Cuyuna Connection and Cuyuna Hills Backcountry Trail PROPOSED TRAIL DEVELOPMENT December 21, 2017 Trail Suitability Analysis Trail Suitability Criteria: As set forth in the Crow Wing County Comprehensive Recreation Trails Plan, County natural resource managers use the following criteria to evaluate trail proposals and to improve trail planning, design and maintenance. The criteria are designed to inform an objective evaluation process with flexibility to address the diversity of situations that exist. The results of the evaluation provide information about the potential impacts of the trail and mitigations that may be needed. The County s professional natural resource managers utilize the following scoring scale: (5=Most desirable condition, 1= Least desirable condition): 1. Visual Quality and Landscape - Scenic Features, Points of Interest: 5 of 5 Located primarily on a glacial moraine, both trail systems utilize naturally occurring moderate to steep slopes that are covered by older deciduous forests and little understory vegetation and minimal existing infrastructure (i.e., roads, etc.) to create a visually appealing place to recreate in a sustainable way. On the County property s eastern edge, the proposed trail traverses near Lost Long Lake, which will be a scenic view for recreation enthusiasts. 2. Trail Linkages and Networks - Linkages to existing trails and systems: 5 of 5 Overall, the trail proposals would create a contiguous loop of over 40.64 miles of designated single track mountain bike trails in Crow Wing County. The Cuyuna Connection Trail will connect 30 miles of designated single track mountain bicycling and hiking trails to the City of Cuyuna via the end of Tripp Avenue. This will provide ride-in / ride-out access to the Cuyuna Pump track and the City of Cuyuna campground. The Cuyuna Hills Backcountry Trail will provide a backcountry experience for mountain bicyclists and hikers. It will connect to the overall mountain bicycle trail system via Iron Hub Road. Both trails are designed to provide a link to regionally and state significant trail systems stretching west to the City of Riverton and east to the City of Deerwood. This includes the Cuyuna Lakes State Trail and the single track mountain bicycling trail within the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area (CCSRA). 3. Impacts on Adjacent Private Properties - Need for easements, permits, or mitigations outside of county lands: 4 of 5 There are no direct impacts to private properties as part of both trail proposals. In Government Lot 3, section 31, in the City of Cuyuna (PID#: 170313203000999), part of the Cuyuna Connection Trail is proposed to be developed on undivided interest property. Currently, the County is in the process of securing 100% interest in the property which would make trail development on this property possible. However, two alternative alignments have also been proposed as non-preferred re-routes should interest in the property not be secured. More details concerning the alternative alignments are available on page 9 & 10 in the trail application. In section 31 & 32 of the City of Cuyuna, the proposed trail crosses over public-dedicated road right-of-ways under the jurisdiction of the City of Cuyuna for which the City has offered their written support of. Much of the Cuyuna Connection Trail proposal falls on Minnesota DNR public owned land located in section 36 of the City of Cuyuna, for which formal trail alignment approval has not yet been secured from the MN DNR. Finally, the Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Bike Crew wishes to use the existing forest trail located adjacent and east of County Road 31 in the SW1/4 of the NE1/4 of section 31, City of Cuyuna for maintenance and other uses. However, this access is not required for construction and usage of the trails in the short-term. Page 1 of 5
4. Proximity to Services - Gas, food, lodging, water, campgrounds, and rest stops: 4 of 5 The southern end of the Cuyuna Connection Trail is within ½ mile from the Yurt campground within the CCSRA which has both water and restrooms available. The northern end of the trail is within a ½ mile of the City of Cuyuna campground, which contains water and restrooms. The entrance/exit to the Yawkey Unit of mountain bike trails is within 1 mile of the City of Crosby which includes a variety of amenities including lodging, camping, restaurants, etc. The beginning and end of the Cuyuna Hills Backcountry Trail is located 6/10ths of a mile from the City of Cuyuna and the city campground. Also, the Milford Mine Memorial Park and Croft Mine Historical Park are all located within 3 miles of both proposed trails. 5. Public Support - Clubs and User Groups: 5 of 5 The Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Bike Crew (CLMTBC) has proactively worked with local organizations, government units, elected officials, and businesses to avoid unintended impacts to other trails and land uses and to secure letters of support for the trail proposals. These entities include: 7Sigma Systems, Inc. Aitkin Area Chamber of Commerce Brainerd Lakes Area Community Foundation Brainerd Lakes Area Economic Development Corporation (BLAEDC) City of Cuyuna Crosby-Ironton School District (ISD #182) CTC Cuyuna Iron Range Riders ATV Club Cuyuna Range Economic Development, Inc. Cuyuna Range Whitetails Chapter of the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association Cuyuna Regional Medical Center (CRMC) Graphic Packaging International, Inc. Initiative Foundation Madden s on Gull Lake Mille Lacs Area Tourism Council Nisswa Chamber of Commerce North Country Café Rabbit Lake Township Ruttger s Bay Lake Lodge Sno-Serpents Snowmobile Club, Inc. State Representative Dale Lueck (District 10B Minnesota House of Representatives) State Senator Carrie Ruud (District 10 State of Minnesota Senate) Town of Rabbit Lake U.S. Representative Rick Nolan (8 th District US Congress, House of Representatives) Woodtick Inn 6. Plan for Maintenance - Available funds and partnerships: 5 out of 5 The trails will be designed, developed, and maintained through private sources of funding with no State or County taxpayer dollars or County budgeted dollars. The Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Bike Crew will design and develop the trail using funds the club raised internally as well as a dollar-for- dollar matching grant obtained through the Hallet Fund for a total funding of $670,000. All maintenance will be paid by the Club through their own private funding sources. Volunteers with the Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Bike Crew will develop and maintain all proposed trails in the same manner as the current trails within the CCSRA including signage. Club volunteers Page 2 of 5
organize into teams with a team leader to regularly inspect trails and perform required maintenance as needed. The trails will be constructed using current sustainable trail guidelines published by the International Mountain Bike Association (IMBA). During both spring break-up and during storm damages, the trails will be closed to prevent long-term damage to the trails. In the winter time, the trail will be open to fat tire bicycles and will be groomed by the Club to accommodate that use. Importantly, the public land managed by Crow Wing County will still be subject to periodic forest management activities, including timber harvests. These forestlands will be managed in accordance with the Crow Wing County Forest Resource Plan (2015) as are all County managed public lands. Additionally, any forest management activities will incorporate concepts from the Voluntary Site-Level Management Guidelines best management practices. 7. Public Safety Considerations - Access for emergency services or hazards: 4 of 5 For the Cuyuna Connection Trail, existing forest trails and designated snowmobile trails (winter time) on county and state managed land will provide Emergency Management Services (EMS) access. The Cuyuna Hills Backcountry Trail will have a parking area constructed off of Iron Hub Road that will have an EMS access point. The Club plans to upgrade and add the existing forest trail east of County Road 31 as a secondary EMS access point. For both trails, the club will install the same location / access system as in the CCSRA with numbered locations corresponding to GPS coordinates and marked access points. 8. Availability of Parking Areas: 4 of 5 One new trail head (parking area) is proposed as part of both trails development plans. This new parking area will be developed on the south side of Iron Hub Road that will consist of a small gavel parking area, being approximately 5 parking spaces in size. The parking area will have fencing and a cattle gate to block off the parking area if needed. The parking area will be kept small due to the minimal amount of upland area and to promote parking within the City of Cuyuna. Other existing parking areas that will be utilized to a greater extent are the south end of the Yawkey parking lot within the CCSRA. And, the parking area the City of Cuyuna campground and pump track and in-town parking with the City of Cuyuna. 9. Opportunities for Interpretive Information and Public Education Interpretive Info: 4 of 5 Other than old railroad grades used to facilitate movement of mining products, few opportunities exist for any kind of historical, ecological, or public education on the Cuyuna Connection Trail. However, within the Cuyuna Hills Backcountry Trail, opportunities do exist to educate the public on the geology of the area, the land s status as a working forest, forest management by Crow Wing County, and the ecology of Lost Lake. As with all designated, managed trails on County managed land, Crow Wing County will install a 3-panel kiosk at the proposed new parking area on the south side of Iron Hub Road. The kiosk will provide a map of both trail systems, safety information, as well as information about all designated and managed trails and parks in the County. 10. Soil Conditions, Slope and Grade - Degree of impact and mitigations: 4 of 5 Both proposed trails predominantly occur in glacial moraines which typically consist of well-drained sandy loams and gravel on gently rolling to steep slopes. Much of the native surface trail system in the moraine areas has rocky material (gravel, cobles, and stones) mixed in with the loam, adding structure that that usually improves soils used for trail treads, especially for concentrated recreation activities. The rocky materials resist compaction, drain well, and add traction. 1 The Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Bike Crew will maintain all designated trail surfaces to a safe and sustainable condition. In order to reduce compatible use conflicts and limit the amount of activity 1 State of Minnesota, Department of Natural Resources, 2007. Trail Planning, Design, and Development Guidelines. General Properties of Native Soils for Native Surface Trail Use. Trails and Waterways Division, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155-4052. p. 6.8-6.10. Page 3 of 5
during periods of historically wet and vulnerable trail conditions, the proposed trail system will be closed during the big game hunting season (typically most of the month of November) and signed as such. In the winter, the trail use will only include fat tire bicycling and snow shoeing on designated groomed trails. The trail will also be closed during spring break-up months and open again in May. Segments of the proposed trail system may be closed periodically following significant weather events that create unsafe and unsustainable trail conditions. 11. Rare, Threatened or Endangered Species or Habitats - Degree of risk and impact: 4 of 5 Crow Wing County utilizes the Natural Heritage Information System (NHIS), a collection of databases containing information about Minnesota s rare natural features maintained by the Division of Ecological Resources within the Department of Natural Resources. The NHIS is continually updated and is the most complete source of data on Minnesota s rare or otherwise significant species, native plant communities, and other natural features. On County owned and managed land only, the NHIS indicates that three species of conservation significance occurs within or near (less than one mile) the proposed recreation trail systems. They are: Red Shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus), a state-listed species of special concern, has been documented in the vicinity of the proposed trail. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources recommends that all activates stay at least 984 feet away from nest sites and disturbance of nest sites should be minimized during the breeding season 2 (April 1 to June 30). A segment of proposed trail does intersect this 984 foot buffer for a short distance, however there is an existing forest trail used by motorized vehicles between the proposed trail and the area defined as possible Red Shouldered Hawk habitat. As the area already includes existing trails in the same vicinity, development/use within this area will not impact the Red Shouldered Hawk Species. Blanding Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii), a state-listed threatened species, has been documented in the vicinity of the proposed trail and may be encountered by recreational trail users. The state of Minnesota has provided an environmental review fact sheet 3 which will be utilized to minimize impacts to this species. Least Darter (Etheostoma miicroperca), a small fish species of conservation significance (ranked special concern due to its unusual distribution pattern) occurs in public waters near the one of the proposed trail segments. The lease darter is Minnesota s smallest fish. Since there are no shoreline areas to the trail, little, if any, disturbance will occur and there will not be any impact to the Least Darter Population. 12. Wetlands and Public Waters - Degree of impact, permitting and mitigations: 4 of 5 The trail proposals and parking area will avoid dirt moving into wetlands. Therefore, no wetlands will be impacted over the entirety of both trail proposals. For the parking area off Iron Hub Road, the wetlands and property lines in this location will be flagged and located before construction of the parking area and trail to prevent impact to wetlands. Where the trail crosses wetland, the trail will become two (2) parallel elevated wooden boardwalks with posts or pilings with a minimum of one (1) foot above existing grade. Since new trail construction is less than the minimum threshold of 10 miles on County owned and managed land, an Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) is not required (MN Rule 4410.4300 Subp. 37). Since the proposed new trail construction (approximately 9.33 miles) will disturb more than one acre of soil, a 2 Species profile: Minnesota DNR. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Aug. 2017. http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/rsg/profile.html?action=elementdetail&selectedelement=abnkc19030 3 State of Minnesota, Department of Natural Resources Division of Ecological and Water Resources, 2008. Environmental Review Fact Sheet Series: Blading s Turtle. Accessed on 8/9/2017@ http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/natural_resources/animals/reptiles_amphibians/turtles/blandings_turtle/factsheet.pdf Page 4 of 5
Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit will be required as per Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) requirements. All trail planning, design, and development will incorporate recommendations from the Trail Planning, Design and Development Guidelines manual and IMBA standards. This includes detailed considerations for ecological and physical sustainability, (including trail alignments, soils, slopes, drainage, etc.) wetland, and water issues among other important topics. All trail building and maintenance in the area incorporates concepts from the Voluntary Site-Level Forest Management Guidelines (Best Management Practices). 13. Cultural Resources or Historic Sites - Degree of risk and impact: 5 of 5 According to information from the Minnesota Office of the State Archaeologist and the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), no known cultural or historic artifacts or sites have been surveyed on any County owned and managed parcels located within the proposed trail corridor. Trail Suitability Score for the Project: 57 out of 65. Scoring Categories: 39 65; Trail Proposal deemed suitable for further planning and development 20 39; Trail Proposal may be suitable and should be reviewed for opportunities to reduce limitations and/or necessary mitigations. 20 or less; Trail Proposal is unlikely to be suitable for investing further planning efforts as proposed Page 5 of 5