Minnesota DNR comment on EAW

Please see the Minnesota DNR comment on the EAW… statement related to the great blue heron rookery exerpted here:

“Page 15, Land Use; Page 36, Rare Features; Great Blue Heron Rookery Report. This property is a remnant hardwood forest that has never been developed. It is currently mapped as a Minnesota Biological Survey (MBS) Site Below the threshold for Biodiversity Significance. Contrary to what was stated in Section 12 and in the Great Blue Heron Rookery Report, even sites that do not meet the higher MBS ranking standards may include areas of conservation value at the local level, such as habitat for native plants and animals, corridors for animal movement, buffers surrounding higher-quality natural areas, areas with high potential for restoration of native habitat, or open space. With so few forest remnants remaining, sites such as this should be prioritized for conservation whenever possible. The removal of over 17 acres of remnant forest would be a loss of habitat and a significant impact to local wildlife. The MBS ranking system is intended to identify the highest quality examples of biodiversity in the state, not to imply that those sites that do not meet the highest standards are not worthy of conservation or hold no ecological value.”

Melissa Collins
Regional Environmental Assessment Ecologist | Ecological and Water Resources Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

Photo by William Welke