Washington County begins to preserve landscapes

David Rowe's kin settled along the St. Croix River in 1848. He grew up playing in the wooded bluffs along the river and lives there today. Rowe, 72, said he has had plenty of opportunities to develop his real estate in Denmark Township, but he wants to preserve his family plot and all the creatures that call it home.

"I wouldn't want to see any development knocking down the trees," Rowe said. "I would like to see the wildlife have a playground, too."

His land is one of 15 ecologically significant properties selected by Washington County for its Land and Water Legacy Program. In fall 2006, voters approved a 10-year property tax increase to raise $20 million to help buy and preserve land such as Rowe's.

So far, the county has purchased one of the 15 properties — 8.2 acres on Moore's Lake, a backwater of the Mississippi River, that will be part of a future county park on Grey Cloud Island.

Much work and many negotiations are ahead before the county seals deals on the other 14 properties.

"Each of the projects are a little different, but we're inching them all forward," said Jane Harper, Land and Water Legacy Program manager. "The referendum was a very important tool. It allows us to protect important natural areas that we otherwise wouldn't be able to protect."

The 15 properties total 585 acres. Most border natural areas or parks and include valuable water features. If all 15 transactions are completed, the showcase of the project would be a nearly 3-mile ecological and scenic corridor bordered by the St. Croix River on the east and St. Croix Trail, a national scenic byway, on the west.

"When I think about it, I get goose bumps hoping we can be successful," Harper said.

PICKING AND PLANNING

County officials have been methodical in selecting property suitable for conservation. In 2007, they reviewed applications from interested landowners and ranked the properties based on natural features.

So far, the county has barely dipped into the $20 million. It spent just $271,600 on the Grey Cloud Island property; the Metropolitan Council pitched in another $181,600.

Harper estimates the 15 purchases could use up half the $20 million. She said the county is constantly seeking partnerships with other agencies to stretch dollars even further.

The county will buy some parcels outright. For others, it will buy a conservation easement, which prevents the owner and any future owners from further developing the property.

Owners are allowed, however, to maintain their homes and any existing farm operations. The cost of a conservation easement can range from 10 percent to 90 percent of the property value.

Negotiations are under way to buy properties or easements bordering Lake Elmo and Big Marine park reserves and Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park. The stretch along the St. Croix would be accomplished with one purchase and several conservation easements; trail rights-of-way also are being sought along the river. Easements are being pursued along Trout Brook in Denmark Township, Silver Creek in Stillwater Township and Valley Creek in Afton.

The county also is partnering with the cities of Hugo and Oakdale and the state of Minnesota to conserve land.

County Commissioner Myra Peterson said she thinks the program is going well but that cobbling together parcels adjacent to one another and to parks is a challenge.

Negotiations can be slow going.

"It's always difficult when you put the pedal to the metal to see what people are willing to accept for an easement on their property," Peterson said.

Patricia Lilligren is one of the landowners who will be negotiating with the county. She owns 35 acres along Trout Brook. She and her husband often talked of preserving what had become their sanctuary from the city.

Lilligren said she is willing to donate some of the value of her conservation easement.

"It seemed like a sensible way to go. We need to protect as much of the natural acreage in Denmark Township that we can," Lilligren said. "I grew up in an area where there were plenty of birds and plenty of wildlife. It was not novel to me, but plenty of people don't have that opportunity."