09/27/1990 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

water level control and the maintenance of landscape plantings within adjacent residential areas and Silver View Park. Should beaver become re-established in the pond, it is probably most prudent to have them removed. If they are allowed to recolonize, the outlet structure will need to be cleaned on a continual basis and any hardwood trees to be protected should be wrapped in 1/2 inch mesh hardware cloth to a height of 3 feet. C. Upland Wildlife Habitat Value Several areas of good quality upland wildlife habitat exist in close proximity to Silver View Pond (Figure 3). Along the both shores of the south arm are stands of 10 to 20 year-old aspen which provide good habitat for songbirds and also screen the pond from human activities in the adjacent multi- and single family residential areas. Other than the contiguous shallow marsh/shrub swamp on its south shore, the lands adjacent to the east arm are essentially devoid of habitat value. Because of the narrow strip of dedicated park land along this arm, there are only limited opportunities to improve upland habitat. Similarly, the west arm has little upland vegetation to buffer it from adjacent residences and Silver View Park. In contrast to the east arm, the west arm has considerably more dedicated land adjacent to it to allow upland habitat improvement. The City has already undertaken landscape work in Silver View Park which includes an extensive planting of fruit - bearing trees which will enhance the area for songbird use. There also is an excellent stand of aspen, oak and elm with a dense shrubby understory that extends northwest from the west end of the west arm of the pond. This area is excellent habitat for cottontail rabbits (Syl_vilagus floridanus), ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus), gray squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) and various songbirds and small mammals. This area extends into the northwest corner of Silver View Park. As mentioned above, upland nesting cover for waterfowl is limited in the pond area by the present pattern of extensive mowing and by the limited amount of available public land around most portions of the pond. It would be a very cost- effective habitat improvement measure to reduce the extent and frequency of mowing in certain areas adjacent to the pond. This would also reduce the area's attractiveness for geese. Supplemental plantings of dense native grass cover would further enhance nesting cover. These measures are discussed further in the Recommendations section of this report. 78