[mou] conservation- Acacia/Pilot Knob Development Proposal

Wed, 24 Sep 2003 03:10:34 +0000

Randy,

I am very interested in the preservation of this area.  I used to live near 
the cemetery.  I have birded extensively here for the past 22 years and have 
records of this spot and surrounding adjacent areas regarding bird 
populations.  I have seen the decline over the years and reduction in bird 
species. This is really too bad for Acacia.  There are plenty of other 
suitable sites in Eagan to put up housing developments with less 
environmental impact.

For example, I believe this is the only documented site for breeding 
Yellow-throated Warblers in the state.  It is, except for the airport noise, 
one of the prettiest spots in the Twin Cities.  There are many records of 
rarities over the last twenty years.  To name a few -- Rock Wren, Townsend's 
Solitaire, Red Crossbill, (previous attempted nesting), White-winged 
Crossbill, Long-eared, Screech. and Saw-whet Owls, and Magnificent 
Frigatebird.  This is also a great spot to observe all types of migration 
through the river valley including hawks, waterfowl, and passerines.

I hope that something can be done to preserve what is left.

Tom Tustison

cc: MOU-Net

>From: fredericksonr@willmar.k12.mn.us
>To: mou-net@cbs.umn.edu
>Subject: [mou] conservation- Acacia/Pilot Knob Development Proposal
>Date: Tue, 23 Sep 2003 13:03:12 -0600
>
>
> >Delivered-To: mou@cbs.umn.edu
> >X-Umn-Remote-Mta: [N] x134-84-253-47.dialup.umn.edu #+HF+LO
> >Date: Fri, 19 Sep 2003 09:33:24 -0500
> >From: "Bruce M. White" <white067@tc.umn.edu>
> >X-Accept-Language: en-us, en
> >To: mou@cbs.umn.edu
> >Subject: Acacia/Pilot Knob Development Proposal
> >X-Virus-Scanned: by amavisd-new
> >
> >Sept. 19, 2003
> >To: Minnesota Ornithologists' Union
> >From: Bruce M. White, Pilot Knob Preservation Association
> >(651-310-0601), P.O. Box 50823, Mendota, MN 55150-0823
> >Subject: Development proposal for the area around Acacia Cemetery,
> >Mendota Heights, Dakota County
>
>Birding Friends-
>
>I'm hopeful that some of you who live near and/or bird this region will
>become involved in this issue.  If, on behalf of the MOU, I may be of
>further assistance, please contact me.
>
>Randy Frederickson
>MOU conservation committee
> >
> >It is my understanding that members of the MOU find Acacia Cemetery
> >and the area around it to be a fruitful place for birding. I don't
> >know if many of you are aware of a high-density housing development
> >that is proposed for the entire area north of Acacia Boulevard on the
> >east side of Pilot Knob Road and north of the cemetery on the west
> >side of the road. The area on the east side of the Pilot Knob Road is
> >Acacia Cemetery property, but the cemetery has a purchase agreement
> >for this land with a developer who wants to put 157 units of housing
> >on this and the adjacent property, some 26 acres in all.
> >
> >This site is part of a uniqe, historic, and culturally important hill
> >or ridge called Oheyawahi by the Dakota and Pilot Knob by early
> >European Americans. It has been documented as being a Dakota Wakan
> >Ceremony grounds and a burial place, among many other things. It is
> >also important to early whites as part of the Fort Snelling
> >landscape. A nomination for Pilot Knob for the National Register of
> >Historic Places, including the development property, is scheduled to
> >go to the State Review Board for the National Register on October 28.
> >However, even National Register status would not necessarily prevent
> >the development from going forward.
> >
> >I am part of a group that wishes to preserve the area from
> >development for historic, cultural, and environmental reasons.
> >Starting September 29 the city of Mendota Heights is holding a 30-day
> >comment period for the Environmental Assessment Worksheet relating to
> >the development, during which time individuals can submit information
> >on the potential effects of the development.
> >
> >I am interested in getting in touch with members of the MOU who may
> >be interested in submitting information concerning such possible
> >effects. For one thing is there a record of rare and interesting
> >species that may have been spotted around Acacia Cemetery over the
> >years? What would be the effect of a high density development
> >surrounding the cemetery be on the bird population? For many years
> >the cemetery has spoken with pride about the area as a "bird
> >sanctuary" but the effect of the development on this aspect of the
> >area has not been discussed.
> >
> >Any ideas or information may have would be greatly appreciated. If
> >you wish to submit information to the city regarding the effect of
> >this development, I will provide you with information on how to do
> >that.  We are trying to coordinate the opposition to this development
> >so as to be most effective. Thanks for your time.
> >
> >--
> >Anthony X. Hertzel -- axhertzel@sihope.com
> >
> >------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~-->
> >Buy Remanufactured Ink Cartridges & Refill Kits at MyInks.com for: HP
> >$8-20. Epson $3-9, Canon $5-15, Lexmark $4-17. Free s/h over $50 (US &
> >Canada).
> >http://www.c1tracking.com/l.asp?cid=6351
> >http://us.click.yahoo.com/0zJuRD/6CvGAA/qnsNAA/70TolB/TM
> >---------------------------------------------------------------------~->
> >
> >To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> >MOUboardcomm-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> >
> >
> >
> >Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
> >
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>mou-net mailing list
>mou-net@cbs.umn.edu
>http://cbs.umn.edu/mailman/listinfo/mou-net

_________________________________________________________________
Get McAfee virus scanning and cleaning of incoming attachments.  Get Hotmail 
Extra Storage!   http://join.msn.com/?PAGE=features/es