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Home My WebLink AboutRESTORATION OF MESIC PRAIRIE PLANT COMMUNITY RESTORATION OF MESIC TALLGRASS PRAIRIE PLANT COMMUNITY AT SUNFISH LAKE PARK IN LAKE ELMO, MN Sunfish Lake Park is apart of the Anoka Sand Plain Ecoregion, a landscape known for its mosaic of tallgrass prairie and deciduous forest. There are populations of remnant native prairie grasses and forbs at Sunfish Park. Most notable is the approximate 0.25 acre remnant prairie adjacent to the visitor parking lot. At least 11 species of grasses and forbs are present in this remnant community (see attached list). It is the goal of the City of Lake Elmo to restore and expand this habitat to the adjacent 20 acre agricultural field. In doing so we would restore and expand a nationally endangered habitat that is locally degraded and rare at Sunfish Lake Park. Prairie Establishment: We would propose to prepare the seed bed, control erosion, correct the pH if needed and seed the prairie, as well as supply the seed to establish 20 acres of mesic tallgrass prairie (see attached budget quote). Our seed (see attached list) primarily originates from local sources in the Anoka Sand Plain and neighboring Ecoregions. This seed includes most of same species present in the remnant prairie at Sunfish. Therefore, we would be expanding populations of native plants known to locally occur in this location. Prairie Management: Minnesota Native Landscapes manages hundreds of established prairie. After installation of the prairie we propose to mow annual weeds, spray herbicide on perennial, noxious weeds, monitor the site for management problems and conduct two prescribed prairie fires in the first five years after installation (see attached budget quote). Future Prairie Restoration: As a whole the grassland parcels at Sunfish Lake Park are dominated by non-native Eurasian grasses and forbs such as Smooth Brome, Kentucky Blue Grass, Reed Canary and Spotted Knapweed. Amur Maple is also invading some parts of these grasslands. In addition to the ~0.25 acre remnant prairie, there are other remnant populations of native prairie plants such as Wild Bergamot and Round Headed Bush Clover in these grasslands. Future efforts will focus on re-establishing native tallgrass prairie in these areas to restore a mosaic of prairie and woodlands at Sunfish Park. GRASS AND FORB SPECIES LIST ~0.25 ACRE REMNANT PRAIRIE Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) Indian Grass (Sorghastrum nutans) Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) Stiff Goldenrod (Solidago rigida) Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) Heath Aster (Aster ericoides) Fragrant Giant Hyssop (Agastache foeniculumn) Round Headed Bush Clover (Lespedeza capitata) Hoary Vervain (Verbena stricta) Purple Prairie Clover (Dalea purpureum) Suggested Native Grass & Wildflower Mixes For Medium Moisture (Mesic), Heavier Soils Sites MNL MIX (G3) - Tall Mesic Prairie Grass Mix (4 to 6 feet) Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardi) ....................................................... 25.0% Side Oats Grama (Bouteloua curtipendula).............................................. 7.0% Prairie Brome (Bromus kalmii) ................................................................ 3.0% Canada Wild Rye (Elymus canadensis) ................................................... 15.0% Switch Grass (Panicum virgatum) ........................................................... 5.0% Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)............................................. 19.0% Indian Grass (Sorghastrum nutans).......................................................... 25.0% Prairie Dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis) ............................................... 1.0% Suggested rate/acre .............................................................................. 12 lbs. PLS MNL MIX (F3) - Tall Mesic Wildflower Mix Fragrant Giant Hyssop (Agastache foeniculumn) ..................................... 1.0% Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) ................................................. 3.0% Smooth Blue Aster (Aster laevis) ............................................................. 3.0% New England Aster (Aster novae angliae) ............................................... 3.0% Canada Milk Vetch (Astragalus canadensis) ........................................... 5.0% White Wild Indigo (Baptisia alba) .......................................................... 3.0% White Prairie Clover (Dalea candidum) ................................................... 2.0% Purple Prairie Clover (Dalea purpureum) ................................................ 12.0% Canada Tick Trefoil (Desmodium canadensis) ......................................... 3.0% * Pale Purple Coneflower (Echinacea pallida)......................................... 3.0% * Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpureum) .......................................... 7.0% Creamy Gentian (Gentiana flavida) ......................................................... 1.0% Common Ox-Eye (Heliopsis helianthoides) ............................................. 6.0% Rough Blazing Star (Liatris aspera) ........................................................ 1.0% Tall Blazing Star (Liatris pycnostachya) .................................................. 6.0% Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) ........................................................ 4.0% Yellow Coneflower (Ratibida pinnata) .................................................... 10.0% Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) ....................................................... 7.0% Stiff Goldenrod (Solidago rigida) ............................................................ 3.0% Showy Goldenrod (Solidago speciosa) .................................................... 1.0% Tall Meadow Rue (Thalictrum dasycarpum) ............................................ 2.0% Hoary Vervain (Verbena stricta) ............................................................. 5.0% Culvers’s Root (Veronicastrum virginicum)............................................. 1.0% Heart-Leaf Golden Alexanders (Zizia aptera) .......................................... 3.0% Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea) ............................................................. 5.0% Suggested rate/acre ................................................................................. 3 lbs. bulk * Not a true native of Minnesota, but is found in neighboring states Species that are available that can be added to increase diversity of the baseline mix. Rattlesnake Master (Eryngium yuccifolium) Maximillian Sunflower (Helianthus maximilliana) Prairie Phlox (Phlox pilosa) Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum virginianum) Compass Plant (Silphium laciniatum) Budget Quote for Establishing 20 acre Mesic prairie at Sunfish Lake Park, Lake Elmo, MN Item Units Qty Unit Price Total Price Spray herbicide acre 20 $150 $3,000 Seed bed preparation, Seed mix and Seed installation acre 20 $1200 $24,000 *Straw mulch and disc anchor (2 tons/ acre) acre 20 $350 $7,000 Lime soil amendment acre 20 $80 $1,600 Total Amount: $35,600 *This unit price does not include erosion control blanket which MNL will supply and install for $1.20/sy if deemed necessary by MNL and City of Lake Elmo (potentially 1000 sq yds may be necessary, equaling $1,200; New total equals $36,800) Notes: 1. This quote assumes the area to be seeding will be in corn or soy prior to seeding. 2. This quote does not include the removal or disposal of any construction debris. 3. This quote does not include any soil grading or soil amendments and assumes acceptable soil. 4. This quote assumes that soil pH is no less than 6.0 and that no more than 2 tons/acre of lime will be spread. Budget Quote for Management of 20 acre Mesic Prairie for First Five Years at Sunfish Lake Park, Lake Elmo, MN Item Unit Qty Unit Price Total Price Control invasive species with herbicide Sprays 16 $1,000 $16,000 Mow annual weeds Mows 4 $2,050 $8,200 Monitoring Visit 10 $75 $750 Burn Burn 2 $3,000 $6,000 Total Amount: $30,950