02/27/2008 Env Bd Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Search

angustifolia) and Broad - Leaved Cattail (Typha latifolia) within the lowest and wettest topographic areas of the wetland basin. Cattails are often a problematic wetland species within degraded wetlands of central Minnesota, and should be aggressively managed as to favor conditions favorable to the establishment of more diverse native wetland plant communities. Narrow- Leaved Cattail (Typha angustifolia) is a non - native, invasive plant that hybridizes with the native Broad - Leaved Cattail (T. latifolia) to produce the invasive Typha x glauca. Cattails can be managed by manual removal and herbicide treatments. Most of the wetlands on the Foxborough site support at least a minimal native species component. Lake Sedge (Carex lacustris), Porcupine Sedge (Carex comosa), and Tussock Sedge (Carex stricta) were commonly observed within Foxborough's wetlands. However, Reed Canary Grass is so prevalent throughout all wetlands, that these representative native sedge species have been reduced in cover and number, and considerable resources and effort will be required to restore native sedge meadows to the site over the next five to ten years. Two noteworthy wetland areas were encountered within the proposed conservation area during the early spring (2005) survey, which represent unique opportunities for restoration of uncommon wetland plant assemblages within the Foxborough conservation areas. A small groundwater seepage area was documented within the oak forest/woodland remnant of the northeast corner of the site. This area of groundwater discharge contains a small Tussock Sedge (Carex stricta) meadow. In the southwest corner of the site, a small and overgrown wet meadow /wet prairie remnant was encountered. If cleared of brush (Buckthorn, Willow, Aspen, and Dogwood) and properly managed to favor diverse native herbaceous vegetation (with prescribed burning or other methods), this area may support rare species and/or diverse remnant wet prairie vegetation associated with similar restored areas within Lino Lakes and adjacent communities. Aspen Woodlands Most of the wetlands on the site are encompassed by relatively dense, immature stands of Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides) along the wetland/upland transitional zones. As is the case with the Foxborough site, aspen stands frequently establish along wetland fringes on the Anoka Sand Plain in the absence of fire, and form dense, shaded, species -poor stands. In the absence of past management, these aspen stands of the Foxborough site are further degraded by Reed Canary Grass (Phalaris arundinacea), Common Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica), Glossy Buckthorn ( Rhamnus frangula), and other noxious or aggressive weed species. The aspen woodland fringes of the Foxborough site are comprised (most often) of single- species canopies of 2 to 12 inch diameter aspen, with Reed Canary Grass, Sensitive Fern (Onoclea sensibilis), and Pennsylvania Sedge (Carex pensylvanica) common to the ground layer. CCES recommends that at least some of these Aspen dominated wetland fringes be selectively thinned or completely cleared of Quaking Aspen, as to promote the re- establishment and management of more diverse herbaceous communities, such as mesic /wet prairie, and wet meadow natural communities. However, CCES recognizes that some of the aspen stands should remain intact, as these young woodland stands do provide limited ecological functions and aesthetic values, and serve as useful visual screens of adjacent residential structures and industrial land uses. Foxborough Conservation Development Restoration and Management Plan 10