DEPARTMENT: Parks
FILE TYPE: Regular Action
TITLE
title
Authorization To Release Draft Natural Systems Plan For Public Review And Comment
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RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, Dakota County owns and manages 5,850 acres of public park land and additional land in greenway corridors and has protected more than 12,000 acres through conservation easements on private lands; and
WHEREAS, Dakota County recognizes the importance of restoring and managing its protected lands for ecological and societal benefits; and
WHEREAS, Dakota County adopted the Parks Natural Resources System Plan in 2017 and the Land Conservation Plan in 2020 to guide protection and management of high-quality natural resources lands; and
WHEREAS, staff has been directed to combine these two legacy plans into a single operational plan called the Natural Systems Plan to 1) protect ecologically valuable lands amid development, growth, and habitat fragmentation; 2) ensure consistent, science-based management for long-term ecological resilience; and 3) provide a framework for funding, restoration priorities, and partnerships; and
WHEREAS, targeted stakeholder engagement and general public intercepts were conducted in March and April of 2026 with positive comments received on continuing this work; and
WHEREAS, a draft Natural Systems Plan has been prepared to articulate objectives, strategies, and implementation pathways for land protection, natural systems stewardship, and program operations.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes release of the draft Natural Systems Plan for a 30-day public review and comment period, commencing on September 1, 2026.
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BACKGROUND
Dakota County adopted a Natural Resources Management System Plan NRMSP (https://dakotacountymn.gov/parks/about) <NRMSP%20(https://dakotacountymn.gov/parks/about)> for its Parks in 2017, which addressed the Park System (parks, greenways, and park conservation areas) and private natural area easements. In 2020, Dakota County updated its Farmland and Natural Areas Protection Plan as a more targeted County Land Conservation Plan LCP (https://dakotacountymn.gov/residents/land-water/land-conservation) <LCP%20(https://dakotacountymn.gov/residents/land-water/land-conservation)>. With the completion of the 2050 Parks Vision Plan, staff is combining the NRMSP and the LCP into a unified operational plan called the Natural Systems Plan (NSP). The NSP will serve as a bridge between the high-level goals of the 2050 Vision Plan and the site-specific recommendations included in individual park and greenway Natural Resource Management Plans (NRMPs). It is intended to be clear enough to guide work for the next five to ten years but have the flexibility to respond to changes and new opportunities.
Staff provided an update on draft objectives and strategies to the County Board in January 2026 and has since built out implementation content to complete a draft NSP. Proposed outcomes over the next five years include:
• Restoration of an additional 1,500 acres of park land
• Restoration of 366 acres of Greenway corridor lands
• Restoration of 944 acres of natural area easements
• Long-term management of previously restored lands in the County Park System, increasing from 2,400 acres in 2026 to 3,700 acres by 2031
• Water quality improvement projects
• Wildlife management projects, including re-introduction of several native species
Estimated costs for the next five years include a County share of $0.9 M on a total cost of $23 M for acquisition and restoration work on 3,297 acres (parks, greenways, easements) and $9.8 M for long-term management of restored park and greenway lands owned by the County. The annual County cost is roughly $2.1 M. At present, restoration and acquisition work have been supported largely through outside funding with a small County match. Long-term management historically has been mostly a County financial obligation, and the draft NSP acknowledges a growing shortfall for maintenance. The draft NSP suggests interim approaches and further evaluation of opportunities to secure stable funding for this essential work. Staff will continue to seek funding from external sources. Annual budget and Capital Improvement Program requests will be subject to Board approval.
RECOMMENDATION
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Staff recommends that the draft NSP be released for public review and comment, from September 1 to September 30, 2026.
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FINANCIAL AND STAFFING IMPACTS
To be addressed during plan implementation through annual budget and CIP requests.
PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION
None.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment: Draft Natural Systems Plan
Attachment: Presentation Slides
CONTACT
Department Director: Niki Geisler
Author: Mary Jackson