The GIS Behind Dakota County s FARMLAND AND NATURAL AREAS PROGRAM The Farmland and Natural Areas Program is a voluntary program in which Dakota County and other partners work with willing landowners to protect agricultural land and natural resources through conservation easements. The overall goal of the program is to protect agricultural areas while improving water quality and wildlife habitats and to protect, connect and manage natural areas.
The GIS Behind Dakota County s FARMLAND AND NATURAL AREAS PROGRAM To date, 2,651 acres of natural areas and 5,312 acres of farmland have been permanently protected under the program, worth an estimated $75 million. The Office of GIS and SWCD work cooperatively to develop GIS databases, layers, maps, and information critical to the implementation and success of this program.
The GIS Behind Dakota County s FARMLAND AND NATURAL AREAS PROGRAM GIS Components Agricultural Market Accessibility Easement Scoring Process Maps Scoring Assessments Data & Reporting
The GIS Behind Dakota County s FARMLAND AND NATURAL AREAS PROGRAM A Working Partnership Office of GIS Draft Easement Maps Scoring Criteria Maps SWCD Field Maps Land Cover Maps Soil Maps (Eligibility Indicator: 80% Prime Soils) Natural Area Maps Stewardship Plan Maps Project Summary Maps Exhibit A-1 Maps Property Report
The GIS Behind Dakota County s FARMLAND AND NATURAL AREAS PROGRAM Prioritization of Easement Applications Agricultural Market Accessibility Farmland Scoring Process Natural Area Scoring Process Staff Time/Funding
Agricultural Market Accessibility Map
The GIS Behind Dakota County s FARMLAND AND NATURAL AREAS PROGRAM Farmland Scoring Process Location 230 points A. Water Adjacency 0 to 70 B. Agricultural Conservation Zone 0 to 60 C. Natural Area Conservation Zone 0 to 50 D. Open Space Corridor (660 ft. width) 0 to 40 (Vegetated buffer and no development) E. Land Adjacency 0 or 10 Note: Points are calculated based on the percentage of project acres within zones.
Farmland Scoring Map
The GIS Behind Dakota County s FARMLAND AND NATURAL AREAS PROGRAM Natural Area Scoring Process Location 215 points A. Priority Natural Area 0 to 50 B. Open Space Corridor 0 to 40 C. Natural Area Conservation Zone 0 to 40 D. Non-riparian Greenway 0 to 30 E. Water Adjacency 0 to 30 F. Urban/Suburban 0 to 15 G. Adjacency to Protected Land 0 or 10 Note: Points are calculated based on percentage of project acres within zones.
Natural Area Scoring Map
Natural Area Conservation Zones
The GIS Behind Dakota County s FARMLAND AND NATURAL AREAS PROGRAM Maps Property Reports Easement Map Field Areas Map Land Cover Map Natural Areas Map Prime Farmland Map Pre-settlement Vegetation Map Historical Aerial Photography Maps (1959, 1964, 1991) Stewardship Plan Map Project Summary Map Exhibit A-1 Map
Exhibit A-1 Map Part of Recorded Deed/Documents Created from legal description
Field Areas Map
Land Cover Map
Natural Areas Map
Prime Soils Map
Scoring Assessments Farmland Area Easements Delineate Field Areas Map Clip Farmland Class w Fields Summarize Farmland Class by Prime Soils Model to Automate Process
The GIS Behind Dakota County s FARMLAND AND NATURAL AREAS PROGRAM Soil Map Automation
Scoring Assessments Farmland Area Easements Initial Prime Soils Map If below 80% Prime Soils: Check for lateral drainage effect due to Drain Tile to evaluate additional Prime Soils because drained/irrigated
The GIS Behind Dakota County s FARMLAND AND NATURAL AREAS PROGRAM Reporting Data Farmland Property Reports Land Cover Prime Farmland
75ft Native Buffer Stewardship Plan Farmland Area Easements Stewardship Plan Map Existing Wetlands 30ft Native Buffer
Project Summary Map
The GIS Behind Dakota County s FARMLAND AND NATURAL AREAS PROGRAM Acknowledgements Parks and Open Space Water Resources GIS and IT Surveyor s Office Office of Planning and Analysis Financial Services Transportation Attorney s Office Assessor s Office Communications Environmental Management Administrative Coordination Services Dakota SWCD Friends of Mississippi River MnDNR NRCS USDA Farm and Ranch Lands
The GIS Behind Dakota County s FARMLAND AND NATURAL AREAS PROGRAM Questions? David Holmen Resource Conservationist / Information Technology Specialist Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation District 4100 220th Street West, Suite 102 Farmington, MN 55024 email: david.holmen@co.dakota.mn.us voice: (651) 480-7791 fax: (651) 480-7777 availability: Monday - Friday/ 7:00am - 4:30pm Central http://www.dakotacountyswcd.org Dan Castaneda GIS Technician Dakota County Office of GIS 14955 Galaxie Ave. Apple Valley, MN 55124 email: dan.castaneda@co.dakota.mn.us voice: (952) 891-7083 fax: (952) 891-7097 availability: Monday - Friday/ 8:00am - 4:30pm Central http://www.dakotacounty.us