2: Mission: Natural and Cultural Resources Management

Have a common understanding of desired future conditions and a plan, timeline and cost estimates for achieving and maintaining those conditions.

Other Information:

Background: Natural and cultural resource management is a clear area of responsibility for the Division as spelled out in MS s86A.05 subd. 2c. The statute mandates that state parks be managed to preserve, perpetuate and interpret the natural features that existed at the time of Euro-American settlement, and other significant natural, scenic, scientific or historic features present. In addition, state parks are to maintain a balance of plant and animal life and re-introduce desirable species that are now missing. The Division will work to implement the DNR Strategic Conservation Agenda vision for natural lands – “remaining natural ecosystems will be conserved” and “degraded habitats will be restored.” State parks provide windows on Minnesota’s past. Visitors can experience today what early settlers found when they pioneered this new country and how the Native Americans experienced the land they lived with over two hundred years ago. Although the Division can point to some outstanding successes, there is still a tremendous amount of effort needed to restore and maintain the natural and cultural resources consistent with statutory direction. A complementary companion piece is being developed to establish consistent operational guidance for resource management across the state park system. Cultural resources have additional statutory mandates in MS s307.08, the Minnesota Private Cemeteries Act and MS s138, the Minnesota Historic Sites Act. The National Historic Preservation Act (36 CFR Part 800) applies under some circumstances as well. Historically, the Division has undertaken cultural resource activities primarily in response to development projects. Desired Outcomes: The Division will have a common understanding of desired future conditions and a plan, timeline and cost estimates for achieving and maintaining those conditions. The Division will have a comprehensive description of what needs to be inventoried for good decision-making and a system developed to prioritize these inventory needs both amongst the inventories themselves and the other important work in the resource program. The Division will have tools to measure success. Visitors to state parks and citizens of Minnesota will have an increased appreciation for and understanding of the natural and cultural heritage in their state parks.

Objective(s):

2.1: Needs Inventory and Prioritization

2.1.1: Inventory Listing

2.1.2: Criteria

2.1.3: Land Cover Maps

2.1.4: Future Conditions

2.1.5: Climate Change

2.1.6: Resource Management Criteria

2.1.7: Work Planning Coordination

2.1.8: GIS

2.1.9: Citizen Science

2.2: Funding Estimation System

2.2.1: Resource Estimates for Inventory and Mapping

2.2.2: Future Condition Cost Estimates

2.2.3: Future Condition Estimates

2.2.4: Program Priorities

2.3: Resource Management Priorities

2.3.1: Guidance Document

2.3.2: Park Resource Management Plans

2.3.3: Work Plans

2.3.4: Priority Setting

2.4: Inter-Divisional Coordination

2.4.1: Niche Definition

2.4.2: Goal Difference Resolution Process

2.4.3: Working Relationships

2.4.4: Area Teams

2.5: Measurement Tools and Techniques

2.5.1: Monitoring Program

2.5.2: Recording Protocol

2.5.3: Change Tracking

2.5.4: Documentation

2.5.5: Best Management Practices Tools

2.5.6: Research

2.5.7: Research Results Dissemination

2.5.8: Training

2.6: Resource Progam Integration

2.6.1: Management Involvement

2.6.2: Resource Training Program

2.6.3: Resource Assessment Process

2.7: Communication

2.7.1: Cooperative Projects

2.7.2: Public Program Teaming

2.7.3: Staff Communication

2.8: Cultural Resource Program

2.8.1: Statutory Mandates

2.8.2: Goals

2.8.3: Priorities

2.8.4: Historic Building Re-Use

2.8.5: Capital Maintenance Projects

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