DNR Checklists: Cover Page, NRI, Comprehensive Planning, Natural Area Management Plan, Natural Area Ordinance, and Density Bonus. Concise and informative series of factsheets.

Land Protection Options: A handbook for Minnesota Landowners. This is a wonderful booklet that provides information on methods and techniques to protect land.

Native Vegetation and Restoration

Going Native: A prairie restoration handbook for Minnesota Landowners. Another wonderful booklet on how to restore and manage prairies.

Minnesota Ecosystems Video Order Form A great video about Minnesota's ecosystems and how we can minimize the impacts of human activities.

Minnesota’s Native Vegetation: A Key to Natural Communities. The definitive source of information on Minnesota's natural communities.

Natural Areas: Protecting a Vital Community Asset - Sourcebook for Minnesota Local Governments and Citizens. A well-written sourcebook that provides a wide variety of information on how to identify and protect natural areas.

Shoreline Restoration and Lakescaping Information on shoreline restoration, the "Restore Your Shore" CD, and book "Lakescaping for Wildlife".

LINKS
The following are links to informative websites. You must be connected to the internet to view these links. Clicking a site will open another window.

Greenway Planning

Center for Greenspace Design Informative website that takes you through the process of identifying and protecting green space.

DNR Metro Greenways Program Site includes information on greenway planning, restoration grants, and land protection grants.

Parks and Cultural Resources

Design Center for American Urban Landscape Examines urban design across metropolitan areas

Human Dimensions of Urban Forestry and Urban Greening Research on peoples' perceptions and behaviors regarding nature in cities

Metropolitan Council Parks Planning Local park and trail plan (consistent with Regional Park System)

Minnesota Historical Society Historical/archeological protection ordinances

Ordinances and Zoning Information

EPA Green Acres Program Native vegetation and exotic species management ordinance

Metropolitan Council Planning Assistance Information on comprehensive planning for local units of government.

Metropolitan Council Stormwater Management Design Manual Surface water management plan that promotes innovative storm water management

Metropolitan Council Water Resource Planning Guidance to make local plan consistent with the Council's Water Resources Policy Management Plan

Minnesota Planning Model Ordinances Ordinances to minimize hard surfaces (flexible roadways widths, maximum percent impervious, flexible parking requirements.

MPCA Stormwater Model Ordinance Model ordinance for erosion control and storm water management.

Septic System Management Septic system management in non-sewered areas

Shoreland Management Shoreland management zoning including wetland protection and buffers

Tree Ordinances Guidelines for developing and evaluating tree ordinances

Water Resource Protection and Watersheds

Center for Global Environmental Education. Features a variety of watershed-based educational resources.

Center for Watershed Protection. A non-profit organization providing tools for the protection of water resources.

International Erosion Control Association News on upcoming events, education seminars, and membership.

Low Impact Development (LID) Center. A non-profit organization balancing growth and environmental integrity.

Metropolitan Council: Urban Small Sites Best Management Practice Manual. Information on tools and techniques to assist Twin Cities municipalities and WMOs in guiding development and redevelopment.

Metropolitan Council: Watershed Management Coordination. Watershed planning, water supply planning, BMP's, funding and grant programs, reports, and water resource policy.

Minnesota DNR: Watersheds & Landscapes. Information on watersheds and landscapes from the State of Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

Minnesota Erosion Control Association. Great site for information on erosion/sediment control and storm water management. Offers regular training and an outstanding annual conference.

Minnesota PCA: River Basins & Watersheds. Information on basins and watersheds from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.

Nonpoint Education for Municipal Officials (NEMO). Link to more information about this program and a plethora of additional stuff.

NEMO's Reducing Runoff Site Planning, regulatory and design guidance that can help significantly for compliance with the Phase II Stormwater Program.

Storm Water Manager's Resource Center Technical assistance on storm water management issues for storm water practitioners, local government officials and others.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Surf Your Watershed. Locate, use, and share environmental information about your state and watershed.

Monitor Progress

DNR Environmental Indicators Initiative

MPCA Citizen Lake and Stream Monitoring Programs

Natural Resource Inventories

Trust for Public Land DNR Neighborhood Wilds Program. Improving habitat in your neighborhood.

Minnesota Firewise Program. Firewise addresses the risk of homes in the wildland/urban interface to wildland fire.

Restoration and other Environmental Links

DNR Neighborhood Wilds Program. Improving habitat in your neighborhood.

Minnesota Firewise Program. Firewise addresses the risk of homes in the wildland/urban interface to wildland fire.

CREDITS
Contributed materials for the NRG CD.

Index: Index - Background Grid Pattern by Beth Ignaut.

Overview: Introduction - Community Thumbnail Artwork by Michele Hanson.

Overview: Natural Resources Matter - Community Thumbnail Artwork by Michele Hanson.

Inventories & Assessments: How to do an Inventory: Combination Drawn/GIS NRI - Hand Drawn NRI on USGS Quad Sheet by Hannah Dunevitz.

Inventories & Assessments: How to do an Inventory: Hand Drawn NRI - Hand Drawn NRI by Michele Hanson.

Natural Resource Based Planning: Watersheds - Watershed Graphic - Center for Watershed Protection.

Natural Resource Based Planning: Watersheds - How Does Your Watershed Flow poster - Minnesota DNR.

Natural Resource Based Planning: Watersheds - Relationship between Impervious Cover and Surface Runoff - "Stream Corridor Restoration: Principles, Processes, and Practices, 10/98, by the Federal Interagency Stream Restoration Working Group (FISRWG)."

Project Profiles: Metropolitan Council - Pie Charts and text by Metropolitan Council.

REFERENCES
Information from the following documents and websites was incorporated into the NRG CD.

American Viewpoint, Inc., 2000. Twin Cities Metropolitan Natural Areas Survey.

Blueprint 2030 NRI/A Related Maps, Metropolitan Council, 2003.

Environmentally Based Regional Smart Growth Planning and Design, Pitt, David G., R. S. Bolan, J. Coleman, J. Kinney, K. Thering, D. Valkenburg, J. Vossen, and A. Discher. Dept. Landscape Architecture, Univ. of MN, 2002.

From Policy to Reality. Model Ordinances for Sustainable Development, Minnesota Planning, September 2000.

Green Infrastructure: A Strategic Approach to Green Space Planning and Conservation, The Conservation Fund, 2002.

Guide to Minnesota Environmental Review Rules, Minnesota Planning Environmental Quality Board, 1998.

Land Protection Options: A Handbook for Minnesota Landowners, Second Edition, The Nature Conservancy, 2000.

Metro Greenprint. Planning for Nature in the Face of Urban Growth, Greenways and Natural Areas Collaborative, December 1997. Published by DNR.

Minnesota Land Cover Classification System, Presentation by Bart Richardson. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Central Region, July 2003.

Minnesota Land Cover Classification System User Manual, Version 5.1. Richardson, Bart. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Central Region, July 2003.

Minnesota Planning, Minnesota Department of Administration, 2003.

Natural Areas: Protecting a Vital Community Asset, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, 1997.

Natural Communities and Rare Species of Winona County, Minnesota. Map. State of Minnesota, Department of Natural Resources, 1996.

NEMO Project Soapbox Editorial #3 (Sustainable: Attainable?), University of Connecticut Cooperative Extension System.

Open Space Design Development: A Guide for Local Governments, Washington County Planning and Administrative Services, 1997.

Open Space Planning Kit, University of Connecticut Cooperative Extension System.

Under Construction: Tools and Techniques for Local Planning, * Minnesota Planning, 2002.

Using Ecosystem Based Processes to Restore our Communities Edited by The Ecotecture Collaborative, 1998.

* Minnesota Planning has become Local Planning Assistance under the Minnesota Department of Administration.