A detailed natual resource inventory is the foundation for “smart” planning and development. Using a computer-based geographic information system (GIS), the Dakota Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) and partners have completed a highly detailed natural resource inventory for most of Dakota County using the Minnesota Land Cover Classification System (MLCCS).

Land Cover maps are a critical tool for land managers to protect water quality, improve wildlife habitat, and preserve locally and regionally significant natural resources.

Land cover refers to the physical features found on the earth’s surface. An oak forest, willow swamp, mowed lawn, cornfield, parking lot or lake are all types of land cover. Land “use” maps tend to generalize information and focus on human uses such as “residential” or “commercial.” This information is important, but does not give us the detail we need to manage our natural resources.

The county-wide natural resource inventory was developed for use in a Geographic Information System (GIS). Every square inch of the landscape in Dakota County has been captured in the data set. Dakota SWCD used the Minnesota Land Cover Classification System (MLCCS)¹ to categorize and map land cover in Dakota County.

The Minnesota Land Cover Classification System provides a method of describing any parcel of land in terms of its vegetation (or lack of it) and the amount of impervious surface (such as pavement and buildings) present.

 
Portion of Lebanon Hills Regional Park, Eagan MN.

These maps show a complex landscape. The land cover describes the aerial photo and shows the significant natural features along with the patchwork of disturbed and built-up features existing in Dakota County’s mixed urban/rural landscape. There are 137 mapped units of land cover in the 1.35 square mile area shown above!

Land Cover is a critical source of information for all of our efforts and is now available for us to use.

Questions? Call David Holmen, Resource Conservationist, at 651.480.7791