Title
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A LICENSE AGREEMENT WITH THE CONSERVATION CORPS MINNESOTA AND IOWA TO IMPLEMENT THE MISSION CREEK FORESTRY ENHANCEMENT PROJECT.
Body
CITY PROPOSAL:
WHEREAS, the City of Duluth owns approximately 1,900 acres of land in the Mission Creek Watershed, identified for the purposes of this agreement as Mission Creek Forest, but also known as the Frederick Rodney Paine Forest Preserve; and
WHEREAS, the Minnesota Land Trust, in consultation with the City Forester and Natural Resources Coordinator, wishes to undertake, at no cost to the City, a forestry enhancement project on City land, specifically, planting long-lived tree species and removing invasive species along Mission Creek; and
WHEREAS, the project design, also known as a prescription, was developed by the City Forester; and
WHEREAS, the Minnesota Land Trust, through a grant with the State of Minnesota, Outdoor Heritage Fund, is funding the project, under ML 2024, Ch. 106, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 5(t), St. Louis River Restoration Initiative - Phase 11; and
WHEREAS, the Minnesota Land Trust has contracted the Conservation Corps Minnesota Iowa to perform the work as prescribed by the City; and
WHEREAS, Conservation Corps Minnesota Iowa is trained, certified and capable of completing the project; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the proper City officials are hereby authorized to execute the Mission Creek Forestry Enhancement License Agreement with Conservation Corps of Minnesota Iowa, attached as Exhibit 1.
Statement of Purpose
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: The Mission Creek Forest, also known as the Frederick Rodney Paine Forest Preserve, is a high quality, northern mesic hardwood forest on the western side of Duluth. The City wishes to manage its forests intentionally, as funding and capacity allows, in order to preserve high quality habitat, protect water resources and maintain the other ecosystem services provided by the City’s forests. Mission Creek Forest is one of several forests that the City’s Forester and Natural Resources Coordinator have identified as a priority for strategic management efforts due to its quality, size and proximity to a designated trout stream. The Minnesota Land Trust often works with the City on Natural Resource Management Projects and is also interested in preserving our City’s forests and streams. The Minnesota Land Trust has funding to support forest management in the Mission Creek Forest and has contracted CCMI to perform the forest enhancement work as prescribed by the City Forester.