03/22/2004 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Search

NAGEMENT PLAN Management Goals • Management of the lowland hardwood forest area to, maintain the composition, structure and function of the community. Management of the field area to restore composition, structure and function of a mesic prairie: community while encouraging a buffer of wet meadow shrub subtype (red osier dogwood and willow) in a zone between the prairie and the cattails Maintain native species composition within conservation area by using resource management techniques that promote the vitality of natives and dissuade the presence of nonnative species. • Management of the field area in order to maintain the site for the herons and egrets to gather sticks and other nesting materials and to preserve habitat for native animals and indigenous plant species Riparian areas are to be maintained as native vegetation that minimizes erosion and sedimentation of the,:: As development occurs in the upland area of the Eagle Brook Church property, establish buffers for the conservation area, which will reduce erosion and sedimentations while providing transitional habitat. areas of the conservation easement are to be managed to control th species e invasion of. exotic Use of the area. is permitted for maintenance and recreation purposes`as long as such activities.do not: interfere with the ecological quality of. the site, particularly the stick gathering activities of the herons and • egrets: from April to June • Provide educational opportunities for members of Eagle Brook Church and the residents of Lino Lakes that are compatible with sustaining natural community function and integrity of the, conservation easement area Phase I Restoration and Establishment: Years 1-10 Native Wet Prairie Establishment..'- This phase of the restoration process is focused restoring the field area, from an agricultural field to a native mesic prairie. Predominantly composed of hydric soils, the field area has been cropped for the last 100 years. Over the past five years, the field has been planted with winter rye in effort to control noxious weeds and to provide an area for Great Blue Herons to collect nesting material. By planting native plants and forbs, this cropped field will take on characteristics of a native wet prairie once common in this. area. It is expected that this process will take up to three years for the prairie to be established The restoration process for this portion of the conservation area should begin after the nesting period of the Great Blue Herons and other colonial waterfowl (Fall 2004). The first step in the restoration process is the will the removal of non- native species by tilling and /or applying herbicides to the field area. Herbicides. will applied according to manufactures instruction. After two weeks, the field checked for the occurrence of weeds and possibly disked followed by another round of herbicides, if necessary. Once the weeds are under control, the field will be disked to prepare the soil for seeding Native prairie seed will be planted on the site. Mixtures have been selected that are ideal for moist to wet areas such as the fringe around ponds and wetlands and Include grasses, sedges and rushes, and wildflowers.: Additional species may be added to the various seed mixtures to ensure better.. weed control and representation of plcints typically found in this area. (See Appendix A for plant fists). Eagle Brook Church will also be working with the City of Lino Lakes to ensure the seed mix is consistent with. the City''s guidelines. Mesic prairie plants often grow 36 -72 inches in height • DRAFT Eagle Brook Conservation Area Management Plan. 3/17/2004