Title
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE FINAL DESIGNATION OF THE ST. LOUIS RIVER NATURAL AREA TO THE DULUTH NATURAL AREAS PROGRAM.
Body
CITY PROPOSAL:
RESOLVED, that the Duluth City Council hereby makes the following findings of fact pertaining to the property described on Exhibit A on file in the office of the city clerk and denominated thereon as the St. Louis River Natural Area (the "SLRNA").
(a) The property within the SLRNA consists of parcels which are one of the best remaining viable examples of areas of special or unique ecological or environmental significance to the city of Duluth because they contain features which meet all five of the science criteria defined in Article IV of the Duluth Natural Area Program guidelines:
(1) Significant Native Plant Communities Area - Plant surveys for the nomination identified 17 significant native plant communities including the naturally viable Lake Superior estuary marsh community that exists predominantly in the St. Louis River estuary within the state.
(2) Special Species Area - Two state-listed special concern species, discoid beggarticks (Bidens discoidea) and soapberry (Shepherdia canadensis), one state-listed endangered species, two leaf waterweed (Elodea bifoliata), and 52 special bird species were identified in the natural area in surveys conducted for this nomination.
(3) Important Bird Congregation Area - A plethora of bird species congregate in the proposed natural area for nesting, foraging, and migratory habitat including shorebirds, waterbirds, waterfowl, and migratory landbirds.
(4) Natural Water Features Area - The St. Louis River Estuary and four state designated trout streams (Keene, Kingsbury, Stewart, and Knowlton Creek), are located within the proposed natural area.
(5) Geologic Landform Area - The geologic formation of Duluth is represented by landforms present in the nominated natural area, particularly the backwater areas of Rask Bay, North Bay, Radio Tower Bay, and Kingsbury Bay. These bays vis...
Click here for full text