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City of Arden Hills – 2040 Comprehensive Plan Approved:, 2018 10-1 10. PROTECTED RESOURCES Goal: Preserve, protect, and restore the community’s natural resources, including open spaces, lakes, wetlands, other significant natural features, and historic resources. To achieve this protected resources goal, the following policies are proposed: o Identify and work to protect the sensitive natural resources within the City. o Develop or enhance regulations to protect the City’s natural resources, including trees, lakes, wetlands, and other unique or significant natural resources. o Work with the appropriate agencies to assure that surface and ground water quality is protected. o Support public educational opportunities to foster a better understanding of the natural environment as well as ways to restore and protect the natural environment. o Work with the Arden Hills Army Training Site (AHATS) to protect the unique natural resources and open spaces as park and/or open space. o Encourage the identification and protection of historically significant sites and structures. 10.1 INTRODUCTION The beautiful lakes, diverse topography, and wooded character of Arden Hills provide exceptional residential, recreational, and business environments. The community has carefully guarded these resources in the past; however, they are constantly threatened by human activities. Protecting these areas requires diligence, including adherence to strong protection policies and requirements, studying the most up-to-date preservation methods, and educating the public on environmentally sound development and maintenance practices. Lakes are a significant resource in the City and will continue to be if water quality can be enhanced and maintained. Lakes and their surrounding watersheds need to be managed as sensitive and limited resources, requiring purposeful planning and action. The lack of management of these limited resources can lead to diminished water quality and can negatively affect public health, recreational activities, wildlife, and fishing, community quality of life, and ultimately tax revenues through diminished property values. Arden Hills is located entirely within the Rice Creek Watershed District (RCWD). The RCWD addresses water issues, administers regulatory programs, and undertakes projects to improve water quality. The City has a number of protective ordinances and policies in place that enhance RCWD activities; however, those policies require Draft 04/04/2018