04-25-2024 PRF Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mounds View Ardan Park Ponds 3.1 Lowland Hardwoods Existing Cover Type Lowland hardwoods occur around both stormwater ponds. Canopy cover was dominated by boxelder, along with cottonwood, elm, willow, and black walnut trees. The understories were dense thickets of common buckthorn, with occasional glossy buckthorn and honeysuckle. Native shrub cover included sandbar willow, red-osier dogwood, black raspberry, gray dogwood, gooseberry, high-bush cranberry, nannyberry, and red-berried elder. Native wild grape and Virginia creeper vines were common. Reed canary grass was common in canopy openings and edges. A few native forbs were observed under the buckthorn thickets. Erosion was noted at the north end of Pond AA-1.P1 and the southwest corner of Pond AA-1.P2. Lowland hardwoods also occur to the east of Pond AA-1.P2 and in the southeast corner of the park along the slope to the stream. Canopy cover is open where the site was used for sediment stockpiling. Maintaining lowland hardwood cover is recommended for about 2.2 acres, including around each pond and for the southeast corner of the park, including the south-facing slope down to the stream. Vegetation management objectives focus on removal of invasive, nonnative plants and increasing native herbaceous cover and species diversity. Some pond slopes may require installation of erosion control materials along with invasive plant removal and revegetation with native plant materials. During 2023 observations, the area east of Pond AA-1.P2 was comprised of sediment stockpiles between the lowland hardwoods area and the east park boundary. Once these temporary stockpiles are removed, this portion of the park will be graded, stabilized, and restored with the lowland hardwoods cover type as well. Vegetation Management Goal • Lowland hardwood plant communities with improved pond buffer qualities, wildlife habitat, native plant diversity, and enhanced views of the ponds and associated wildlife. Vegetation Management Objectives • Canopy cover is 50-75% and composed of the native hardwoods currently present such as boxelder, cottonwood, elm, willow, and black walnut. Other appropriate species include quaking aspen, hackberry, silver maple, and black cherry. • Diseased native trees, such as ash trees infested by Emerald Ash Borer and oak trees with oak wilt, are removed to prevent spread of forest diseases and pests and excessive accumulation of down dead wood. • Invasive, nonnative trees (such as white mulberry, Amur maple, Siberian elm, black locust) are eliminated. • Native shrub cover is about 25-50% and composed of species such as black raspberry, red- berried elder, common elderberry, gooseberry, chokecherry, gray dogwood, red-osier dogwood, silky dogwood, and nannyberry. Project Number: 193806462 8