The Mississippi River Corridor within the Saint Paul-Minneapolis Metropolitan Area represents a nationally significant historical, recreational, scenic, cultural, natural, economic, and scientific resource.

There is a national interest in the preservation, protection and enhancement of these resources for the benefit of the people of the United States.

State and local planning efforts along the River Corridor provide a unique foundation for coordinating Federal, State, and local planning and management processes.

Existing Federal agency programs lack sufficient coordination and financial participation with State and local planning and regulatory authorities to provide for adequate and comprehensive resource management and economic development consistent with the protection of the Mississippi River Corridor’s nationally significant resources, and the public use and enjoyment of the area.

The preservation, enhancement, enjoyment, and utilization of the nationally significant resources of the Mississippi River Corridor can be accomplished by a cooperative Federal, State, and local comprehensive planning and management effort.

To protect, preserve and enhance the significant values of the waters and land of the Mississippi River Corridor within the Saint Paul-Minneapolis Metropolitan Area.

To encourage adequate coordination of all governmental programs affecting the land and water resources of the Mississippi River Corridor.

To provide a management framework to assist the State of Minnesota and its units of local government in the development and implementation of integrated resource management programs for the Mississippi River Corridor in order to assure orderly public and private development in the area consistent with the findings of this part.