05/10/2006 P&Z Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Spotted Knapweed Spotted Knapweed (Centaurea maculata) is an invasive weed from Eurasia, often colonizing in degraded sunny uplands, fallow agricultural fields, and remnant prairies. Spotted Knapweed was observed as scattered individuals throughout the old fields of The Preserve. This relatively sparse distribution suggests that immediate removal and treatment of this species would be very cost effective. In time, this species will become much more problematic within open grasslands, and will be much more difficult and expensive to remove and manage. Spotted Knapweed is best removed with a standard pitchfork, or spot treated with a Glyphosate -based herbicide (such as Round -Up). When manually removing these plants, it is very important to remove the entire root system and basal rosette of leaves. Herbicide treatments of Spotted Knapweed often require several repeated applications to completely eradicate an established population. Surface Runoff Management and Erosion Control Stormwater runoff and erosion control systems should remain in place and in working order throughout the development of residential lots and construction of homes at The Preserve. Regular scheduled monitoring and repair of these systems will significantly contribute to the overall success of the restoration of The Preserve's conservation areas, especially within wetlands. Erosion control structures and silt fences should be maintained along the conservation area boundaries until perennial vegetation is established within the adjacent residential lots. Once perennial vegetation has established, silt fences should be completely removed from the site and discarded. Maintain and Restore Soil Porosity in Developed Uplands Site grading and development of the residential lots at The Preserve will likely result in the pronounced compaction of surficial soil layers and reduced soil porosity within residential yards and conservation areas edges. CCES and the City of Lino Lakes recommend that prior to final landscaping of residential yards and installation of turf grass, sod, and other landscape plantings, compacted soil surfaces (upper 6 to 12 inches) of residential yards and edges of conservation areas should be roto - tilled and mixed with subsurface and topsoil layers to restore overall soil porosity and deep root establishment. Preparation of soils in this manner will increase overall soil porosity and stormwater infiltration, help to stabilize post- construction site hydrology, improve turf grass establishment, and reduce stormwater runoff and chemical runoff into the adjacent conservation areas. The City of Lino Lakes, Integra Homes, and the consulting ecologist should work with individual home builders, landscape contractors, and homeowners to ensure that this important site preparation step is accomplished on a lot by lot basis. The Preserve Conservation Development - Restoration and Management Plan 26