Heavy rain and thunderstorms continue across southeastern Minnesota Thursday evening.

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The city of Minnetonka is moving forward with controversial plans to build a mountain bike path in one of its parks. 

The route would take riders through Lone Lake Park

On Monday evening, the council approved the plan on a 5 to 2 vote. 

Some residents and environmental advocates oppose the trail. Chief among their concerns is the potential impact the path could have on the habitat for the 

Legal challenges by trail opponents have fallen flat. An appeals court ruling supports the city’s decision to avoid completing an 

. Plaintiffs are petitioning the Minnesota Supreme Court to hear their case.

Previous rulings have stated that the city followed proper environmental review protocols. City officials also stress that the path — 4.7 miles in length — would only be present in a small portion of the park.

Officials with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, who have been studying the decline of the endangered bee, say it’s hard to say just how damaging to these projects can be to the bee’s habitat.

Staff biologist Tamara Smith says while any distribution has the potential to be harmful, a lot of it depends on the timing.

Finding joy on Minnesota's biking trails

Minnesota high schoolers take to the trail

“The species moves around a lot, so it’s not always in the same spot,” Smith said. “And so for example, in the summer foraging habitats, there’s probably not as much of an issue than if the [work] was being done in the winter habitats.”

Smith notes that greater threats to the species include pesticides and warmer temperatures brought on by climate change.

Minnesota News

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Mike Moen

Author

The Minnetonka City Council on Monday approved a controversial plan for a mountain bike trail that environmental advocates say will harm the natural habitat for an endangered species.

Mountain bikers and environmentalists collide in Minnetonka trail dispute

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