Description: The Minnesota Land Cover Classification System (MLCCS), Mississippi National River & Recreation Area, integrates classification of cultural features, non-native vegetation, natural and semi-natural vegetation into a comprehensive land cover classification system. The system fully incorporates the Minnesota Natural Heritage native plant community types and the newly developed U.S. National Vegetation Classification Standard. The system is unique in that it emphasizes vegetation land cover instead of land use, thus creating a land cover inventory especially useful for resource managers and planners.

Geographic area covered: The seven county area within the St. Paul/Minneapolis metropolitan area that includes the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (MISS).

List of Partners and Relationships: The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and Great River Greening (lead partners on the MLCCS data), and the NPS (lead agency on the development of the CD-ROM). The steering committee included: the MISS, Metropolitan Council, U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, Friends of the Mississippi River, Ramsey County Parks, Dakota County, Great River Greening, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Other partners providing input included: Hennepin County Parks, University of Minnesota, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U. S. Geological Services, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Massachusetts Natural Heritage Program, and the Minnesota Natural Resource Conservation Service.

Accomplishments to date: Development of the MLCCS was accomplished through a collaborative effort of diverse partners, enabling the integration of existing land cover classification systems with new classification of cultural features.

A CD-ROM containing information on the ecological value of undeveloped land with the MISS was developed using the MLCCS data and made available to 25 local governments within the MISS.

Key success factors:

1. Collaboration enabled agencies and organizations to achieve their mutual goals.


2. Significant commitments of federal and state resources.
3. Members of the partnership valued what each others' skills, knowledge and resources.

Frustrations: A partner issued a news release about the availability of the CD-ROM prior to partners fully reviewing the product and news release. NPS funding for the production of the CD-ROM was delayed when the FY03 appropriations bill was passed late in the fiscal year.

Most important lessons learned to date: Availability and combination of financial resources was essential to proceed.

What would you do differently next time: Coordinate with webmaster prior to producing the CD and booklet in order to make the product more user friendly in navigating through and using the data.

Suggested resource materials(related to the case study):

• www.nps.gov/gis/park_gisdata/minnesota/miss.htm (then click on MNRRA)
• Minnesota Land Cover Classification System Training Manual
• CD-ROM and guidebook on "Open Space Protection Opportunities"

For more information:

Name: JoAnn Kyral
Affiliation: Superintendent, MISS
Phone/Fax: 651-290-4160
Email/website: joann_kyral@nps.gov

Name: Kate Hanson
Affiliation: Team Manager, Stewardship and Community Assistance, MISS
Phone/Fax: 651-290-3030, ext. 223
Email/website: kate_hanson@nps.gov

Partnership category(ies) (check all that apply)

Fundraising __; Capital Improvements__; Facility Management __; Trails __; Design __; Program Delivery __; Visitor Services __; Tenant Organizations __; Concessioners __; Natural Resources Management/Restoration _X_; Cultural Resources __; Education/Interpretation __; Arts __; Information Services __; Transportation __; Mutual Aid __; Fire Management __; Planning _X_; Tourism __; Community Relations __;

Other ____________________________

Prepared by: JoAnn Kyral Date posted: 8/5/03
Phone: 651-290-4160