LAND USE
SPECIAL RESOURCE PROTECTION
MISSISSIPPI RIVER CRITICAL AREA PLAN
Introduction
For thousands of years before Ramsey County was established in 1849, the Mississippi River had been central to Native Americans who lived along its shores and recognized the spiritual significance of its provision. The river offered a transportation corridor and sustained a diverse and plentiful native plant community, which in turn provided habitat for abundant fishing and hunting.
The importance of these natural resources remain and the Mississippi River is one of the most treasured resources in Ramsey County. The Mississippi River is the source of most of the drinking water supply for Ramsey County and the two most populated cities in Minnesota—Saint Paul and Minneapolis. This great river winds through Ramsey County, allowing for transportation, recreation, and energy production for the community. It has striking limestone bluffs and provides a flyway for millions of birds. These elements add to the health and well-being for all in Ramsey County.
HISTORY AND OVERVIEW OF THE MRCCA
The Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area (MRCCA) was originally designated a critical area for the state in 1976, and it comprises 72 miles of the Mississippi River and 54,000 acres of surrounding land through the metropolitan area. This designation allowed for increased efforts to protect and preserve the unique natural, recreational, transportation, and cultural features of this section of the Mississippi River. In 2017 the MN State Legislature adopted the permanent rules for MRCCA under Minnesota Rule 6106. Statutes were then passed under Minn. Stat. 116G.15, Subd. 1 in order to:
(1) protect and preserve the Mississippi River and adjacent lands that the legislature considers unique and valuable state and regional resources for the benefit of the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of the state, region, and nation;
(2) prevent and mitigate irreversible damages to these state, regional, and natural resources;
(3) preserve and enhance the natural, aesthetic, cultural, and historical values of the Mississippi River and adjacent lands for public use and benefit;
(4) protect and preserve the Mississippi River as an essential element in the national, state, and regional transportation, sewer and water, and recreational systems; and
(5) protect and preserve the biological and ecological functions of the Mississippi River corridor.
In Ramsey County, the MRCCA is comprised of 17 miles of river with just over 7,000 acres of surrounding land and includes the cities of Saint Paul and Maplewood.
Within MRCCA lies a national park – the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (MNRRA), which was created in 1988, several years after MRCCA was established. The geographic areas associated with these two designations are identical.
An updated State of the River Report was released in 2016 by MNRRA and the Friends of the Mississippi River, where 14 indicators of river health were identified. The report noted that populations of healthy bald eagle, native mussel, and fish populations have increased to indicate the river is providing a healthier habitat. Conversely, increased river flows were noted, which destabilizes the river system and continued impairments for excess sediment, bacteria and phosphorus, among other indicators, that press the need for continued water quality improvement efforts. The full report is linked in the Planning efforts and initiative section at the end of this chapter.