Ecosystem Health Action Plan
Primary page for the Ecosystem Health Action Plan (EHAP)
Overview
The RPBCWD Board of Managers approved development of the Ecosystem Health Action Plan (EHAP) in February 2023. The ultimate purpose of EHAP will be to inform, through an ecosystem lens, development of the 10-year management plan update.
The EHAP effort will consist of the following tasks:
- Review of relevant literature and district projects/programs
- GIS data collection and map development
- Soil health investigation and fieldwork
- Technical Advisory Panel workshop facilitation
- EHAP development
Plan Components
Once developed, the action plan will tentatively include:
- A vision and goals for ecosystem health within RPBCWD
- A description of historic land use that has altered ecosystem function
- A description of existing ecological conditions
- Maps showing climate change and urban heat island areas of vulnerability within RPBCWD
- A summary of how RPBCWD current programs, projects, and regulatory activities align with an ecological approach and authorities
- A summary of ecosystem function issues and opportunities for preservation, management, or enhancement
- A description of ecosystem function improvement strategies
- A description of existing and potential partners for the District to achieve ecosystem function improvements
- A description of short and long-term priorities for implementation of ecosystem health initiatives
Technical Advisory Panel
A Technical Advisory Panel (TAP) was formed to provide input during the EHAP development process. The panel includes representives from multiple disciplines in city, county and state governments and other organizations. A series of TAP workshops are being faciliated to identify challenges and opportunities for fostering a healthy urban ecosystem.
Photos: Scenes from TAP Workshop #1.
TAP Workshop 1: Identifying challenges to a healthy urban ecosystem (5/18/2023)
TAP Workshop 2: Identifying efforts and gaps in supporting a healthy ecosystem (6/15/2023)
TAP Workshop 3: Identifying solutions to ecosystem health issues
- Gaps identified in workshop 2 for consideration in workshop 3
- Summary of solutions identified
TAP Workshop 4: Focus groups to prioritize possible solutions
- Three workshops were held separately with TAP members divided into these focus areas: natural resources, planning, and water resources engineering. The results of the this and the other TAP workshops will be brought to the joint BOM/CAC workshop scheduled for March 11, 2024.
Joint Workshop with Board of Managers and Citizen Advisory Committee (3/11/2024)
- Presentation slides
- Topics for breakout sessions: Discuss ideas for RPBCWD mission statement revision; prioritize potential actionable items
Calendar
This calendar will be updated as information becomes available.
February 1, 2023 Board of Managers approves EHAP development
May 18, 2023 EHAP TAP Workshop 1
June 15, 2023 EHAP TAP Workshop 2
July 20, 2023 EHAP TAP Workshop 3
January 2024 EHAP TAP Workshop 4 - Separate focus groups on January 3, 11 and 17
March 11, 2024 Joint workshop with RBPCWD Board of Managers and CAC members
Status: A draft of the EHAP document is in development.
Contact
Terry Jeffery, District Administrator
Documents
- Memo about EHAP scope (2/1/2023)
- Existing conditions maps (version 6/15/2023)
Technical Advisory Panel
A huge thanks to our Technical Advisory Panel!
Members include professionals from multliple disciplines including planning, community development, natural resources, water resources, and sustainability from:
- City of Chanhassen
- City of Chaska
- City of Eden Prairie
- City of Minnetonka
- City of Bloomington
- City of Shorewood
- Hennepin County
- Carver County
- Carver Soil & Water Conservation District
- MN Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR)
- MN Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
- Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
- US Fish and Wildlife Service
- Nine Mile Creek Watershed District
- RPBCWD Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC)
- RPBCWD Board of Managers
- EntoVentures
- BARR Engineering
