U of M GEOL 2350 - COUNTY TRAIL SYSTEM DESIGN - LYON COUNTY

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COUNTY TRAIL SYSTEM DESIGN: LYON COUNTYJUNE 2010ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSThis project was produced and completed by The Center for Changing Landscapes, College of Design, College of Food, Agricultural, and Natural Sciences at the University of Minnesota.The project team included:Mary Vogel, Co-DirectorRoger Martin, Senior Research Fellow, Professor EmeritusJames Pettinari, Senior Research FellowLaura Detzler, Research FellowEgle Vanagaite, Research FellowCindy Zerger, Research FellowCarlos Fernandez, Research FellowCynthia Lapp, Research FellowSpecial thank you to:Funding for this project was received by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) from the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund in ML 2008, Chapter [367], Section [2], Subdivision 3 [1]; West Central Regional Sustainable Partnership, Redwood County, Renville County, and Cities of Lamberton, Lucan, Morgan, and Redwood Falls.This publication is available at http://ccl.design.umn.edu/.For alternative formats, direct requests to: Center for Changing Landscapes151 Rapson Hall89 Church StreetMinneapolis, MN 55455612.624.7557 ©2010 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer.Printed on recycled and recyclable paper with at least 10 percent post consumer material.This Project was completed with the help and resourcefulness of the following individuals and organizations:Alan Poff, Schwan Food CompanyCharlie Seipel, City of Cottonwood EDA DirectorDennis Alexander, Lyon County Natural Resources & Recreation BoardMark Goodenow, Lyon County CommissionerMichele Schultz, Lyon County Natural Resources & Recreation BoardRick Anderson, Lyon County Parks DirectorRobert Gervais, City of Tracy EDA DirectorRon Prorok, Lyon County Natural Resources & Recreation BoardSheila Dubs, City of Marshall Asst. to City AdministratorSuhail Kanwar, Lyon County Public Works DirectorTim Olson, City of Marshall YMCASpecial thanks to all the community members and staff that contributed to this trail planning effort by attending community meetings, offering suggestions, and critiquing the work.TABLE OF CONTENTSLYON COUNTY ANALYSISTopography & WindWatersheds & HydrologyHistoric Map of 1874Historic Railroad/Community Settlement PatternsRoads & Traffi c CountsAbandoned Railroad Lines & Road Right - Of - WaysRoad Right - Of - WaysTrails, Parks & Water AccessLand UseOwnershipAmenitiesHistoric Sites & MuseumsLYON COUNTY TRAIL DESIGNLyon County Trail SystemTrails in Road Right - Of - WaysParksTownsSignature ElementsRest Stops2-25C2-3C4-5C678-9C10-11C12-15C16-17C18-19C20-21C22-23C24-25C28-87C 28-29C30-33C34-39C40-81C82-85C86-87CTRAILS, PARKS & WATER ACCESSROAD RIGHT-OF-WAYSLAND USEHISTORIC SITES AND MUSEUMSOWNERSHIPAMENITIESWATERSHEDS & HYDROLOGYTOPOGRAPHY & WINDHISTORIC RAILROAD/COMMUNITY SETTLEMENT PATTERNSROADS & TRAFFIC COUNTSHISTORIC MAP OF 1874LYON COUNTY ANALYSISABANDONED RAILROAD LINES & ROAD RIGHT-OF-WAYSANALYSISANALYSISBuffalo Ridge or Coteau des Prairies is the most distinctive topological feature of Lyon County. At its highest point south of Lyon County, the Ridge is 1750 feet above sea level. This elevation creates opportunities for harvesting the wind by the wind farms that have been developed there. In Lyon County Buffalo Ridge creates a great diagonal as it rises from the fl at prairie that surrounds Marshall on the northwest, the north, and the east; this change in topography essentially divides the county into three distinct areas. Northern and eastern Lyon County is a fl at, fertile triangle. The county to the south is quite different. The Ridge climbs in a narrow band of increasing elevation. As the land rises, the Yellow Medicine River, the Redwood River, and the Cottonwood River cut ravines as they fl ow northeast to the Minnesota River. Lynd and Tracy are in this transitional area.TOPOGRAPHY & WINDThe rest of the county is on Buffalo Ridge. The smaller communities of Russell, Florence, and Balaton are located in the southwest triangle of Lyon County, a higher landscape of rolling terrain.Prevailing western prairie winds often blow across the fl at prairie landscape. Design ImplicationsThe changes in topography, the wind, and the prairie suggest a trail strategy that:Creates distinct trail loops that are located in one or the other of the “triangle areas” of the county with carefully located linkages in the areas of the greatest grade changes to provide a connection between the lower and upper loops and make a countywide system with routes that are not too challenging.Locates the trail in areas that are protected from the wind whenever possible and when not, incorporates wind buffering as part of the trail design.Prevailing Wind PatternWind TurbinesSummerWinterMunicipalitiesOpen Water3CMarshallBalatonGhentCottonwoodTracyRussellMinneotaTOPOGRAPHY & WINDBuffalo RidgeTransition AreaFlat TerrainANALYSISMunicipalitiesOpen WaterWATERSHEDS & HYDROLOGYANALYSISFlowing water and lakes characterize Lyon County’s highly altered hydrology. The landscape has been engineered with ditches and drain tiles to increase the farmable land and to reduce fl ooding of fi elds.Because the three large prairie rivers of southwestern Minnesota all fl ow through Lyon County on their way to the Minnesota River, the county has three major watersheds. An important Iowa river also receives water from the county. Historically many small streams fed rivers, areas of wet prairie, and prairie pothole lakes. A network of drainage ditches has drained many of the historic wet areas and the lakes. Although many small feeder watercourses still exist, some of the larger streams have been transformed into drainage channels. Most of the remnant prairie pothole lakes are located on Buffalo Ridge in the southwestern part of the county. Design ImplicationsThe hydrology of Lyon County suggests:Creating special places where the trail intersects with the rivers as places to stop, rest, and enjoy the rivers.Celebrating the remaining lakes as features to be enjoyed and interpreted.Interpreting the engineering that created the rich farmland and the fl ood control infrastructure.Hawk Creek - Yellow Medicine RiverCottonwood RiverRedwood RiverWest Fork Des Moines RiverMajor WatershedsMunicipalitiesPresent Day Open Water5CMarshallBalatonFlorenceGhentCottonwoodTracyRussellMinneotaWATERSHEDS & HYDROLOGYPresent Day Drainage DitchesPre-European Settlement LakesPresent Day


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U of M GEOL 2350 - COUNTY TRAIL SYSTEM DESIGN - LYON COUNTY

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