Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area (MRCCA)

Six districts are defined in the MRCCA rules. The districts are based on the natural and built character of different areas of the river corridor. Structure setbacks from the OHWL and bluffs, building height limits, and the amount of open space required for subdivisions/redevelopment vary by district.

 Minimum Requirements: 

• Map and describe districts and specify policies and implementation actions to carry out the minimum plan requirements related to MRCCA districts. See the MRCCA Districts Requirements document for specific information on minimum requirements. 

 Get More Out of Your Plan:

• Use photos or diagrams to show examples of the intended character of each district to communicate expectations of development and vegetation management.

• Summarize the local ordinance implications of the MRCCA rules for property owners in the plan or as an Appendix.

• We have developed a district map on your Community Page. 

• Download GIS data for MRCCA districts to create your own district maps. Contact DNR staff with questions on this GIS data.

Primary conservation areas are the key natural and cultural resources and features that are to be protected through MRCCA plans and ordinance requirements. 

 Minimum Requirements:

• Map and describe primary conservation areas (PCAs) and specify policies and implementation actions to carry out the minimum plan requirements related to the protection of PCAs. See the MRCCA Primary Conservation Area Requirements document for specific information on minimum requirements.

 Get More Out of Your Plan:

• Collaborate with adjacent communities and other partners to identify, plan for, and protect PCAs that cross boundaries.

• Use the Minnesota Land Cover Classification system (MLCCS) data, local vegetation inventories and information on restored areas to supplement the native plant communities and significant existing vegetation datasets provided.

• Summarize the local ordinance implications of the MRCCA rules for property owners in the plan or as an Appendix.

• We have developed a series of maps to identify PCA’s on your Community Page. 

• Download GIS data for shore impact zones, bluffs and bluff impact zones, floodplains, wetlands, stream routes – major river centerlines, native plant communities, and significant existing vegetative stands.

• If you want to create your own bluff and bluff impact zone maps instead of using the DNR produced bluff files, you can use the Bluff Mapping Tool and associated guidance for using the tool to map bluffs in the MRCCA.

• Contact DNR staff for assistance on using these data files and tools.

The river corridor contains some of the most iconic and cherished scenic vistas in Minnesota and is one of the reasons the corridor was designated a critical area. Public River Corridor Views (PRCVs) is a term defined in rules and used as a means to protect scenic views. Local governments need to identify scenic resources through the planning process and then protect those identified views through ordinance requirements and ordinance administration.

 Minimum Requirements: 

• Map and describe PRCVs and specify policies and implementation actions to carry out the minimum plan requirements related to the protection of PRCVs. See the MRCCA Public River Corridor Views Requirements document for specific information on minimum requirements.

 Get More Out of Your Plan:

• Consider views from points on the Mississippi River Trail (MRT) and the Great River Road (GRR). Contact DNR staff to request spatial data for the MRT and the GRR.

• Collaborate with adjacent communities and other community partners to identify, plan for, and protect PRCVs and other scenic views that cross boundaries.

• Summarize the local ordinance implications of the MRCCA rules for property owners in the plan or as an Appendix. 

• Review the Framework for identifying PRCVs for a more comprehensive approach to evaluating scenic views. 

Restoration measures are often needed to maintain resource integrity and water quality. Development and redevelopment activities represent opportunities to restore natural vegetation, prevent erosion and stabilize slopes.

 Minimum Requirements: 

• Map and describe restoration priorities and specify policies and implementation actions to carry out the minimum plan requirements related to restoration actions. See the MRCCA Restoration Priorities Requirements document for specific information on minimum requirements. 

 Get More Out of Your Plan:

• Collaborate with adjacent communities and other partners to identify, plan for restoration of areas that cross boundaries.

• Map areas identified as priorities for erosion prevention, bank and slope stabilization and other identified restoration activities that may be required as part of development.

• ​Check with your watershed district or water management organization for areas in need of restoration or erosion prevention.

• Map and/or describe any known vegetation that is degraded and in need of restoration.

• Summarize the local ordinance implications of the MRCCA rules for property owners in the plan or as an Appendix.

• Identify areas of soil erosion susceptibility as potential areas for vegetation restoration. Download GIS data for soil erosion susceptibility.

• ​We have developed a restoration priorities map on your Community Page.

• Contact DNR staff for further assistance.

Open space and recreational facilities, such as parks, trails, scenic overlooks, natural areas, islands, and wildlife areas add to the quality of a community and increase opportunities for the public to access the river. 

 Minimum Requirements: 

• Map and describe open space and recreational facilities and specify policies and implementation actions to carry out the minimum plan requirements related to these facilities. See the MRCCA Open Space and Recreational Facilities Requirements document for specific information on minimum requirements. 

 Get More Out of Your Plan:

• Collaborate with adjacent communities and other partners to identify opportunities to create open space and recreational facilities that cross boundaries.

• Map and label the Mississippi River Trail (MRT). Contact DNR staff to request spatial data for the MRT.

• Summarize the local ordinance implications of the MRCCA rules for property owners in the plan or as an Appendix. 

Transportation and utilities (power, gas, water, sewer, stormwater) can have negative impacts on scenic views, habitat and soil erosion. Development of these facilities must be conducted in a manner that minimizes impacts. MRCCA plans should describe methods for minimizing impacts to the corridor’s resources from transportation and utility facilities.

 Minimum Requirements: 

• Map and describe transportation and public utilities facilities and specify policies and implementation actions to carry out the minimum plan requirements related to these facilities. See the MRCCA Transportation and Public Utilities Requirements document for specific information on minimum requirements. 

 Get More Out of Your Plan:

• Collaborate with adjacent communities and other partners to identify opportunities to minimize impacts that cross boundaries.

• Map and label the Great River Road (GRR). Contact DNR staff to request spatial data for the GRR.

• Summarize the local ordinance implications of the MRCCA rules for property owners in the plan or as an Appendix. 

Surface water uses such as barge fleeting and commercial riverboat tour uses may cause surface water use conflicts. Where these uses exists, local governments should address them through policies to minimize conflicts. 

 Minimum Requirements:

• Describe surface water uses and specify policies and implementation actions to carry out the minimum plan requirements related to surface water uses. See the MRCCA Surface Water Uses Requirements document for specific information on minimum requirements. 

 Get More Out of Your Plan:

• Coordinate management policies and implementation actions with other communities sharing the same stretch of the river.

• Map existing and potential surface water use conflicts and/or improvement opportunities.

• Summarize the local ordinance implications of the MRCCA rules for property owners in the plan or as an Appendix. 

Water-oriented uses such as barge terminals and marinas provide economic benefits as well as external impacts. If existing and/or future land use plans include these and other water-oriented uses, the plan should address how external impacts are being managed and to minimize land use conflicts. 

 Minimum Requirements:

• Describe water-oriented uses and specify policies and implementation actions to implement carry out the minimum plan requirements related to water-oriented uses. See the MRCCA Water-Oriented Uses Requirements document for specific information on minimum requirements. 

 Get More Out of Your Plan:

• Map water-oriented uses on your existing and future land use map.

• Summarize the local ordinance implications of the MRCCA rules for property owners in the plan or as an Appendix.