Laserfiche WebLink
from 40 acres of Sunfish Lake Park. Work continues on the project on which the City of Lake Elmo, theMinnesota DNR and the Friends are the "Partners". <br />​ For background, please visit https://www.legacy.mn.gov/outdoor-heritage- <br />fund and https://www.leg.state.mn.us/lrl/agencies/detail?AgencyID=957 <br />Buckthorn is a very invasive plant that is detrimental to the park. Over time it takes over large areas and <br />outcompetes native plants that are needed for a healthy ecosystem. Late this Winter, subcontractor <br />Stantec completed “forest mulching” with heavy equipment in the southwest portion of the park. In this <br />process, a track-mounted device ground up whole buckthorn trees (some were 40 years old!) and <br />deadfall tree trunks to make a suitable cover for planting native species that had been displaced by the <br />buckthorn. Click on the buckthorn tab on our website www.sminc-lake-elmo.org to see it on a map. Much <br />of the buckthorn has been mowed down and mulched. If you take a walk in this part of the park, you will <br />notice that the air is permeated with the unforgettable and invigorating aroma of freshly ground buckthorn. <br />There are a few more areas that will require some hand work. We are looking for volunteers to help with <br />this project in the coming year. Please visit www.sminc-lake-elmo.org for up-to-date information or call <br />George at 651-757-5610. <br /> <br />Now that the old-growth buckthorn has mostly been removed from the 40-acre restoration area, <br />buckthorn stump sprouts will be sprayed next fall to kill off any new growth. This Spring about 15 acres of <br />the area will be seeded with native woodland grasses. In addition to improving wildlife habitat, the <br />grasses will help provide fuel for a prescribed burn (probably Fall 2022 or Spring 2023). Spot applications <br />of broad-leaf herbicide are also planned for late Spring to help control other broad-leaf weeds (like <br />burdock). A Stantec ecologist will be walking the woodland during the 2021 growing season to monitor <br />recovery of the native ground layer plants and guide weed control efforts. Of course these dates are <br />estimates and the actual times depend on weather and growing conditions. <br /> <br />The Friends recently received a beekeeping license from the City of Lake Elmo for an educational <br />beehive project at the Sally Manzara Interpretive Nature Center. It includes an apiary area surrounded by <br />a fence (electrified at night to keep out hungry bears), and one hive will be set up so you will be able to <br />see the bees at work making honey and more bees. <br /> <br />The Friends are working with the Lake Elmo branch of the Washington County Library to set up a story <br />walk around the nature center, and to have outdoor readings for kids on Friday mornings at 10 AM this <br />Summer. Please check the website for details. <br />Xcel Energy providing $17.5 million to help <br />residential customers behind on electric bills <br />Xcel Energy will soon begin delivering $17.5 million in assistance to residential customers who <br />have fallen significantly behind on the electric bills during the COVID-19 recession, which has <br />caused economic hardship for many in our communities. The Minnesota Public Utilities <br />Commission approved the plan this week, which will help customers who may have the most <br />trouble catching up on their bills.