Linear Corridor Development
Linear corridors are relatively narrow bands of resources that generally follow
distinct geologic features or river corridors and often occurred within one or more
spatial corridors. An example is the riparian area along the Cannon River in southeastern
Minnesota.
Meetings were held at each MN DNR Regional Office throughout the state where approximately
35-40 maps with mylar overlays containing the information listed below was presented
to resource managers from MN DNR wildlife, forestry and fisheries staff. At these
meetings corridor delineations were made on mylar overlays that contained important
habitat and protected land linkages by resource managers. The maps and mylar overlays
were brought back to the Community GIS Services offices. There, with oversight of
Corridors Partners, linear corridors were delineated with Geographic Information
System (GIS) software based upon ArcView Shapefile buffers of rivers/streams or
by selecting groups of sections from the MN DNR Section Level Public Land Survey
and creating ArcView Shapefiles. These ArcView Shapefiles of linear corridors were
merged in ArcView GIS software and clipped to the 11 project area polygons.
Criteria for an area to be a spatial corridor is listed below:
- Linear Corridors Characterized By High Densities Of Public Lands And Private Lands
Protected By Conservation Easements Or Fee Title.
- Important Water Corridors That Provide Significant Benefits To Desirable Fish Species.
- Areas Of Important Biological Significance.
- Areas Where Satellite And Aerial Photography Based Land Use / Land Cover Information
Showed Private Lands That Were Non-Agricultural And Sparsely Populated.
- Recommendations Of Resource Managers And Project Partners