Environment

Lower Rum River Watershed Management Organization

Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area Program (MRCCA)

The MRCCA program is a joint state, regional and local program that provides coordinated land-use planning and zoning regulations for the 72-mile stretch of the Mississippi River through the seven-county metropolitan area, covering 54,000 acres of land in 30 local jurisdictions. Minnesota Statute 116G.15 establishes Minnesota policy and authority for the MRCCA rules (6106.0010–6106.0180) and requires the development of local government plans and ordinances. 

The MRCCA was designated a state-critical area in 1976 to protect its natural, cultural, and scenic resources. These resources are protected through development standards administered through local government land use plans and zoning ordinances. The City of Ramsey adopted the MRCCA ordinance.

The MRCCA contains a diverse mix of residential, commercial, industrial and recreational uses, as well as river-related industry and transportation. Though the river corridor has been extensively developed, many intact and remnant natural areas remain, including bluffs, islands, floodplains, wetlands, riparian zones, and native aquatic and terrestrial flora and fauna. 

A web-based mapping tool is available to display Primary Conservation Areas (PCAs) and restoration priorities, along with a summary of these resources and their value. Additionally, it provides an overview of the development regulations related to each resource.