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Correspondence news metro .,,' region - nation / world - politics - business - sports - variety - opinion - fun & games - talk ~ < ~::::' Nature campaign urges' Let it be Star Tribune metro/region faith & values police/court news lotteries obituaries traffic photos live cam news graphics ap news minnesota wisconsin archive stories photo reprints projects contact us corrections feedback freetime - travel - homezone cars - shopping - workavenue - communities LAND24 Down a wooded trail and below a high bluff, the vista opens up to Seminary Fen. In the midst of developing suburbia, it's a haven of rare coldwater plants, an unusual geological formation and what may be the only trout stream in Carver County. It also is endangered. An option for conservationists to buy 160 acres of wetlands, trout stream and upland near the Chanhassen-Chaska border ran out earlier this month after Gov. Jesse Ventura vetoed a $1.5 million bonding provision that would have paid most of the purchase price. Now the future of the land -- and the rare domed springs called fens -- seems uncertain. Seminary Fen in Carver County Brian Peterson Star Tribune The fen was listed Monday as one of 10 "Twin Cities treasures" in a new land protection advocacy program by the McKnight Foundation and 10 nonprofit, government and educational organizations. Seminary Fen is "the most critical piece" of a 600-acre wetland area that was named the most important site in Hennepin, Scott and Carver counties by the 1995 Minnesota County Biological Survey, said Judy Erickson, public affairs director of the Friends of the Minnesota Valley conservation group. Related ~ Email t @ Print th 13 Make ( homep Search More search The yearlong "embrace open space" campaign is beginning with a Web site, newspaper ads, mailings to public officials, a resources "tool kit" and kickoff events Saturday. Purposeful path The campaign is aimed not just at buying threatened open space, but also at influencing officials and zoning decisions, promoting private gifts and advocating what McKnight Foundation President Rip Rapson called "a more thoughtful, purposeful path of development." The idea is not antidevelopment, Rapson said, but aimed at bringing balance to a process where "all the incentives are tilted toward efficiency, high economic return, the path of least resistence." White-tailed deer near Seminary Fen Brian Peterson Star Tribune Nature campaign urges: Let it be The fear is that such a path threatens "treasures" such as Bassett's Creek in Minneapolis, Lower Phalen Creek east of downtown St. Paul, the Army Ammunition Plant in Arden Hills, the Sandhill Crane Natural Area in East Bethel and some of the scenic land along the Mississippi, Crow and Vermillion rivers. Page 2 of 3 And Seminary Fen. The fen land, mostly sandwiched between Hwy. 212 and the rising river bluff, includes much of the Assumption Creek trout stream and, around the fens, rare small white lady slippers and five threatened species of sedge, rush and valerian. The state has mapped only about 100 calcareous (calcium-rich) fens that produce those plants. _- - · ; . Judy Erickson, with the Friends of the Minnesota Valley, and Lori Haak, Ohanhassan's water resource coordinator examine a map of the fen area. Brian Peterson Star Tribune Conservationists say they hope to get at least the 160 central acres into the hands of the state Department of Natural Resources to protect the native plants, weed out invasive species, preserve trout fishing and provide for study by school groups and others. Friends of the Minnesota Valley and other groups have been working for more than a decade to protect the fen, said Holly Buchanan, Friends' conservation manager, and with passage of the bonding bill, "this has been the best effort." Some private and local government money was raised toward the $2 million purchase price and Friends leaders said they will renew their legislative bonding request next year. But, with expiration of the option, "we're not sure we'll be able to get it for $2 million again," Erickson said. The 90 acres of fens are protected from development by state law, but they are affected by what happens in land around them, she said. Chanhassen has gotten "quite a few calls" about developing the property over the years, said Lori Haak, the city's water-resources coordinator. Meanwhile, conservationists -- more than a dozen groups and local governments are involved in the fen effort -- have been working Parts of Seminary Fen can be seen from the Southwest LFIT trail to the west of Bluff Greek Drive. Brian Peterson Star Tribune with nearby property owners on land-management practices. Destruction of natural resources often catches neighbors unaware, said Shelley Shreffler, the McKnight Foundation's environmental program officer. "They're surprised one day when the bulldozers move in and start taking out the oak trees." The foundation will spend about $175,000 on the "embrace open space" campaign this year and probably more next year, Rapson said. McKnight, which gives away more than $90 million a year, isn't likely ~,,~ature campmgn urges: Let ~r De Page 3 et'3 to buy threatened land, he said, but is open to helping environmental groups with planning and some "gap" financing ideas. It already supplies general operating support to some of the groups. The foundation not only is assembling resources for public education and advocacy in a way that is unusual for foundations, he said. "It's an attempt to have a conversation between McKnight and the community of the Twin Cities." -- Robert Franklin is at rfranklin@startribtme, com. Return to top © Copyri~qb! 2002 Star Tribune. All rights reserved.