2010.07.14 Parks Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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[ASHINGTON � ONSERVAT'ION I STRICT MEMORANDUM TO: Shayla Syverson, Parks Planner; City of Hugo FROM: Jyneen Thatcher, Natural Resource Specialist DATE: June 28, 2010 RE: Hanson parcel park site visit 1 380 W FRONTAGE- RD H I G H W A Y 3 6 STI LLWATE• R. MN 55082 6 5 1- 2 7 5 1 1 3 6 1 P H O N E 1 651-275 1254 1 FAX 1 WWW.MNWC:D.ORG It was a real pleasure meeting with you and Roger Clarke, to walk the former Hanson pit site and discuss natural resource concerns related to the potential development of this parkland. This memo is intended as a summary of our discussion, and documentation for future reference. As I understand, design is still in the concept stage, but preliminary discussions have included ball fields on a portion of the site, and trails for hikers, horses, and mountain bikes around the perimeter of the park and as connectors across the park. Efforts are being made to preserve and utilize the existing topography. My review of the site confirmed the MLCCS mapping on file for this parcel. No significant areas of undisturbed native plant communities were observed. The majority of the site is covered with non-native grasses with scattered trees, predominantly pasture grasses such as smooth brome and Kentucky bluegrass, with weedy (orbs such as daisy fleabane, common mullein and red clovers. Within the grassland were patches of true weeds — large areas of nodding thistle, Canada thistle, and spotted knapweed. Those weeds should be controlled by mowing, herbicide treatment, or a combination of methods. One area, north of the largest wetland, had some native remnant prairie plants — Monarda, yarrow, and round -headed bllshelover. These are resilient species that have tolerated past disturbances such as grazing or mowing, but appear to be limited to locations that had not been actively mined. On the south and west sides, evergreens have spread into the parcel from the adjacent properties. While these provide some habitat value, it is mostly as cover sites or as host to insects, which in turn feed birds. At the old house site, the dominant tree is silver maple, with an understory of common buckthorn. Many of the trees are split or with apparent dead branches. if this area is considered for future activity, the trees should be evaluated for their health in regards to human safety around them. On the old spoil berms around the perimeter of the mining operations, the dominant tree species is boxelder. These are pioneer species, which quickly colonize disturbed ground. While they provide good wildlife habitat, 1 would not object to removing some of them. Willows, cottonwood and green ash are also present on the berms and low areas. These are all pioneer species that likely came in on the wind when the site was newly disturbed. They appear to have found suitable microhabitats. We looked at two significant wetlands. The first appears to be a natural wetland, likely a Type 4 deep marsh, currently in a drawdown condition related to the prolonged dry cycle. Vegetation was dominated by reed canarygrass and narrow -leaf cattails, with scattered clumps of more desirable vegetation such as river bulrush and water plantain. This wetland straddles the south property line of the eastern 40 -acre piece. The existing clump of cottonwood trees likely represent the maxinnun upland boundary, but the wetland may extend farther north in a drier form of wetland (type 2, wet meadow). Keeping the trail on the higher ground, overlooking the wetland, is a good idea, but if you consider placing a trail across the Supervisors: Louise Smallidge ^ Gary Baumann o Tom Meyer ^ Rosemary Wallace ^ Sarah Hietpas.