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Park Commission
Date: 6/15/09
Item: 4
ITEM: Consideration of Resolutions in support of formal applications to the
DNR for grants for Sunfish Lake Park
REQUESTED BY: Carol Kriegler, Project Assistant
Kathy Widin, City Forester
_______________________________________________________________________
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Park Commission is being asked to consider resolutions in support of formal applications to
the DNR for various grants for Sunfish Lake Park.
Sunfish Lake Park Information Kiosk (Minnesota Cross-Country Ski Trail Assistance
Program)
The DNR has informed the city that they have awarded a reimbursement grant of $2,000 for the
construction of an information kiosk at Sunfish Lake Park. The kiosk is intended to provide a
central location for the posting of general information to assist users in their ability to use the park
and trails in a safe and enjoyable manner. Information to be posted would include a trail map,
rules, regulations, emergency and general contacts, and interpretive information. Material costs
for the kiosk are anticipated to be about $1,500.00 with and estimated $500.00 in reimbursement
for labor and equipment use.
Sunfish Lake Park Prairie Restoration (Metro Greenways Grant Program)
The Minnesota DNR’s Metro Greenways program was established to protect, connect and restore
natural areas in the Twin Cities metropolitan region. The program provides grants through a
competitive process to local units of government to protect, restore, and enhance high quality
natural habitats. Metro Greenways restoration project grants provide funding for 50% of total
project costs.
Area 2 of Sunfish Lake Park is a 20 acre parcel that has been in agriculture for a number of
years. Most recently the area has been planted in corn. The very nearly finalized Conservation
Easement for the park calls for this area of the park to eventually be restored to a plant
community native to the area. An ecologist has recently identified small areas within the park as
mesic prairie. Restoration of the area to a native plant community will result in improved wildlife
habitat, increased plant diversity and improved aesthetics for park users and residents. The
installation of the project and subsequent management practices would be based on sound and
well-founded ecological principles.
Goals:
To restore the area currently being cropped, to a plant community (prairie) that closely
resembles what would have existed in pre-settlement times.
To develop and implement a native planting at the parks entrance and along the drive into
the park that would be somewhat organized and educational in nature.
To develop and implement a plan for the parking area that would define the area and prohibit
cars from entering other areas of the park.
To develop and implement a plan for a filter strip and raingarden along the north side of the
parking lot that would filter run-off and protect water quality of Sunfish Lake Park.
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Budget
Improvement Activity Entity Cost
Prairie Restoration installation ‘09 Private firm $36,000
Prairie Management ‘10 Private firm $8,000
Prairie Management ‘11 Private firm $4,000
Entrance / driveway native WCCD $1,200
planting, raingarden, parking area
planning and design.
Parking lot improvements, Private firm / $6,500
raingarden implementation conservation
group
Entrance / drive native plantings $5,000
The total cost of the Sunfish Lake Park restoration / improvement projects is anticipated to
be about $60,700 through mid summer of 2011. It is suggested that the grant request be in
the amount of $30,350.00. The city then, would be required to provide match of up to
$30,350.00 for the project through mid-summer of 2011 that would come from the city’s
park capital fund.
While only the prairie restoration portion of the project is technically eligible for grant funding,
representatives of the DNR have indicated a willingness to accept expenditures related to the
other improvements (entrance – driveway plantings, parking lot, raingarden), towards the 50%
match on the prairie restoration costs. In addition, representatives of Valley Branch Watershed
District have expressed a good possibility that any improvements related to protecting / improving
water quality would be eligible for a community cost share grant of 50%. Therefore, it’s possible
that the city’s share of the total improvement project could be less than 50% of the total project
cost.
Sunfish Lake Park Natural Resource Management Plan (Metro Greenways Grant Program)
The Metro Greenways Grant Program also offers grants for the development of natural Resource
Green Infrastructure Based Plans. Reimbursement for the conservation planning grants is 75%.
Sunfish Lake Park is an area with significant natural features, wetland, woodland, and grassland
plant communities which have become degraded over time, primarily through colonization by
invasive plants. Water quality, wildlife habitat and enjoyment of the park by users have been
reduced as plant diversity and habitat quality have decreased. These native plant communities
are still at a point where they can be improved with planned conservation management. Such
management will result in improved wildlife habitat and water quality with the added benefit of
improved aesthetics for park users.
Goal: The goal of a natural resource management grant for Sunfish Lake Park is to assess
current status of park natural resources and prepare a long-term management plan to address
ways to improve the plant communities so that they function to protect water quality and improve
wildlife habitat.
Objectives:
1. Survey the existing plant communities to determine species composition
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and degree of disturbance/degradation
2. Survey presence of invasive plants and degree of invasiveness
3. Develop management protocols for invasive plants
4. Develop plans for re-planting and establishing native tree, shrub and ground-layer plant
species
Partners: The City of Lake Elmo, Valley Branch Watershed District, Washington Conservation
District, private ecological restoration firm
Budget
Entity Estim. Hourly Rate Estim. Cost
Hours
K. Widin, Forestry Consultant 100 $50./hr $5,000.
Plant Ecologist (private firm) 75 $65./hr $4,875.
Wash. Conserv. Dist. 20 $60./hr $1,200.
(wetland specialist, staff)
Total estimated cost for mgt. $11,075.
plan (grant request =
$8,306.25
The total cost of the development of a Sunfish Lake Park natural resource management
plan is estimated to be $11,075.00. It is suggested that the grant request be in the amount
of $8,306.25. The city then, would be required to provide a match of $2,768.25 for the
project that would come from the city’s park capital fund.
ACTION REQUESTED:
Pass resolutions in support of formal applications to the DNR for various grants for Sunfish Lake
Park.
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