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Essay Subject:
Discusses land use.... More...
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Paper Abstract: Discusses land use. Geological and environmental aspects of the Minnesota sandy, glacial outwash plain. Land management concerns and strategies to make the sandplain a sustainable environment. Residential and commercial development of the area. Agricultural practices. Need to prevent soil erosion. Xeriscaping.
Paper Introduction: Geologic and Environmental Aspects of the Anoka Sandplain
Introduction: Land Use and Management
The Anoka Sandplain is a large sandy glacial outwash plain covering approximately 2200 square kilometers to the north of the Twin Cities Area in Minnesota. Land use on a poorly developed sandy soil may at first glance seem to have little value. However, while this sandy soil may not be rich and fertile farmland, its low organic content and low shrink swell capacity lends itself to building through urban development. Urban development concerns light industry such as sand and gravel mining, cement production, etc. Also supported are community districts such as business and residential areas. This soil type can also support the farming of alfalfa without additional inputs of water (Wovcha D. S., Delaney B. C., Nord
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Land management concerns an understanding of pre-settlementconditions of the area, and the required human stewardship of the land on aresidential, commercial, and agricultural level (Packard, S., "RestoringOak Ecosystems"(1993, pg. Instead farming aplant like Alfalfa will have a much greater production rate based on inputneeds alone. Prairie grasses are a major contributor to the biomass productionand stabilization of the soil structure. Residentially andcommercially land management in the Anoka Sandplain can be accomplished byusing sustainable landscaping practices around buildings and streets.Management practices such as Xeriscaping, which is landscaping thatinvolves using plants in the landscape that require minimal waterrequirements once established and require very little maintenance ingeneral. The soils of the Anoka Sandplain do not, according to ecologicallyminded land use practices, support any type of land use practice that mayallow excessive or foreign inputs into the system. This soil type can also support the farming of alfalfawithout additional inputs of water (Wovcha D. Geologic and Environmental Aspects of the Anoka SandplainIntroduction: Land Use and Management The Anoka Sandplain is a large sandy glacial outwash plain coveringapproximately 22 square kilometers to the north of the Twin Cities Areain Minnesota. While the Oak population ishelpful in stabilizing and holding soil, the amount of organic materialfrom leaf litter is negligible in terms of total biomass produced whencompared to the grasses of the region (Stevens, W. 5-16). Urban developmentconcerns light industry such as sand and gravel mining, cement production,etc. Practices like croprotation contour plowing, ridge tilling, and strip cropping all reducesurface erosion and allow essential nutrients to be maintained in the soil(Packard,S., 1998,p.18). 18). 18. Also supported are community districts such as business andresidential areas. Even today, controlledburns regulated by the DNR are common practice for the regulation of plantspecies. The Oakswere Bur and Pin. The grasses consistedprimarily of Indian grass, Big Bluestem, and Little Bluegrass. Landmanagement is key in creating sustainable land use systems on the AnokaSandplain. Agricultural practices on the Anoka Sandplains must also beconcerned with the prevention of surface erosion. The use ofXeriscape practices decreases the need for watering the landscaperegularly, which also reduces the amount of over watering the may occurfrom neglect. 1 (Summer) pg. Frequent prairie fires caused bylighting strikes or humans, maintained an equilibrium between thepopulation of prairie grasses and the Oak woodland. Wovcha D. Over watering in a sandy environment like the AnokaSandplain causes beneficial nutrients and potentially harmful fertilizersand pesticides to filter rapidly through the sandy soil into the watershedand further down the bio-system (Packard, S., 1998, p. However, for the Anoka Sandplain to be considered asustainable environment, we as stewards of the environment must make ourland use practices mesh with our land management practices, and mothernature will do the rest. As an example landfills,especially those that allow lead paint and other pollutants to bedeposited, should never be located on a sand plain. Also by using erosion blankets on loose soil, plantingnative grasses to hold soil, and by using retaining walls to hold criticalslopes (Stevens, W. II, No. Minnesota=s St.Croix River Valley and Anoka Sandplain, A Guide to Native Habitats. S., Delaney B. K., (1995) Miracle Under the Oaks: The Revival of Naturein America. Land use on a poorly developed sandy soil may at first glanceseem to have little value. E., 1995). 6, No. C., Nordquist,G. Land management through erosion control is also important on theResidential and Commercial level. However, while this sandy soil may not be richand fertile farmland, its low organic content and low shrink swell capacitylends itself to building through urban development. Xeriscaping plants for example include Mugo Pine, Austrian Pine,Amur Maple, Hedge Cotoneaster, Winged Euonymus, and Daylilies. Glacial processes literally laid the sandy ground work for the AnokaSandplain region. K., 1995). Yes, a farmer on the Anoka Sandplains can farmcorn or soybeans and production will be successful, but the amount waterused to irrigate a few acres of land will be at least double the amountneeded to grow the same crop on a more fertile site. This Biome transition from prairie to Oak woodland wasself sustaining system regulated by fire. 5-16. Practices in these areas include, the useof barriers preventing surface erosion from building sites to enter thenatural environment. E., (1995). S., Delaney B. The Anoka Sandplain of the eighteen fifties was vegetated bycommunities of prairie grasslands and Oak savannahs. References Stevens, W. 1 (Summer), pg. Agricultural producers of the region should also farm plant materialsthat can be self-sustaining. Packard, S., (1993) "Restoring Oak Ecosystems", Restoration andManagment Notes, Vol. C., Nordquist, G. K., 1995).Land Management Strategies Land management on all levels should take a que from mother nature.The natural system requires no outside inputs, it feeds back biomass intothe system to provide soil stabilization and a source of energy for futuregrowth, and requires very little maintenance. Packard, S., (1998) "Just a Few Oddball Species: Restoration and theRediscovery of the Tallgrass Savanna", Restoration and Management Notes,Vol. Due to the highpotential for any pollutant to enter and travel rapidly through this sandysystem ultimately causing damage to the surrounding environment.
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