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Jean Coleman, CR Planning, managed the development of program guidelines for the Dakota County Farmland and Natural Areas Program. Southern Dakota County farmland is highly-productive and area farmers want to continue farming with relief from increasing pressure to develop. Dakota County is also blessed with natural areas running through the County, including the Mississippi and Vermillion River valleys. In November 2002, Dakota County citizens approved $20 million to permanently protect priority farmland and natural areas that are threatened by development. Over the next ten years Dakota County will acquire permanent conservation easements over farmland and natural areas, and acquire title to some natural areas.

Dakota County contracted with CR Planning to develop operational guidelines for the protection program. The guidelines, adopted by the Dakota County Board of Commissioners, contain the following elements:

• Criteria for accepting application to sell conservation easements or fee title
• Criteria for comparing and prioritizing applications
• Guidelines for negotiating with landowners and purchasing easements or fee title
• Operational guidelines for the Citizens’ Advisory Committee
• Model documents
• Sources of matching funds to leverage the County’s investment

Dakota County received an overwhelming response to the first round of applications for farmland easement purchases. Dakota County will also receive over $1.1 million in matching funds from the Federal Farmland Protection Program. The Farmland and Natural Area Program Guidelines can be viewed at: www.co.dakota.mn.us/planning/fnap/Program_Guidelines.pdf