The purpose of the Environmental Committee is to educate and engage residents on environmental best practices, to provide services to residents that foster environmental stewardship, and to advocate for environmentally responsible development within our communities. Meeting topics have included community garden business, work on ways to assist neighborhood young people to explore nature - activities such as birding, canoeing, fishing, hiking, etc.
Current projects are Pig's Eye Regional Park and neighborhood clean-up events/efforts.
Meets: 2nd Thursday, Sunray Library, 6:30-7:30
Pig's Eye Regional Park
Plans to protect Pig’s Eye began more than a century ago. The State Critical Area Designation and National Park Designation identify this area as a Passive Use Natural Area. All of the Park is designated ROS. ROS is the highest level of Natural Resource protection. Regional Park planning does not support industrial use or active uses such as athletic fields. Look at the Great River Passage Plan. Protect and restore natural areas in order to support high quality wildlife habitat and exceptional visitor experiences are priorities. Canoes, kayaks, fishing, birding, beavers, heron rookeries, Bald Eagles, Pelicans, and hiking provide valuable experiences for both wildlife and park visitors.
The flood plain is a high value nature preserve. The area serves as an important geologic lesson for the river corridor. Pig’s Eye Lake was created by mile thick ice sheets thousands of years prior to the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers existed in Saint Paul. Pig’s Eye was 200 feet deep.
Pig’s Eye was one of the early parks to receive Regional Park Designation. 1976 it was designated a unique Minnesota resource and State Critical Area to afford it extra protections. In 1988 Pig’s Eye was designated as part of the MNRRA National Park. 1991 designated Area of Critical Concern. The Federal, State and Local efforts have sought to protect and enhance the natural resources for the enjoyment of current and future generations.
Want to learn more? Watch our Pig's Eye Lake Project page and/or the MN Pollution Control Agency's Pig's Eye Dump Task Force page.
