MASTER PLAN FOR LEBANON HILLS REGIONAL PARK Adopted March 17 , 2 0 1 5 Dakota County Parks Dakota County Office of Planning H K G i A E S Barr Engineering Acknowledgements: Dakota County extends its appreciation to all who participated in the preparation of this master plan and the many members of the public who participated in focus group meetings and open house sessions, completed surveys, and provided comments. Dakota County Board of Commissioners Lebanon Hills Citizen Panel Mike Slavik District 1 Anthony Nelson Chair Kathleen A. Gaylord District 2 Leo Reid District 1 Thomas A. Egan District 3 Dawn Lanning District 1 Nancy Schouweiler District 4 Ben VanGundy District 2 Liz Workman District 5 Tim Wegner District 2 Mary Liz Holberg District 6 Steve Yaeger District 3 Chris Gerlach District 7 Lisa McGinn District 3 Tom Stirratt District 4 Rob Strange District 4 Dakota County Planning Commission Don Matthys District 5 Michael Greco District 1 Michael Hughes District 5 John Dudley District 1 Todd Kemery District 6 John Ross District 2 Bob Swan District 6 David Meisinger District 2 Jeff Little District 7 Jill Smith District 3 Jeff Milbauer District 7 Kirk Rosenberger District 3 Mary Thompson At-Large Michael Supina District 4 Monica Foss At-Large William Graham District 4 Holly Jenkins At-Large Sandra Sweep District 5 Wayne Sames At-Large, Co-Chair Paul Thomas District 5 John VonDeLinde At-Large Nate Reitz District 6 Brent Veness District 6 Anthony Nelson District 7 John Gamlin District 7 Technical Team Dr. Kim Alan Chapman, Applied Ecological Services Doug Mensing, Applied Ecological Services Aimee Gourlay, Hamline University Law School Mediation Center Amy Bower, HKGi Gabrielle Grinde, HKGi Greg Ingraham, HKGi Lillian Leatham, HKGi Fred Rozumalski, Barr Engineering Mike Adams, Dakota County Parks Bruce Blair, Dakota County Parks Johnny Forrest, Dakota County Parks Doug Gross, Dakota County Parks Scott Hagen, Dakota County Parks Josh Kinney, Dakota County Parks Beth Landahl, Dakota County Parks Katie Pata, Dakota County Parks Dave Rasmussen, Dakota County Parks Steve Sullivan, Dakota County Parks Terry Vikla, Dakota County Parks Kurt Chatfield, Dakota County Planning Mary Jackson, Dakota County Planning Andrea Long, Dakota County Physical Development Erin Stwora, Dakota County Physical Development Taud Hoopingarner, Dakota County Physical Development Chad Roberts, Dakota County Historical Society Rebecca Snyder, Dakota County Historical Society Dr. Jeremy Nienow, Inver Hills Community College, and his students C O N T E N T S Lebanon Hills Regional Park Master Plan Summary ................................................................................................................................................................... i Introduction and Overview ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 1 Chapter 1: Background ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 1 Introduction and Purpose of the Master Plan Update ........................................................................................................................................................ 1 Park Description .................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 3 Planning Framework ............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 6 2012 Master Plan Processes .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 13 Chapter 2: Regional and Local Context ................................................................................................................................................................ 15 Land Use ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 15 County Population and Trends .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 16 Reaching the Park: Transportation, Park Access, Greenways, and Transit ..................................................................................................................... 20 Chapter 3: Public Perspectives, Park Vision, and Guiding Principles ..................................................................................................................... 25 Summary of Public Perspectives: Key Findings from Engagement Efforts ....................................................................................................................... 25 Vision and Guiding Principles ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 34 Park Resources: Inventory and Stewardship Plan .................................................................................................................................................................. .37 Chapter 4: Natural Resources Inventory.............................................................................................................................................................. 37 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 37 Landscape Setting .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 39 Vegetation ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 42 Aquatic Systems................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 51 Wildlife and Habitat Quality .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 54 Resource Quality of Statewide Significance ...................................................................................................................................................................... 57 Resource Quality and Park Development .......................................................................................................................................................................... 58 Resource Quality and Surrounding Development ............................................................................................................................................................. 59 Public Perception of Lebanon Hills Resource Quality........................................................................................................................................................ 62 Summary of Resource Disturbances.................................................................................................................................................................................. 64 Chapter 5: Natural Resources Stewardship ......................................................................................................................................................... 65 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 65 Background ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 66 Overarching Approach to Resource Management ............................................................................................................................................................ 68 Lebanon Hills Regional Park Master Plan, March, 2015 Restoration Goals and Vision ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 69 Landscape Restoration Types ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 73 General Description of Techniques ..................................................................................................................................................................................