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1 forested, featuring stands of pines, spruce,fir, aspen, and mixed hardwoods of varying ages a. The diverse mix of
<br /> 2 tree,shrub,and ground cover species provides habitat for species requiring core forest habitat af4-as well as those
<br /> 3 requiring edge forest habitat. Forests also contribute to natural beauty and provide a buffer to development by
<br /> 4 reducing air and noise pollution, screening bright lights, stopping soil erosion, intercepting stormwater, and
<br /> 5 providing shade and wind protection.'astly,the feFestFy ipdus«^,^ ptriw„*^5;to thea leeaI^ ^.;^^f9F
<br /> 4
<br /> 6 Re@Fly half of all w ufaetu Fing elan in r"Few Wing Ce Rty
<br /> 7 Most forested land in Pequot Lakes is privately owned, with nearly 800 acres owned by the Potlatch Company.
<br /> 8 Potlatch leases much of its land to private individuals and entities for hunting and other low-impact recreational
<br /> 9 uses.Although it plans to continue managing its land for timber, Potlatch hopes to lease or sell more land in the
<br /> a
<br /> 10 future. ^^e' ulel ee.AsideF leaSiRg^ ^IliRg^ eky t^^.."'ir^^titi^I ,Nearly 23 percent of forest land in Pequot
<br /> it Lakes is owned and managed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, while 14 percent is owned by
<br /> 12 Crow Wing County, and eight percent is owned by the United States Bureau of Land Management. Pequot Lakes
<br /> 13 can work to acquire and better manage its remaining forests by collaborating with private and public land owners.
<br /> 14 WATER RESOURCES
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<br /> 15 Part of Minnesota's"Northern Lakes and Forests co-region" , Pequot Lakes is home to nine lakes including Sibley,
<br /> 16 Mayo, West Twin, East Twin, Mid-Cullen, Upper Cullen, Cloverleaf, Rice, and Lund.These lakes provide residents
<br /> 17 with breathtaking scenery, good fishing, and a host of other recreational opportunities. Although the depth and
<br /> 18 size of these lakes vary,the general water quality in most lakes is below average for the region and nearly all are
<br /> 19 reaching the eutrophic stage. Several lakes - including Sibley, Mayo, and Rice lakes - exhibit high phosphorous
<br /> 20 I levels and poor water clarity.
<br /> 21 The Pequot Lakes central business district lies completely within the Sibley Lake watershed. Storm water runoff
<br /> 22 from impervious surface in this downtown area— including roads, roof tops, and parking lots - likely contribute
<br /> 23 significantly to this problem in Sibley Lake. Phosphorous, once a common component of fertilizers, also poses a
<br /> 24 seFieu>threat to the future health of lakes, especially to shallow wetland lakes such as Lund and Rice lakes,as well
<br /> 25 as lakes cleared of the natural lakeshore vegetation that acts as a filter. Phosphorous is naturally occurring in the
<br /> 26 environment, but care must be taken not to dramatically increase the phosphorous load in area lakes. ;;s-is
<br /> 27 ewFFeRtly happe;i^^. High levels of phosphorous lead to increased algae and weeds and decreased oxygen and
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<br /> 28 clarity over time.Most lakes feature diverse aquatic vegetation and fish populations .
<br /> 29 All land use activities occurring within local watersheds impact area lakes. Specific activities that threaten area
<br /> 30 lakes include lakeshore development, rip-rap and other harmful landscaping practices, faulty septic systems,
<br /> 31 fertilizers, increased impervious surface, soil compaction, and the removal of aquatic and terrestrial vegetation.
<br /> 32 Nearly 83 percent of lakeshore property in Pequot Lakes is developed,contributing significantly to these problems.
<br /> 33 A eeceRt 2003 study by Bemidji State University has shown that lakes with higher water quality boost lakeshore
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<br /> 34 property values .To ensure lake water quality and the natural beauty of lake shorelines, the City of Pequot Lakes
<br /> 35 must protect shorelines with natural buffers and encourage responsible future development that won't damage
<br /> 36 lake health or appearance,and promote better alternatives for drainage,retaining stormwater runoff,and building
<br /> 37 and landscaping practices throughout the entire watershed.
<br /> 38 Wetlands and streams perform invaluable functions in watershed health, providing habitat for a diversity of rare
<br /> 39 wildlife and fish species, controlling erosion and slowing surface run-off, filtering pollutants and sediments,
<br /> 12IPage
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