5. SR 04-25-1995 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Proiect Site Evaluation I. Description of the Environment and the Environmental Impact of the Proposed Project. A. Present Land Use: Acquisition Site The property is presently an oak forest which is used by hunters, hikers and some unwelcome ATV traffic. North Side of Acquisition Site Oak/aspen forest which will eventually be removed and will become a gravel pit. However there will be a small woodland buffer between the mine site and the acquisition site. South Side of Acquisition Site Housing development which is approximately 15 years of age. The development has an average lot size slightly less than 2 acres and consist of 66 lots. East Edge of Acquisition Site Fifty acres of undeveloped property consisting of an abandoned farm field and about 10 acres of oak forest. West Side of Acquisition Site Woodland Trails City Park approximately 210 acres in size consisting of oak/aspen forest, numerous wetlands and a reestablished native grassland. On the west side of this park is the Elk River Sand Dunes consisting of 300 acres of high quality oak savanna. On the south side of the • park is the Elk River Golf Course. B. Proposed Land Use: The acquisition site will be utilized for: Environmental Education Major East-West Off-Road Pedestrian Asphalt Trail Corridor (4 Season Usage) Hiking, Biking, Running, Skiing, Inline Skating, Orienteering (All biking activities will be restricted to blacktop trails.) Community Quiet Space Access to the Acquisition Site: On the west side public access exists through the existing Woodland Trails Park. Adjacent land on the north and east are undeveloped and will eventually serve as public access to the site. The development on the south presently owns three outlots which are connected to the site. Resource Preservation: The integrity of the acquisition site will be maintained through carefully planning two trail systems; one blacktop and the other grass. Trails created will be designed to minimize erosion and maintain plant types indigenous to the area. Seeding of the grass trail will utilize species of grass native to the area. To maintain the pin oak plant community, great efforts will be taken to control the cutting of oak trees in the area during the spring and summer. Trenching techniques will also be used to control oak wilt sites.