Lake Minnewashta Regional Park Master Plan Prepared For: Carver County Parks October 2002 Prepared By: Brauer & Associates, Ltd. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Acknowledgments Overview In November of 2001, Carver County Board of Commissioners retained Brauer & Associates, Ltd. to work with county staff and local citizens to complete a comprehensive master plan for Lake Minnewashta Regional Park. This document represents the results of the planning process, which was completed in the fall of 2002. The consultant team would like to thank Carver County for undertaking an open and constructive public Acknowledgments participation process for the project. This approach allowed for various perspectives to be considered on important planning issues that affected the master plan for the park. Through this process, it is believed that a responsible balance between human use of the park and its ecological protection was achieved. The consultant team would also like to thank the Carver County Parks Commission and Carver County Board for participating in this project. Their individual and collective insights were instrumental in drawing conclusions that are reasonable and responsible. The consultant team also extends a heartfelt thank you to the Carver County staff, especially Marty Walsh, County Parks Director and Roger Gustafson, County Engineer. The openness with which they approached this project paved the way for an open public process that considered all opinions to be of equal merit and worthy of due consideration. Their understanding of the larger regional context and pressing park needs and how Lake Minnewashta Park fits into the larger regional park picture was also of high value as final conclusions were drawn. Finally, the consultant team extends a thank you to the citizens who took the time to attend meetings, write letters, and make phone calls so that we could understand the issues first hand and find solutions that seemed reasonable and workable. Sincerely, Jeff Schoenbauer, Principal-in-Charge Project Manager LAKE MINNEWASHTA REGIONAL PARK MASTER PLAN A.1 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Carver County Board of Commissioners John Siegfried, Chair Jame Ische, Vice Chair Tracy Swanson Julianne Ortman Paul Neumann Carver County Parks Commission Kurt Papke, Chair Mark Perkins Bob Unger Chad Eischens Jerry Waldron Jack Hoese Mary Hershberger Thun Brauer & Associates, Ltd. Jeff Schoenbauer, Vice President, RLA, Principle-In-Charge Consultant Team 10417 Excelsior Boulevard, Suite 1 George Watson, President, RLA Hopkins, MN 55343 Candace Amberg, RLA (952) 238-0831 Tim Wold, LA Jason Amberg, RLA Applied Ecological Services, Inc. Steve Apfelbaum, Senior Ecologist, Principal 4018 W. 65th Street, Suite 16 Edina, MN 55435 (952) 929-6722 LAKE MINNEWASHTA REGIONAL PARK MASTER PLAN A.2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of Contents Section I – Introduction / Planning Framework ...................................1.1 - 1.4 Overview ............................................................................. 1.1 Interrelationship with Past Master Plans ....................................................... 1.1 Planning Framework ..................................................................... 1.1 Planning Process ........................................................................ 1.2 Section II – Setting / Trends / Public Process Findings ........................... 2.1 - 2.15 Overview ............................................................................. 2.1 Setting................................................................................ 2.1 Regional Park Context .................................................................... 2.2 Status of Land Acquisition and Implementation of the 1982 Master Plan Update ......................... 2.3 Current Use Patterns ..................................................................... 2.4 Regional Trends Forecasting ............................................................... 2.5 Related Findings from Survey of Carver County Residents .........................................2.11 Findings from the Public Process ............................................................2.12 Conclusions............................................................................2.15 Section III – Existing Conditions of the Site and Ecological Resources .............3.1 - 3.7 Overview ............................................................................. 3.1 Existing Site Conditions ................................................................... 3.1 Site Soils and Their Affect on Master Plan Outcomes.............................................. 3.6 Conclusions Regarding Existing Conditions ..................................................... 3.7 Section IV – Ecological Stewardship and Water Resources Management ..........4.1 - 4.24 Overview ............................................................................. 4.1 A Historic Diverse Landscape............................................................... 4.1 Achievability and Sustainability of Ecological Stewardship Programs................................... 4.2 Spectrum of Opportunity for Restoration of Ecological Systems...................................... 4.3 Ecological Stewardship Philosophy........................................................... 4.4 Ecological Prototypes for Altered and Unaltered Ecological Systems................................... 4.4 Prototypes............................................................................. 4.5 Effect of Healthy and Unhealthy Ecological Systems on Wildlife......................................4.11 Ecological Stewardship Program Overview .....................................................4.13 Restoration and Management Work Effort and Timeframes.........................................4.15 Overview of Restoration Techniques..........................................................4.16 Overview of Restoration Approach Associated with Each Ecological System.............................4.18 Ecological Restoration Potential .............................................................4.20 LAKE MINNEWASHTA REGIONAL PARK MASTER PLAN T.1 TABLE OF CONTENTS Water Resources Management .............................................................4.21 Conclusions of the Ecological Stewardship Program and Water Resources Management....................4.24 Section V – Development Master Plan .............................................. 5.1 - 5.27 Overview ............................................................................. 5.1 Balancing Human Use of the Park with Ecological Protection........................................ 5.1 Land Use Zones......................................................................... 5.1 Development Program.................................................................... 5.3 Park Drive............................................................................. 5.4 Boat Launch Facilities..................................................................... 5.5 Visitor Contact Station.................................................................... 5.8 Beach Facilities ......................................................................... 5.8 Group and Family Picnic Facilities ...........................................................5.10 Children’s Play Area......................................................................5.14 Group Camping/Activity Area (with Adventure Course)............................................5.15 Internal Trail System .....................................................................5.16 Caretaker Residence .....................................................................5.21 Maintenance Building ....................................................................5.22 Off Leash Pet Areas ......................................................................5.22 Park and Trail Signage Program .............................................................5.24 Public Services and Utilities ................................................................5.25 Development Conflicts....................................................................5.25 Universal Design/Special Needs Framework ....................................................5.26 Section VI – Implementation, Operations, and Management Plan ................. 6.1 - 6.14 Overview ............................................................................. 6.1 Implementation Cost Projections ............................................................ 6.1 Implementation Strategy and Priorities........................................................ 6.6 Public Involvement in Implementing the Master Plan .............................................6.11 Operations Plan and Maintenance Plan .......................................................6.12 LAKE MINNEWASHTA REGIONAL PARK MASTER PLAN T.2 SECTION I – INTRODUCTION AND PLANNING FRAMEWORK Section I Introduction and Planning Framework Overview The project focused on the preparation of a comprehensive master plan for Lake Minnewashta Regional Park. The planning process took into consideration past master plans for the site, the setting, recreational and educational needs of the region, and the natural and cultural resources of the park itself. The master plan establishes a vision for the park and provides the guidelines for its ecological management and physical development to accommodate public use. The plan is also a tool for public presentations and preparing funding applications. Although comprehensive,