Ecology

This list is not intended to be exhaustive, rather a place to begin your search for resources..

Map Resources:

• Minnesota Soil Surveys/Maps (from the USDA)
  Web Soil Survey provides both tabular and spatial data and allows you to create a custom soil resource report for your specific area of interest. 
   
• MnTOPO (Mn DNR)
  Web application for viewing, printing and downloading high-resolution elevation data for the State of Minnesota . 
   
• Minnesota Historical Aerial Photographs Online
  Online access to over 121,000 digital copies of Minnesota aerial photos. MHAPO works best with Firefox, Safari and Chrome web browsers.
   
• Aerial Photography of Minnesota
  MHAPO works best with GIS sources for aerial images from the MN Geospatial Information Office.
  


• Landview (Mn DNR)
  Landview allows you to create customized maps based on DNR data layers that you select. Choose from public lands, water bodies, roads, aerial photos, and more.
   

• Land Ownership Records (GIS) - Property Boundaries
  Property boundary basemaps and ownership records are maintained at the county level, usually by the recorder's, assessor's or land surveyor's offices. Often these are available only in print records. For those Minnesota counties that keep records in digital (computer-readable) form, you can view property information online.   
   

• Minnesota Geographic Data Clearinghouse Map Gallery
  Provides a "First Stop" source for maps of Minnesota. The Gallery links to finished maps, designed for immediate viewing, downloading or purchase, and to interactive online maps, where users choose what to display from a list of available themes. Some maps appear in more than one category.
   

• MN Plat Maps and Atlases (University of MN Libraries)
  Univ of Minnesota's Borchert Map Library's Minnesota historical county plat map and atlas holdings.

• Ecological Maps of the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area
  Univ of Minnesota's Borchert Map Library collection of ecological maps and charts for Mpls/St Paul metro area. 

• Ordway Digital Database
  An archive of spatial information for continued exploration and research in The Katharine Ordway Natural History Study Area 

Web Resources:

• Ordway Natural History Study Area web site
  Includes information about the nature study area such as history, some maps, and biological diversity.
  
  
• Dakota County Historical Society 
  Historical documents and maps available from the Dakota County Historical Society.
   
• Minnesota Historical Society
  Variety of historical documents and maps including plat books and atlases.

Government Resources:

• Online Property Records/ Dakota County
  Free access to property tax information. Search by parcel ID, house number, street address or via map browsing.
   
• Explore other federal, state and county governmental agencies: USGS, USDA, MN Department of Natural Resources, Univ of MN Extension Service, MN Pollution Control Agency, among many others.