Title
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE DESIGNATION OF THE HARTLEY 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 project areas shown on Exhibit A on file in the office of the city clerk and denominated thereon as the Hartley Natural Area.
(a) The property within the Hartley Natural Area 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 it meets all four of the five 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 23 native plant communities in accordance with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources' (MNDNR's) 2005 Field Guide to Native Plant Communities of Minnesota in 124 distinct polygons.
(2) Special Species Area - A state-listed endangered species, butternut (Jugians cinerea) was identified during the plant survey which was completed as part of the management plan.
(3) Natural Water Features Area - Hartley Natural Area forms the wet meadow/shrub swamp headwaters of two branches of Tischer Creek, a state designated cold-water trout stream as well as numerous vernal pools.
(4) Geologic Landform Area - The geologic formations of Duluth represented by landforms in Hartley are related in particular to the Tettegouche Till Plain, a band of rolling topography at the crest of the slope overlooking Lake Superior and the St. Louis River forming the backbone of Duluth and the Midcontinent Rift which exemplifies the Duluth Gabbro Complex from 1.1 billion years ago.
(b) The documentation demonstrates that the various properties listed on Exhibit B meet or exceed the requirements of the Natural Areas ordinance and are on file WHERE?.
(c) Those properties within the Hartley Natural Area listed on Ex...
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