single-family housing. This section
<br />of the trail has gaps in public ownership which will
<br />require land acquisition. The northern half of
<br />the trail passes through agricultural land and runs
<br />directly parallel to Hwy 169. The historic rail bed has
<br />significant vegetation that has grown up to provide
<br />a tunnel-like experience as well as a strong buffer
<br />from the highway. Remnant patches of wetlands in
<br />this section host a variety of native flora and fauna.
<br />Sections in Milaca and Princeton include views and
<br />access to the Rum River, providing an opportunity
<br />for a bike-paddle loop. An urban stretch of trail
<br />through Princeton will require protected bike lanes.
<br />�
<br />', ,. J r J. �.
<br />� �`'�`" r�n�
<br />,��������` "� i� '
<br />� � � ``'�`�
<br />��
<br />' �r\1 "-r'" I`
<br />� � l U r �
<br />� s�i� ---- u
<br />"�..' �� r y t
<br />, ;.f +� --�� . r � �����W
<br />�I J� �� �� � .�'.4 . -i"�. _. 'Jy 4} f .. .�
<br />- `` ;..� � "i 7 � f�
<br />�`'`+�.,_.�� � `..-.-. --
<br />�:, . ._. ,
<br />��:.�.� - � , ;,... f3-;: �-.r�: {}
<br />t,.�-- �i . ` � �
<br />1 _- n ". � + k ` � �...1 � f J�I-�' �� s � _ f`
<br />_ ���%r '����1. `z; � �_ r,; �� -; :� �,, r
<br />(1-..:
<br />7
<br />,:r,.�z.; �� sv,� 1.
<br />_;b �
<br />' IS- j ` l�'�`" � -.,�� ��r��'
<br />f � ' z `-'�
<br />r��r i �- �/ ��-� 7 � -
<br />� �� � ' �'�' �'
<br />�+� �, t � '
<br />+ � � ��
<br />. �.�5 - � � � �'���
<br />. � . ��', s� � r't''
<br />K �
<br />1 � ,1 `�
<br />� , ;��
<br />i i
<br />'� . 1� r ` _{ _
<br />� �{- ,� I f :. _ .. �.
<br />'� ���� ���'�. � � � °.
<br />,I� - ra,�' ,��
<br />�h r� - • _ . . �
<br />� , .��
<br />r` -
<br />�'� _ _ �_i
<br />�� " -- -,
<br />;� "
<br />��. � �
<br />?�, �.� � r� -. .
<br />� - - ~, - �T� �
<br />. f i � � ', ��. -`" I!;
<br />�� � ��,?- ��i.'�
<br />:�- ,:
<br />����� �� ;.
<br />�r ° � �,�
<br />S ;.:'f �+..�'',.,l,:Rv�
<br />��
<br />l. 6� ` r.$
<br />� � i..
<br />�..
<br />� I`_.
<br />� :�e..►
<br />�` v i „ '
<br />. <r, � � : [,
<br />� .,I
<br />S `��'w ,
<br />� G c�,etatinit "I'} pes c�€ tlir
<br />1'rairec :snd [h*�id�uuu H�ure�l
<br />l pGmd F �.��nr lilu [u t. fnili � 2( C� m, \4'4'��I4' ;tll(I
<br />S r m.� f� C�UIl1�TI.4E . lF1fI1![Il rl rh�
<br />f'rririr N�d.ane! ]ilu ps�m [ir.r.,, f'urJgn��, Canaih,
<br />�t�, n�••. w i��•.
<br />���in 1 irAl �nd .1 ����i f�nas�. t�iiEi I'r.iinr uul5ial�e
<br />���k.l��t�lt k�11111�+
<br />i ki k'14't�xllnilit and li riiwltl�m� —Rur f)ak ar�d f'i�r C}.�J,
<br />A�rxn a�nl li.�cl ihi.F,r[.. aral!'r'ainc upk•iun�+
<br />ETiHxlplain Fsrresl Sol��i•r t�l:i�vlr. E_'lin. C�.�s�urn��aszl.
<br />«�s�i�,t�
<br />\1�p1e-lirswx�Kxl I•��,�ti�4—}•.im. Ei;n��t-rKicl. Sut:v
<br />� �E�ip1�•. k��! t k�V.. l��hii� C?:,k
<br />V��,rC:diun'1'i �rrs uf ifse t uirElcr l�e�resi
<br />1urlhrrn 1-f:ir�l+�irxl Fori�til 4ii ir �1 q fi, l�c•11s�k
<br />kiic��lt. 13 �a,����x1 .uu! kcx.i�ni:il L\hi� • I'�Gn•
<br />[�r�ear lal.iw Ihnr F'nnw7 IL'hi�t f inc. Hecl Firn• +rith�
<br />I uFrr 13aa� I� �i�i�.l:�.Ex. i
<br />S+ck I'ini Fi�ri :t--1xA 6 ir�i• u�ilt H v1 ]'iaM. (1.�. �md
<br />II �r3
<br />IS �re:d 43:lrth��Kxl-! �imd�r Pc�rcwl A.�n, [iircEi.
<br />Eiil�;�nr9irN]it ti{ i.ti ��9i«•iu1:u
<br />I I'wlland 4 f� E�n E#I.�V.SE�rtiuSF�ht«numlicsg.
<br />It I�m. [ e rL�r EiLie6 A h Su amp
<br />_, :�� ��
<br />� m��.
<br />r_ i T �m
<br />ei i5 .li /F!
<br />� 2 Great Northern Trail Master Plan � August 2022
<br />
|