Datasets > Minnesota > 2020-present

Rare Natural Communities [Minnesota]

Minnesota. Department of Natural Resources · 2025 Full Details

Full Details

Title
Rare Natural Communities [Minnesota]
Description
Rare natural communities are one of several “Special Considerations” listed in the Wetland Conservation Act rules for consideration under wetland replacement application. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) have developed guidance with general factors for the DNR to consider in identifying and designating rare natural communities (RNC) under Minnesota’s Wetlands Conservation Act (WCA). Additionally, this guidance is for local units of government (LGUs) to consider when they are determining if a proposed project area includes a rare natural community. This guidance applies solely to the application of the rare natural community rule provision of WCA (see below). BWSR, in consultation with DNR, has adopted rules governing the approval of wetland value replacement plans under WCA. (See Minn. Stat. § 103G.2242 and Minn. R. 8420.0500 - 0544 et. seq.) The WCA rule governing the evaluation of wetland replacement plan applications provides that: “A replacement plan for activities that involve the modification of a rare natural community as determined by the Department of Natural Resource’s natural heritage program must be denied if the local government unit determines that the proposed activities will permanently adversely affect the natural community.” Minn. R. 8420.0515, subp. 3. WCA statutes further provide that: “When making a determination under rules adopted pursuant to this subdivision on whether a rare natural community will be permanently adversely affected, consideration of measures to mitigate any adverse effect on the community must be considered.” Minn. Stat § 103G.2242, subd. 1(d), This data is intended to be used for review of projects, both internal and external to DNR, to engage in early notification of existing or likely rare natural communities that have “Special Considerations” listed in the Wetland Conservation Act rules for wetland replacement applications. This data is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all potential or likely rare natural communities. This data is not intended to replace DNR coordination around rare natural communities. , Time Period of Content Date indicates when dataset was last updated.
Creator
Minnesota. Department of Natural Resources
Temporal Coverage
2025-02-11
Access Rights
Public
Format
Files
Language
English
Date Added
June 17, 2024

Resource Class

Theme

Place

Provider

Location

Leaflet © OpenStreetMap contributors

click or hover to wake

Download

Links

Cite and Reference

  • Citation
    Minnesota. Department of Natural Resources (n.d.). Rare Natural Communities [Minnesota]. . https://gisdata.mn.gov/dataset/c886d49b-9977-4897-b87c-67fbbd3ae8eb (dataset)
  • BTAA Geoportal Link

View more items like this one...

Calcareous Fens - Source Feature Points [Minnesota]

2025

Public Waters (PW) Basin and Watercourse Delineations [Minnesota]

2024

Buffer Protection Map [Minnesota]

2019

MNDNR Native Plant Communities - Groundwater Subset [Minnesota]

2025

Regionally Significant Ecological Areas and Regional Ecological Corridors - MLCCS deriv...

DNR Hydrography - Stream Trout Lakes [Minnesota]

2004

MBS Sites of Biodiversity Significance [Minnesota]

2025

National Wetland Inventory – Historical (1980 – 1986) [Minnesota]

Lakes of Biological Significance [Minnesota]

Scientific and Natural Area Units [Minnesota]

2025