A plan for Minnesota's parks in the face of climate change

Your favorite Minnesota campsite may well be a puddle of mud 50 years from now. And, your favorite ski trail might be more prone to slush than powder.

Those are just two reasons why officials who oversee Minnesota's parks and trails system are taking a close look at climate change data.

MPR's Cathy Wurzer spoke with Ed Quinn of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. He is working with the DNR's parks and trails division to plan for the future of climate change.

Quinn says future weather patterns will require the DNR to spend more on species control.

"Invasive species, in particular invasive plant species are really expected to sort of disproportionately benefit," he said. "And so we expect in the future that that's going to be something that we're going to have to put more effort and resources to to be able to retain those native plant communities that are part of our legislative mandate."

Quinn also says less snow and a shorter snow season will change resource allocation and scheduling for park maintenance.