MINNESOTA RIVER STATE TRAIL FRANKLIN TO LE SUEUR MASTER PLAN Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Division of Parks and Trails October 2015 Minnesota River State Trail Master Plan Franklin to Le Sueur The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Parks and Trails Division would like to thank all who participated in this master planning process. Many individuals and groups in trail communities have been working for many years to help establish this trail. Many DNR staff, city, county, and state officials, trail association members, and local citizens contributed their time and energy to the planning process as well. Project Team: • Laurie Young, Planning Supervisor • Suzanne Rhees, AICP, Principal Planner • Adam DeKleyn, CCM, Planning Specialist • Darin Newman, CCM, Planning Specialist • Paul Hansen, District Supervisor • Craig Beckman, Area Supervisor Copyright 2015 State of Minnesota, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from programs of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is available to all individuals regardless of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, age, sexual orientation, membership or activity in a local commission, or disability. Discrimination inquiries should be sent to MN-DNR, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155-4031; or the Equal Opportunity Office, Department of the Interior, Washington, DC 20240. This document is available in an alternative format upon request. For general information regarding DNR’s programs, contact: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources 500 Lafayette Road St. Paul, MN 55155-4040 DNR website (mndnr.gov) 651-296-6157 (Metro area and outside Minnesota) 1-888-MINNDNR (MN Toll Free) TDD: 651-296-5485 (Metro Area) TDD: 1-800-657-3929 (MN Toll Free) Minnesota River State Trail Master Plan Franklin to Le Sueur TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................... 1 2. Planning Process, Purpose and Scope ....................................................................................................... 3 Planning History .................................................................................................................................... 3 Public Involvement and Partnerships ................................................................................................... 4 Legislative Authorization ....................................................................................................................... 8 Outdoor Recreation Act ........................................................................................................................ 8 Guiding Principles for Sustainable Trails ............................................................................................. 12 Vision and Goals for the Minnesota River State Trail ......................................................................... 13 Regional Trail Connections .................................................................................................................. 14 3. Recommended Trail Uses ....................................................................................................................... 16 4. Trail Alignments ...................................................................................................................................... 18 Overview ............................................................................................................................................. 18 Segment 1: Franklin to Fort Ridgely State Park .................................................................................. 22 Segment 1 Trail Communities and Connections ................................................................................. 23 Segment 2: Fort Ridgely State Park to New Ulm ................................................................................ 29 Segment 2 Trail Communities and Connections ................................................................................. 31 Segment 3: New Ulm to Mankato....................................................................................................... 36 Segment 3 Trail Communities and Connections ................................................................................. 38 Segment 4: Mankato to Saint Peter .................................................................................................... 46 Segment 4 Trail Communities and Connections ................................................................................. 48 Segment 5: Saint Peter to Le Sueur .................................................................................................... 53 Segment 5 Trail Communities and Connections ................................................................................. 55 Segment 6: Chief Sleepy Eye Segment ................................................................................................ 58 Segment 6 Trail Communities and Connections ................................................................................. 60 5. Trail Management ................................................................................................................................... 63 Projected Trail Use .............................................................................................................................. 63 Trail Maintenance ............................................................................................................................... 64 Information and Education ................................................................................................................. 65 Enforcement ....................................................................................................................................... 67 Minnesota River State Trail Master Plan Franklin to Le Sueur 6. Trail Corridor Resources .......................................................................................................................... 69 Ecological Classification System .......................................................................................................... 69 Climate ................................................................................................................................................ 73 Vegetation ........................................................................................................................................... 74 Water Resources, Recreation and Fisheries ....................................................................................... 78 Wildlife ................................................................................................................................................ 88 Historical and Cultural Resources ....................................................................................................... 92 Socioeconomic Resources ................................................................................................................... 95 7. Implementation ...................................................................................................................................... 97 What Happens After the Master Plan is Finished? ............................................................................. 97 References ................................................................................................................................................ 101 Appendix A: Summary of Meeting Results and Public Comments ........................................................... 103 Initial Open Houses ........................................................................................................................... 103 Public Review Period ......................................................................................................................... 104 Appendix B: Special Concern, Threatened or Endangered Species, and Natural Features ...................... 109 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: Trail Planning Process Chart ........................................................................................................... 6 Figure 2: Authorized and Developed State Trails ......................................................................................... 7 Figure 3: Regional Context .......................................................................................................................... 20 Figure 4: Segment 1 .................................................................................................................................... 21 Figure 5: City of Franklin ............................................................................................................................. 24 Figure 6: Fort Ridgely State Park Summer Map .......................................................................................... 28 Figure 7: Segment 2 .................................................................................................................................... 30 Figure 8: City of New Ulm ........................................................................................................................... 32 Figure 9: Flandrau State Park Summer Map ............................................................................................... 35