Natural Resource Management

Two Natural Resource Coordinators oversee and implement land stewardship activities throughout the 4,800 acre park system. Current and future stewardship is outlined in each tab by park. 

  1. Big Marine Park Reserve

Current Projects

  • Coordination with Carnelian-Marine-St. Croix Watershed District on stormwater improvement project.
  • Rain Garden maintenance. 
  • Hybrid cattail control with University of Minnesota on Big Marine Lake.
  • CR-4 turtle fence crossing.
  • Noxious weed control along the main park road for Canada thistle.
  • Siberian elm control within prairies of the main entrance. 
  • Continued forestry of buckthorn re-sprouts in the main park area.
  • Cover crop program on 24 ac of crop field within the park reserve. 
  • Oriental bittersweet control south of the maintenance shop.

Future Projects

  • Implementing conservation-based grazing/haying within grassland plant communities, with oak savanna restoration integrated.  
  • Prairie restoration on 24 acres of crop field.
  1. Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park
  1. Lake Elmo Park Reserve
  1. Grey Cloud Island Regional Park
  1. Pine Point Regional Park
  1. St. Croix Bluffs Regional Park
  1. Square Lake