7. PRSR 04-11-2007 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Site Inventory Methodology The inventory for Top of the World Park was conducted in the fall of 2004 as part of the Elk River NRI and Land Cover Classification project. A brief summary of each of the Project methodology steps is included on the following pages. Gather and Review Background Information To provide a more detailed understanding of the study area, available information on natural resource features was gathered and reviewed by ecologists. These information resources included presettlement vegetation, biological survey information for Sherburne County, wetland and water resource information, and the Sherburne County soil survey. Minnesota County Biological Survey The Minnesota County Biological Survey (MCBS) conducted an inventory of select remaining natural communities within Sherburne County (MCBS, 1998). Although much of the remnant natural vegetation within the City of City of Elk River was reviewed through aerial photography and cursory ground surveys, only a small subset of these remnants were of high enough quality to be surveyed in detail and included in the county biological survey. Other remnants where either too degraded or too small in size to be considered of high enough quality for inclusion in the survey. Aerial Photo Interpretation In 2002, City of Elk River staff plotted 2000 true-color low altitude aerial photographs for each section (square mile) of land within the City of City of Elk River's base maps. These were printed at a scale of 1 "=300'. Available electronic data layers such as the National Wetlands Inventory, the Hennepin County Soil Survey, geopolitical boundaries; parcel boundaries, transportation information, DNR Natural Heritage (MCBS) data, and Hennepin County Wetland Inventory information were also printed on these plotted photos to aid in remote interpretation of land cover. In addition, 1994 MN DNR 1:15,840 scale, color infrared aerial photographs were also used as an aid to remotely sense vegetation type and natural community structure. The boundaries of natural communities and semi-natural areas were delineated on the plotted aerial photos. The potential natural community boundaries, as well as any other relevant information were recorded by hand onto these plotted maps. Field Inventory Field inventory work and land cover classification took place in late summer -fall 2004. During field review of areas, a 5-digit MLCCS code was assigned to any particular area/polygon. In addition, other pertinent data was recorded including notations using MLCCS Modifiers and Field Check Levels. Top of the World Park Addition Natural Area Management Plan 6