THE CITY OF MADISON “Endless Hometown Fun”.DOC

THE CITY OF MADISON “Endless Hometown Fun” OVERVIEW Purpose of the Plan Madison’s Comprehensive Plan is a vision of what the City wants to be It is a guide to help the City preserve what citizens value and to enhance what should be improved In addition, the Plan serves the following purposes:  Addresses physical planning issues such as land use, transportation, housing, public facilities, parks and open spaces The plan also considers social and economic issues  Ties together land use, transportation, parks and other components of the City into a single “comprehensive” plan that reflects the interrelationships and importance of all aspects of the City  Creates a forum for the community to express a long-range vision for the City of Madison through the year 2023  Identifies key issues and goals expressed by the community and develops policies for achieving the goals and sets forth an implementation process to reach the established goals This provides the legal basis for land use control and it provides a link to the City’s ordinances that, by law, must be consistent with the Comprehensive Plan  Guides City Staff, the Planning Commission, the City Council and private developers in decisions related to preservation and development in the City City of Madison i Comprehensive Plan City of Madison ii Comprehensive Plan Use of the Plan City staff and government will use the Plan to assist them with a variety of tasks including:  development and infrastructure decisions  acquisition and use of public land  budgeting capital improvements  annexation issues  establishing regulatory changes  communicating to the public Madison’s vision for its future Property owners and residents will use the plan to assist them with tasks such as:  determining potential property use  understanding possible land use changes in the surrounding area  establishing reasonable land value  understanding future infrastructure improvements  making property improvements Developers will use the plan as a basis for:  property acquisition  establishing reasonable land value  coordinating development plans with City infrastructure plans Planning Process The Upper Minnesota Valley Regional Development Commission (UMVRDC) was hired by the City of Madison to facilitate a planning process and prepare a Comprehensive Plan The UMVRDC worked with the City of Madison to establish a Comprehensive Plan Task Force The Task Force included representation from the City Council, Planning Commission, Park Board, Economic Development Authority, Airport Commission and individuals representing business and community interests The UMVRDC met with the Task Force in 2002 to identify important issues to address in the Comprehensive Plan In order to gain broad citizen participation, results from a community-wide survey were also used to identify the needs and issues of local residents City of Madison iii Comprehensive Plan Content of the Plan CHAPTER ONE: COMMUNITY PROFILE Chapter One examines the City’s location, regional context, surrounding natural resources, history, population trends and other socio-economic information CHAPTER TWO: CURRENT LAND USE Chapter Two identifies current land use within the City and provides an inventory and analysis for housing, businesses, community buildings and services, utilities, transportation, and parks and recreation CHAPTER THREE: FUTURE LAND USE PLAN Chapter Three establishes a future land use plan for the City The topics examined include business and economic development, housing, transportation, parks and recreation, infrastructure, services and facilities, and land use This section of the Comprehensive Plan also discusses specific planning strategies the community could follow to make land use decisions These strategies include goals, objectives and policy guidelines and planning activities CHAPTER FOUR: USING AND UPDATING THE PLAN Chapter Four explains how to use the Comprehensive Plan by examining tools for implementing the Plan’s contents In addition, the chapter explains how the Comprehensive Plan should be reviewed and updated whenever revisions are needed City of Madison iv Comprehensive Plan Vision Statement A vision statement for the City of Madison was developed during the Task Force planning meetings in 2002 The purpose of a vision statement is to write down the values and concerns of the community as well as ideas of the future A vision statement articulates the best possible future based on an understanding of current reality and anticipated future change The following vision statement represents Madison’s view of the next 20 years Many aspects of this vision statement already exist in Madison and articulating them in the vision statement helps the community realize what they value and want to keep in their community There are also concepts in this vision statement that the community can improve This vision statement provides a foundation for future visioning processes There are many general statements in this vision statement that could become more specific through additional visioning exercises It also provides the City of Madison its own vision when working with other communities in the region to see where similarities occur This vision statement also provides a foundation for planning decisions When discussing projects, the City of Madison should consider the vision statement to see if the project fits into the vision of the future VISION STATEMENT FOR MADISON: LOOKING AHEAD It is the year 2023 A stroll down Main Street in Madison and you will find that: Madison maintains an excellent quality of life and pride with the following:          A distinctive rural setting with a safe, supportive, caring and friendly environment An aesthetically pleasing and well groomed community A growing population made up of diverse ages and ethnic backgrounds An inclusive community which supports a positive attitude A large number of community people involved in leadership roles High quality education available and the elementary school located in Madison High quality medical facilities and health care A great relationship with neighboring communities, joining together on futuristic ventures when it benefits all involved A healthy community which supports young families CONTINUED… City of Madison v Comprehensive Plan VISION STATEMENT CONTINUED… Community activities thrive and consist of:  Prairie Arts Center/Theatre  Tourism  Recreation  Parks  Lots of youth activities  Culture  A diverse group engaged in community planning  Young leaders  Many quality community events The economy consists of:  Agriculture as the base of the economy  Technology  Tourism and recreation  Health care  Retail  Industry  Innovation  A beautiful main street full of retail and service-oriented businesses  High quality, high paying living wage jobs that support families  A commitment to sustainable growth  An aggressive and reliable workforce  A progressive environment for entrepreneurs and businesses to succeed  Locally-owned businesses which create community leaders and keep the wealth within our community  Opportunities for family farms  Opportunities for the younger population preventing permanent migration There is a commitment to maintain infrastructure, services, transportation and housing which includes:  An identified industrial park  Rental properties available  Quality, affordable and appropriate housing for all economic and age groups  A successful housing rehabilitation program  Investment and access to technology  High quality health care facilities which include services for young and old  Assisted living City of Madison vi Comprehensive Plan Map 1.1 LOCATION OF MADISON WITHIN LAC QUI PARLE COUNTY AND MINNESOTA City of Madison vii Comprehensive Plan CHAPTER ONE: ONE Community Profile Location Madison is located in west central Minnesota and in the geographical center of Lac qui Parle County Madison is approximately 150 miles west of Minneapolis and ten miles east of the South Dakota border Lac qui Parle Lake forms Lac qui Parle County’s eastern border and is 12 miles from Madison Map 1.1 on the previous page shows the location of the City of Madison Regional Context Madison connects with the surrounding areas via U.S Highway 75 and Minnesota Highway 40 Watertown, South Dakota and Interstate Highway 29 are about 50 miles west of Madison Fargo, North Dakota is approximately 145 miles north of Madison on Highway 75 As the county seat and largest city in Lac qui Parle County, Madison provides many services and recreational opportunities to the region These services include a hospital and clinic, nursing home facilities, a golf course, a museum, the county fair, courthouse and a swimming pool History Lac qui Parle County Courthouse, 1899 Timeline 1884 1884 Municipal Building, 1903 Village of Madison founded Land was bought from John Anderson and at the time was a field of wheat Many people moved from Lac qui Parle Village Madison was located on the rail line of the Minneapolis and St Louis Railroad The name Madison Carnegie Library, 1902 was suggested by C.P Moe in memory of his former home, Madison, WI Both the first freight and the first passenger train arrived City of Madison Ch Pg Comprehensive Plan 1885 Madison incorporated Both Dawson and Madison started to petition for county seat status The first county seat was in Lac qui Parle Village 1885 City grew to a population of 600 1886 The “Independent Press” moved from Lac qui Parle Village to Madison Many of the homes in Lac qui Parle Village also moved to Madison It was not uncommon to see a prairie house moving cross-country in the horizon 1886 Lac qui Parle County Fair began on present site 1889 Madison won county seat status 1893 New school building replaces old one which had been destroyed by fire 1894 Madison Milling Company incorporated 1895 Common school district changed to an independent school district and a high school was organized First graduate from Madison High School finished in 1897 The second graduate finished in 1898 1899 Courthouse built 1903 City Hall built 1908 School was expanded Through the years, four separate fires destroyed main street, which resulted in a lack of wood-framed buildings as main street buildings were replaced with modern brick structures 1950’s Memorial Athletic Park erected 1960 Highest recorded population of 2,380 1987 High School burned 1990 The regional high school, Lac qui Parle Valley, began classes Madison, Milan, Appleton and Marietta built a 7-12 school in the country centrally located among the cities City of Madison Ch Pg Comprehensive Plan DEMOGRAPHICS This section assembles and analyzes the demographics of Madison and surrounding communities Areas explored are population, households, employment, income, education, age, race and ethnicity Analysis of this data is important when making planning decisions for the City of Madison NOTE ON THE CENSUS INFORMATION The Federal Government conducts a thorough assessment of the country’s population once every ten years, referred to as the U.S Census Unless otherwise stated, information in this Plan was obtained from the U.S Census Bureau Population One of the most important aspects of developing a comprehensive plan is to determine what trends exist among the city’s population This should include information on past, current and projected population data The United States government conducts a census of the population every ten years and provides a reasonably accurate profile of communities and information on various housing, economic and social statistics for a community The most important information to a city’s future is to determine how many residents it could potentially have To help determine this, historic population trends have been analyzed and projections have been developed to predict what the future may look like for the city Projections conducted in this chapter are based on historic trends, however, a number of factors can impact the rate of growth a community experiences These factors include the rate of births, deaths, migration, annexed land, housing availability, waste treatment capacity, a city’s growth policies, housing costs, schools, ease of commuting to an employment center, a change in economic situation and many other issues When analyzing the projections in this chapter, it is important to consider the factors listed above which could greatly impact Madison’s future population levels These projections should also be periodically updated to reflect any factors impacting the population The economy of Madison and the surrounding area plays a large role in the demographic changes Madison’s economy is rooted in agriculture Trends in agriculture have resulted in larger farms and fewer people farming the land that surrounds Madison As small family farms become scarce, the demand for non-agriculture jobs for residents increases The following tables and figures provide data on population The bulleted information following each chart summarizes the data City of Madison Ch Pg Comprehensive Plan Age Madison, like other communities throughout rural Minnesota, is faced with an aging population There are a number of factors that are contributing to this problem One of them is the issue of “youth flight.” This refers to young people in rural communities leaving the area to go to college and not returning Another contributing factor is that one of the largest segments of the population, the “baby boomers,” is growing older The “boomers” are now starting to near retirement As this occurs, many services will need to be available to them in larger quantities than has been needed up to this point The age group of 25 to 34 years old is a vital part of a city’s population since they represent a large portion of those individuals who raise families, build new houses, pay taxes and make up a significant portion of the local workforce As a result, it is important that a community maintains a high percentage of its population in this age category TABLE 1.7: Population by Age Group for Madison and Minnesota in 2000 Madison Number 57 Percent 3% 91 Age Category Minnesota Under years Number 329,594 Percent 7% 5% to years 355,894 7% 115 6% 10 to 14 years 374,995 7% 121 7% 15 to 19 years 374,362 7% 43 2% 20 to 24 years 322,483 6% 108 6% 25 to 34 years 673,138 14% 208 12% 35 to 44 years 824,182 17% 207 12% 45 to 54 years 665,696 14% 96 5% 55 to 59 years 226,857 5% 88 5% 60 to 64 years 178,012 4% 205 12% 65 to 74 years 295,825 6% 241 14% 75 to 84 years 212,840 4% 188 11% 85 years and over 85,601 2% 1768 100.0% Totals 4,919,479 100% Data from U.S Census City of Madison Ch Pg 15 Comprehensive Plan FIGURE 1.6: Percent of Total Population by Age in 2000 18% Madison Minnesota 14% 12% 10% 8% 6% Source: U.S Census Age TABLE 1.7 & FIGURE 1.6 Summary  The percentage of the population age 65 and older is significantly higher in Madison (37%) than compared to the state as a whole (12%)  When comparing the age categories, Madison’s percentages differ the greatest from the State’s in the 25 to 34 and the 65 and older age categories  Madison’s residents in age category 25 to 34 years old is eight percent less than the State’s percentage City of Madison Ch Pg 16 Comprehensive Plan 2% 11% 85 + 4% 6% 14% -8 75 8% 12% -7 65 14% 10% -6 55 12% 45 -5 17% 12% -4 35 14% 6% -3 25 14% 15% 12% 9% -2 15 04 0% 514 2% 7% 4% 3% Percent of total population 16% FIGURE 1.7: Percent of Total Population by Age in 1980 and 2000 Percent of total population 60% 51% Madison in 1980 50% 45% Madison in 2000 40% 36% 29% 30% 20% 10% 16% 5% 16% 3% 0% 0-4 5-17 18-64 65 & Over Age Source: U.S Census FIGURE 1.7 Summary  The 18-64 category dropped by six percent while the 65 & over increased by seven percent Race and Ethnicity TABLE 1.8: Percent of Madison’s Total Population by Race and Hispanic Origin Race 1980 1990 2000 White/Caucasian Black/African American American Indian or Alaska Native Asian Two or more races Total Hispanic Origin 2199 2212 1943 1951 1754 1768 1980 1990 2000 Hispanic Origin (all races) Non-Hispanic Origin (all races) 2208 1949 1767 Total 2212 1951 1768 (Hispanic/Latino/Spanish Origin can be of any race) City of Madison Ch Pg 17 Comprehensive Plan TABLE 1.8 Summary  Madison’s population is almost entirely white or Caucasian The population’s race has not changed significantly in the last 30 years  In 2000 there was one resident who reported a Hispanic or Latino background FIGURE 1.8: Single or Multiple Ancestry Reported For the City of Madison in 2000 Unclassified 3% Dutch 1% Other groups 8% English 2% US 2% Dutch English German 44% Swedish 5% German Irish Norwegian Swedish Norwegian 33% US Other groups Unclassified Source: U.S Census Irish 2% FIGURE 1.8 Summary  Madison’s ethnic population is primarily Norwegian and German Of the 1,763 residents in 2000, 823 reported some Norwegian ancestry, and 706 reported some German ancestry City of Madison Ch Pg 18 Comprehensive Plan NATURAL RESOURCES The following sections provide a brief analysis of the natural resources in the City of Madison and the surrounding area This information was gathered from the Lac qui Parle County Water Plan, Soil Survey and website resources from the Department of Natural Resources and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Climate The City of Madison is located in the continental climate zone which is characterized by a wide range of temperatures between summer and winter According to the Weather Channel, the average high temperatures range from 86 degrees Fahrenheit in July to 23 degrees Fahrenheit in January, while the average low ranges from 60 degrees Fahrenheit in July to one degree Fahrenheit in January Average annual precipitation is 24 to 26 inches with two-thirds normally falling in the five months from May through September Average annual runoff is estimated at 12 inches Winter in Lac qui Parle County sees an average snowfall of approximately 36 inches Geology The Madison area was influenced by glaciation As a result, glacial drifts consisting of glacial till (a mixture of clay, sand and silt along with gravel cobbles and boulders), glacial lake sediments (particle sizes consisting mostly of clay and silt) and glacial outwash (sand and gravelsized particles) covers the area The surficial geology of Lac qui Parle County consists of glacial till and water-worked glacial material ranging in thickness from 100 to 400 feet thick These deposits resulted from the melting of the Des Moines Lobe of the last Wisconsin glacial event, about 9,500 years ago The glacial deposits are underlain by Cretaceous sands and shales, which are in turn underlain by Precambrian igneous and metamorphic rocks Vegetation and Wildlife According to the Lac qui Parle County Comprehensive Water Plan, Lac qui Parle County was originally covered primarily by what is often referred to as tall grass prairie It consisted of tall grasses such as big bluestem and Indian grass, mixed with shorter grasses such as little bluestem, junegrass and numerous others It characteristically contained large numbers of forb species including goldenrods, prairie clover, pasque flower and many more Shrubby species include roses, wolfberry and others Due to the large numbers of species present, each with a favorite habitat, it varied considerably from location to location dependent on local soils, weather patterns and proximity to other vegetation types Historically, fire undoubtedly prevented woody vegetation from invading prairie over much, if not most, of the county Most of the Native vegetation in the area has since been removed for farm fields Most of the forested areas consist of planted groves and deciduous trees near water shorelines City of Madison Ch Pg 19 Comprehensive Plan The area surrounding Madison supports deer, raccoon, fox, and many other small mammals as well as many types of birds Salt Lake is approximately 13 miles from Madison and supports a unique ecosystem Birders know this area as a place to view rare species of migrating birds This information on Scientific Natural Areas (SNA) came from the MN DNR Website Yellow Bank Hills 80 acres Lac Qui Parle County Twp 118N Rng 46W Sec 04 Located approx 17 miles NW of Madison One mile E of Nassau The gravelly, coarse-textured soils of the YELLOW BANK HILLS were deposited by glaciers in mound and ridge formations known as kames This dry, sand-gravel prairie community typical of the Great Plains includes four plant species rare in Minnesota: Missouri milkvetch, Nuttall’s violet, cut-leaf ironplant, and soft goldenrod This SNA also harbors the prairie vole, a state-listed mammal that has generally been replaced by the meadow vole as agriculture has developed Management of this site has restored old fields to native vegetation by planting seeds collected on the site Nuttall’s violet and Missouri milkvetch flower in early spring; blazing stars, purple coneflowers, cut-leaf ironplant, soft goldenrod, and sunflowers, in late summer The adjacent Pegg Lake is a great spot for observing waterfowl during spring migration City of Madison Ch Pg 20 Comprehensive Plan The following information was obtained from the Big Stone National Wildlife website (http://midwest.fws.gov/BigStone/) and the Big Stone NWR brochure Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge 11,521 acres Established in 1975 Located 15 miles from Madison 20 miles north of Madison on Hwy 75 to Hwy A wide variety of habitats exist in the Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge—from the wet world of the river and reservoir areas to the dry world of the granite rock outcrops The refuge provides habitat for waterfowl and other migratory birds and resident wildlife, protects endangered and threatened species, provides for biodiversity and provides public opportunities for outdoor recreation and environmental education One of the most interesting habitats on the refuge is the 100 acres of granite outcrops These bare rock areas support unusual species of cactus and other plants The high outcrops provide some excellent views of the entire refuge and its wildlife residents Low-lying woodlands support migrating warblers and other songbirds, as well as resident populations of deer and other mammals There is a herd of bison that are grazed in the refuge seasonally Woodlands along the Minnesota and Yellow Bank Rivers containing American elm, ash, box elder and silver maple provide old tree trunks with hollow cavities, which are good nesting sites for wood ducks and hooded mergansers About 850 acres of refuge lands consist of low woodlands The refuge still contains about 1,700 acres of native or unplowed prairie This is typical tall grass prairie country with wide expanses of grassland and only occasional oak trees Birding, wildlife viewing, bicycling, hiking, canoeing and boating are available at the refuge During the winter months, Big Stone is open to cross-country skiing and snowshoeing Finally, the refuge offers public hunting and fishing opportunities City of Madison Ch Pg 21 Comprehensive Plan Topography and Land Use The topography of the area is closely related to glacial activity, which is responsible for most of the area’s natural features Most of Lac qui Parle County is covered by nearly level to rolling ground moraine with deposits of clay, sand, and rocks from the melting ice sheet These deposits contain numerous closed depressions that trap and contain surface water in marshes and wetlands Madison is located in the Lac qui Parle River Watershed, which is one of the 12 major watersheds of the Minnesota River Basin The watershed is located in west central Minnesota within Lac qui Parle, Lincoln and Yellow Medicine Counties, and northeastern South Dakota The City of Madison is the largest municipality in the watershed district The Lac qui Parle Watershed drains an area of 806 square miles in Minnesota as well as another 350 in South Dakota The Lac qui Parle River has its ultimate origin in Lake Hendricks on the South Dakota border in northwestern Lincoln County The Lac qui Parle River flows for a total of 66 miles and drops over 800 feet at an average gradient of more than 12 feet per mile Overall, according to information compiled by the Department of Soil, Water, and Climate at the University of Lac qui Parle River Watershed Source: MPCA Website Minnesota, over 69 percent of the tillable acres within Minnesota’s section of the Lac qui Parle Watershed have a high potential for water erosion, 29 percent are ranked as having moderate water erosion potential, and 1.7 percent have the potential for significant wind erosion As a result, erosion control and water conservation are important within this watershed Land use is primarily agricultural, with approximately 79 percent of the available acres utilized for production of grain crops, mainly corn and soybeans Of these acres, the majority (96%) are classified as moderately productive Sixty-eight percent of agricultural lands are classified as well drained, 31 percent as poorly drained and roughly one percent have been tiled to improve drainage Ditches and private tile in the Madison area can be found on Map 1.2 In 1996 estimates place 11 percent of the Lac qui Parle Watershed’s agricultural acres as grasslands, enrolled in the federal Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), a voluntary federal program that offers annual rental payments to farmers in exchange for planting areas of grass and trees on lands subject to erosion City of Madison Ch Pg 22 Comprehensive Plan MAP 1.2 – SOILS, DITCHES City of Madison Ch Pg 23 Comprehensive Plan Soils The success of an agricultural economy is partially dictated by the type of soil beneath it The location of fields and pastures and the type of crop planted is determined in part by the type of soil Map 1.2 shows the location of the major soil associations in Lac qui Parle County The following descriptions found in the Comprehensive Plan of the Lac qui Parle Soil and Water Conservation District depict the soils in the Madison area Ves-Harps-Glencoe Association Nearly level to rolling, well drained to very poorly drained soils formed in glacial till and in local alluvial sediments on moraines Parle-Barnses-Buse Association Nearly level to rolling, poorly drained and well drained soils formed in glacial lacuatrine sediments and glacial till on moraines Waubay-Poinsett-Colvin Association Nearly level to rolling, well drained to poorly drained formed in glacial lacuatrine sediments and glacial lake plains Water Quality Ground water in the Lac qui Parle Watershed’s glacial-drift aquifers generally is of acceptable quality for most uses, including household supply, industrial use, and irrigation The aquifers generally contain calcium/magnesium/bicarbonate type waters The Lac qui Parle River is located in the watershed and runs approximately 12 miles from Madison and empties into the Minnesota River The west fork of the Lac qui Parle River runs approximately five miles south of Madison The headwaters of the Lac qui Parle River, although generally hard with alkalinities from 150-200 ppm, are relatively clear, flowing through rapids and over gravel bars Today, pollution of surface waters in the Minnesota River’s major watersheds is a moderate to severe problem Constituents of concern often include: suspended sediments, excess nutrients (primarily nitrogen and phosphorus), pesticides, pathogens, and biochemical oxygen demand High concentrations and loads of suspended sediments and nutrients can often be linked to artificial drainage patterns (ditches, tile, etc.) and wetland reductions Alone or in combination, these landscape alterations have effectively increased the hydraulic efficiency and magnitude of storm and snowmelt runoff events City of Madison Ch Pg 24 Comprehensive Plan Map 1.3 Water and Natural Resources City of Madison Ch Pg 25 Comprehensive Plan Water Features Wetlands There are several wetlands in the area, which are identified in Map 1.3 and defined in the following text The term “wetlands” refers to low depressions in the landscape covered with shallow and sometimes intermittent water Wetlands are also commonly referred to as marshes, swamps, potholes, sloughs, shallow lakes and ponds They are classified according to their depth of water, total area and seasonal life-span Wetlands are regulated and protected under Minnesota Law and include all types three, four and five wetlands that have not been designated as “protected waters” (which are ten or more acres in size in unincorporated areas or two and one half or more acres in size in incorporated areas) Any work done below the ordinary high water mark of protected waters and wetlands requires a permit from the DNR Wetlands are some of the most diverse ecosystems in the world Apart from filtering water before it enters aquifers, wetlands are the breeding sites of thousands of species of fish, shellfish, microorganisms, amphibians, reptiles, insects, invertebrates and birds Without wetlands, many species would go extinct The following information provides a definition of U.S Fish and Wildlife Service wetland categories:  Type Seasonally Flooded Basin or Flat: Soil that is covered with water or is waterlogged during variable seasonal periods but usually is well drained during much of the growing season  Type Wet Meadow: Soil that is usually without standing water for most of the growing season but is waterlogged within a few inches of the surface  Type Shallow Marsh: Soil that is usually waterlogged early in the growing season, often covered with as much as six or more inches of water  Type Deep Marsh: Soil that is usually covered with six inches to three feet or more of water during the growing season  Type Shallow Open Water (Lake): Shallow ponds and reservoirs are included in this type Water is usually less than ten feet deep  Type Shrub Swamps: Soil that is waterlogged during the growing season and is often covered by as much as six inches of water  Type Wooded Swamps: Soil that is usually waterlogged at least within a few inches of the surface and is covered with as much as one foot of water  Type Bogs: Soil that is usually waterlogged and supports a spongy covering They normally occur in shallow basins, on flat uplands and along sluggish streams City of Madison Ch Pg 26 Comprehensive Plan  Type 80 Municipal and Industrial Systems  Type 90 Riverine Systems Salt Lake Wildlife Management Area - Lac qui Parle County Salt Lake Wildlife Management Area is a 553-acre unit which surrounds Salt Lake, a 312-acre meandered lake and is located 13 miles from Madison (see Map 1.3) Salt Lake is known for its high salt content and is considered to be one-third as salty as sea water Being located on the western border of Minnesota, it sometimes attracts more western bird species such as avocets, Wilson’s phalaropes, and occasional nesting colony of eared grebes With the highly alkaline soils in the area, unusual grass species such as glasswort and alkali-grass are also found Birding at Salt Lake Lac qui Parle Lake and the Lac qui Parle Wildlife Management Area Lac qui Parle Lake is located within the Minnesota River Valley 12 miles to the east of Madison (see Map 1.3) It is an important recreation lake within the county Lac qui Parle Lake is 6,400 acres with a maximum depth of 15 feet Water clarity is 2.25 feet The lake has a Trophic Index that is classified as Hyper-Eutrophic and which exceeds the limit of supporting swimmable use Lac qui Parle Lake beaches receive significant use in spite of water quality perceptions Other recreation uses include hunting, canoeing, boating, fishing and bird watching Horseback riding, hiking and camping are also popular in Lac qui Parle State Park The river above Lac qui Parle Lake is a state canoe and boating route, and the Minnesota River below the dam is designated as a “Scenic River.” Lac qui Parle Lake is surrounded by the Lac qui Parle Wildlife Management Area The Lac qui Parle Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is about 25 miles long, ranges from up to three miles in width and encompasses more than 31,000 acres or over 48 square miles of land and water It is made up of wetlands, brushlands, woodlands, native prairie and other grasslands and cropland City of Madison Ch Pg 27 Comprehensive Plan The Lac qui Parle WMA also includes Marsh Lake (5,100 acres) to the northwest of Lac qui Parle Lake The Lac qui Parle WMA area is intensively managed for wildlife habitat The wetlands and man-made impoundments provide habitat for waterfowl, shorebirds and aquatic furbearers More than 2,000 acres of corn food plots are planted each year to provide feed for geese, deer and other wildlife Native prairie nesting cover is maintained by controlled burning Tree plantings have been established to provide winter and escape cover Public hunting is the primary recreational use of the Lac qui Parle WMA Geese are the most commonly hunted species followed by duck, deer and pheasants Fox, raccoon, squirrels and rabbits are other species hunted on Lac qui Parle WMA Trappers harvest from good populations of muskrat, mink, fox, raccoon and beaver Birdwatchers enjoy the many song birds and waterfowl that use the Lac qui Parle WMA for nesting and as a migratory stopover Bald eagles can be found nesting along Lac qui Parle Lake Status of the Lac qui Parle Lake Fishery (as of 06/06/2001) Condensed from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Website Lac qui Parle Lake is a large, nutrient rich reservoir located in west central Minnesota The U.S Army Corps of Engineers manages the lake for flood control purposes The lake currently suffers from severe algae blooms, high turbidity, sedimentation, and extreme water level fluctuations Fluctuating water levels have led to increased shoreline erosion Recent projects completed by the MN DNR have stabilized severely eroded areas at Hantho Beach and Clay Banks In spite of its serious water quality problems, Lac qui Parle Lake is one of Minnesota’s premier walleye lakes, and walleye were moderately abundant in 2001 Although most walleye measured less than 12 inches, a good number of 15-20 inch fish are also sampled There are many other fish populations present in Lac qui Parle Lake A moderate population of northern pike was sampled Strong northern pike year classes correlate to years with high spring water levels Channel catfish abundance has increased each year since 1995 The 2001 catch of seven per gill net was the highest recorded on Lac qui Parle Lake Although limited reproduction has occurred, many of the catfish present likely migrated into the lake during the floods of 1997 and 2001 Crappie were present in moderate abundance The majority were of a quality size, measuring 11-13 inches Low to moderate numbers of white bass and yellow perch were present in 2001 Most white bass measured 12-13 inches and most perch 5-7 inches City of Madison Ch Pg 28 Comprehensive Plan This information came from the MN DNR Website (www.dnr.state.mn.us) and the Western Minnesota Prairie Waters Website (www.prairiewaters.com) Lac qui Parle State Park 1,057 acres; 71,396 annual visits Lac Qui Parle County Located on the west side of Lac qui Parle Lake approx 16 mi east of Madison Take Hwy 40 east out of Madison for miles and when Hwy 40 curves, continue straight onto County Rd 20 for miles Turn left onto Lac qui Parle Co Rd 31 for one mile until stop sign and right onto Co Rd 33 Park entrance is one mile on the left For information contact Lac qui Parle State Park Manager at 320.752.4736 LAC QUI PARLE STATE PARK contains river floodplain and prairie hillsides Lac qui Parle Lake is approximately fourteen feet deep, perfect for diverse wildlife habitat Spring and fall migrations can be spectacular at the park The Park is located in one of the biggest and most popular goose management areas in the United States In some years, 400 goslings are born and as many as 200,000 geese can be seen there Goose hunting in the fall is enjoyed by many hunters along Lac qui Parle Lake There are 229 birds that are regular and casual species sighted in or near the park Flights of whistling swans pass over Lac qui Parle in April and November Pelicans nest in the area on a one-acre island The state park has 65 semi-modern campsites (22 with electricity), showers and flush toilets, primitive group camps, horseback riders group camp (100 capacity) with an open shelter, 33 picnic sites, swimming beach, drive-in boat launch to Lac qui Parle Lake, six miles of hiking trail, six miles of horseback riding trails, five miles of ski trails, trailer sanitation dump station, and canoe access to Lac qui Parle River Fishing is a popular year-round activity on Lac qui Parle Lake Great cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, sledding, snowshoeing, ice fishing, skating, warming house and more await visitors looking for outdoor winter adventure City of Madison Ch Pg 29 Comprehensive Plan ... hired by the City of Madison to facilitate a planning process and prepare a Comprehensive Plan The UMVRDC worked with the City of Madison to establish a Comprehensive Plan Task Force The Task... are needed City of Madison iv Comprehensive Plan Vision Statement A vision statement for the City of Madison was developed during the Task Force planning meetings in 2002 The purpose of a vision... eastern border and is 12 miles from Madison Map 1.1 on the previous page shows the location of the City of Madison Regional Context Madison connects with the surrounding areas via U.S Highway