PRECM 03-05-1980 - Laserfiche WebLink

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1 ? Landform ChActeristics ? The natural landform characteristics of the city have determined many of the visual aspects of the parks and influence the type of landscape alterations which will achieve optimum park development. The four major land features in Blaine which indicate both the potentials and the limitations in park development are 1.) Terrain or slope of the land, 2.) Types of soils, 3.) Woodland features, 4.) Water and wetland features. !d'alp 6-, W14. Nag $-Irk^I? Terrain As a result of glaciation the landform of the city is generally very flat with slopes rarely in excess of 1%. The city has found it necessary to implement changes of elevation in several of the parks by creating man-made hills for recreation activities such as sliding, skiing, hanggliding, etc. These hills, though limited in number, provide visual variation to existing landforms. Sods The soil base of Blaine consists of predominantly sandy soils of four types: 1.) Zimmerman soil fine, sandy soils - easily drained, good bearing capacity when dry and compacted. Most of the development of the city has occurred on this type of soil 2.) lsanti soils - sandy soils with a high water table, usually in the water table two to three months of the year, supports most of the woodland areas in the city. 3.) Lino soils - poorly drained sandy soils of a high water table, generally marshlands. 4.) Rifle soils - organic soils, poorly drained, contain bogs and water pockets, not suitable for development, limited utilization. Woodlands Woodlands are a dominant feature of the city and an abundance of oaks, elms, poplars, willows, alders, hazelwoods and dogwood trees cover much of the area. These trees provide visual relief from the fiat landform of the city and are significant to the transpiration of rain water. Although some of the designated parks have considerable woodland features, additional plantings are needed. The city, in 1977 purchased a tree planter to help accomplish this task. Water and Wetlands The City of Blaine, although limited in surface water resources, has two lakes, Laddie Lake and Lochness Lake which offer the potential of a wide variety of aquatic recreation and wildlife habitat. Laddie Lake, located on the southern city limits at Highway 10 & Highway 65 is a water surface area of approximately 80 acres. Lochness Lake, a man-made lake located in the eastern section of the city is a water surface area of 17.5 acres. City park land borders the northern end of Caddie Lake and surrounds Lochness Lake. Further development of both parks will facilitate multiple activities such as fishing, small craft boating, aquatic nature studies, etc., which are not available in other city parks. Marshlands are scattered throughout the city. These marshlands are of two types - cattail and grassy, both under water during spring runoffs and heavy rainfall periods only. Drainage ditches flow throughout the city to one of four watershed basins, These ditches, if properly landscaped, offer the potential for an extensive trail system which could link several park sites. The four Watershed Districts in the city are: 1.) Coon Creek Basin; drainage - 11,900 acres in the northern, western and central portions of the city. 2) Rice Creek Basin; drainage - 8,010 acres in the southeastern and eastern portion of the city. 3.) Pleasant Creek Basin; drainage - 722 acres in the southwestern section of the city. 4.) Spring Brook District; drainage - 722 acres in the southwestern section of the city. 5