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City of Arden Hills - Comprehensive Plan - DRAFT <br />undertakes projects to improve water quality. The City has a number of protective <br />ordinances and policies in place that enhance District activities; however, those <br />policies require monitoring to ensure that they are meeting City needs and effectively <br />protecting the City's natural resources. <br />In addition to lake protection, several high-priority natural areas, endangered and <br />protected species, and historic sites have been identified as significant in the City. <br />These significant resources are highly valuable and have features that may require <br />special levels of protection. <br />10.2 Water Resources <br />In progress. <br />10.3 Significant Natural Resources <br />Although the area south of Highways 96 and 10 are largely developed, many <br />neighborhoods retain significant tree cover, ponds, wetlands, and other open <br />spaces that give the City a natural and well -landscaped character. More than <br />363 acres are classified as parks and open space. Tony Schmidt Park, Charles <br />Perry Park, the Chatham Trails, Crepeau Park, Northwestern College, Bethel <br />University, and Mounds View High School all contain natural areas of varying <br />character and quality. <br />The TCAAP property contains a significant amount of natural resources, <br />including lakes, wetlands, woodlands, meadows, rolling terrain, and excellent <br />vistas. The kame in the central part of the property is the highest point in <br />Ramsey County. Of the 585 acres that are anticipated to be turned over to the <br />City for development, 168 acres would continue to be used as open space in the <br />form of parks, wetlands, stormwater areas, recreational areas, and a wildlife <br />corridor. In the remaining part of the TCAAP property, some use may occur by <br />the Minnesota National Guard; however, much of the property is anticipated to <br />remain undeveloped open space. <br />While many of the open spaces in Arden Hills are high quality, invasive species <br />such as buckthorn are a problem in many parks and open spaces in throughout <br />Minnesota. Unfortunately, a number of Arden Hills' parks and open spaces <br />contain buckthorn. In cooperation with residents and services groups, the City <br />has instituted a buckthorn removal program. The City plans to continue to <br />control buckthorn on and ongoing basis as needed and as resources are <br />available. <br />DRAFT 49 <br />2/22/2008 <br />