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67 City of Elk River - Parks and Recreation Master Plan Chapter 5: How We Get There <br />Initiative 6 Be Stewards for Natural Resources and <br />Greenways <br />Elk River prides itself on its environmental resources and natural character. Many <br />people choose to live in Elk River because of the access to nature right outside <br />their front door. Fishing, hunting, hiking, biking, and bird watching are just a few <br />of the outdoor activities residents enjoy in the city. To ensure these are maintained <br />for generations to come, efforts should be made to protect the natural resources <br />that define Elk River for so many people. <br />Recommendations <br />1. Protect natural areas in the city <br />Strategies: <br />• Acquire or protect through land trusts, conservation easements, partnerships <br />etc. areas proposed as greenway corridors and/or land identified as high <br />quality in the Natural Resources Inventory. <br />• Explore possibility to protect the Gun Club property as a State Scientific <br />Natural Area as opportunities arise. <br />• Place 50’ natural riparian buffers around wetland and lakes on all appropriate <br />public land and parks. <br />• Reduce impacts of parks and facilities on waterways by implementing best <br />management practices such as: <br /> ▶Rain gardens, water retention, and permeable paving. <br /> ▶Minimization of chemicals on turf that will run into water. <br /> ▶Shoreline restoration and stabilization. <br /> ▶Expand wetland capacity. <br />2. Maintain high-quality, city-owned natural areas. <br />Strategies: <br />• Create and implement management plans for parks such as Camp Cozy, <br />Woodland Trails, Big Tooth Ridge, Hillside, Meadowvale Heights, Bailey <br />Point Nature Preserve, Great Northern Trail, and Sedge Meadow. <br />• Look for opportunities to develop oak savanna and prairie habitat in <br />appropriate parks. <br />• Continue to restore natural areas and shorelines within parks. <br />• Remove invasive species; natural resource assessment. <br />3. Maintain biodiversity on city-owned parks and open space. <br />• Control invasive species such as buckthorn. <br />• Manage for pests and disease such as Emerald Ash Borer and Oak Wilt. <br />• Plant natives with high value for wildlife. <br />Page 135 of 240