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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-06-01 PACKET 04.K.REQUEST OF CITY COUNCIL ACTION COUNCIL AGENDA MEETING ITEM # DATE 6/1111 PREPARED BY Community Development Danette Par ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT STAFF AUTHOR COUNCIL ACTION REQUEST 1. Consider accepting grant funding in the amount of $3,100 towards completion of a Natural Resource Management Plan by Friends of the Mississippi River for the Gateway North Park and Open Space area. 2. Consider authorizing the expenditure of up to $2,700 towards the non -grant portion of the study cost. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Authorize acceptance of grant funding towards completion of a Natural Resource Management Plan. Authorize the expenditure of up to $2,700 towards the non -grant portion of the study cost. ADVISORY COMMISSION ACTION SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS ® MEMO /LETTER: Memo from John M. Burbank dated 5/27/11 ❑ RESOLUTION: ❑ ORDINANCE: ❑ ENGINEERING RECOMMENDATION: ❑ LEGAL RECOMMENDATION: ❑ OTHER: ADMINISTRATORS COMMENTS City Administrator a COUNCIL ACTION TAKEN: ❑ APPROVED ❑ DENIED ❑ OTHER DATE REVIEWED APPROVED DENIED ❑ PLANNING ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ PUBLIC SAFETY ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ PUBLIC WORKS ❑ ❑ ❑ ® PARKS AND RECREATION 5/9/11 ❑ ® ❑ ❑ HUMAN SERVICES /RIGHTS ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑❑ ECONOMIC DEV. AUTHORITY El El ❑❑ El SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS ® MEMO /LETTER: Memo from John M. Burbank dated 5/27/11 ❑ RESOLUTION: ❑ ORDINANCE: ❑ ENGINEERING RECOMMENDATION: ❑ LEGAL RECOMMENDATION: ❑ OTHER: ADMINISTRATORS COMMENTS City Administrator a COUNCIL ACTION TAKEN: ❑ APPROVED ❑ DENIED ❑ OTHER CITY OF COTTAGE GROVE MINNESOTA FROM: John M. Burbank, Senior Planner DATE: May 27, 2011 RE: Gateway Natural Resource Management Plan Introduction The City was recently made aware of a funding opportunity available towards the completion of a Natural Resource Management Plan (NRMP) through a grant from the 3M Foundation. The Friends of the Mississippi River are the grant facilitators and would be completing the NRMP. The City submitted a proposal for the completion of the NRMP on 52 acres of public park and open space located in the Gateway North portion of the community. The City received acceptance to have the study completed and is seeking to have it implemented. An example of a similar survey is attached. The Minnesota Land Trust holds a conservation easement on 47 acres of the study area and is looking to actively participate in the study. The total cost for the NRMP is $5,800 of which the grant would cover $3,100. A proposal for the project, which includes the scope and deliverable, is attached. Parks Commission The Parks Commission reviewed this action item at their regular meeting on May 9, 2011, and unanim- ously recommended the completion of the study. Recommendation Authorize the acceptance of grant funding in the amount of $3,100 towards completion of a Natural Resource Management plan by Friends of the Mississippi River for the Gateway North Park and Open Space area and authorize the expenditure of up to $2,700 additional dollars towards the non -grant por- tion of the study cost. Friends of the Mississippi River 360 N Robert StreA Suite 400 -Saint Paul, MN 55101 - 651/222-2193 -Fax 651/222-6005 April 25, 2011 Ms. Jennifer Levitt & Mr. John Burbank City of Cottage Grove 7516 — 80 street South Cottage Grove, MN 55016 Dear Jennifer and John, First of all I want to thank you both for meeting with me about this project. I think we have a project that will benefit the Camel's hump long into the future. FMR has a lot of experience developing Natural Resource Management Plans (NRMP). We have developed more then 50 of these plans for the DNR, cities, counties, corporate landowners and private citizen landowners. Last week I dropped off a CD that contained a PDF of a management plan that we developed for a property in Denmark Township. Expenses associated with developing a NRMP for the Camel's hump site are estimated at $5,800. FMR can bring $3,100 to the project and we would ask the City of Cottage Grove to contribute $2,700. The following table presents information on the tasks and their costs associated with developing a NRMP for this site. This estimate is based on a site that is roughly 52.5 -acres in size. If you have any questions after reviewing this budget or the attached NRMP, please contact me. FMR and the City of Cottage Grove both have an interest in protecting and enhancing the natural features within the city. I look forward to working with you both in pursuit of this goal. Sincerely, QW.,7 h.- and. tlecompressor are needed to see this picture. Tom Lewanski Conservation Director Activity Associated Proposed Amount Status Ex enses Project Funding Required research $1 I Friends of the $3,100 Secured for document Mississi i River Field work $1,490 City of Cottage $2,700 Pending Grove Map development $1040 Document $1,430 develo ment Partner $390 consultation Expenses (travel, $150 rintin ) Expense Total $5,800. 00 Yundin Total $5,800.00 Camel's Hump i Project Expense Table. (updated 4/25/11) [ki r TZ]M, R20W Section n Prepared by. Karen Schik Friends of the Mississippi River 306NCfJrFChvtSnce [•Saire 90e•$ais Pso, W 5:101.651=2193 Far6$V22],W•vnvw.(vvorg Review and Approval This Nat rallea Management Plea and Work Mdhas been roviewed and approved by: Landown s David Rowe Washineton Cnunh Jane Harper, Msaager Laodand Wee Legacy Program By this sigaawm, I have deeermined tbat the natural resource ma;ugemere goals efthis plan and the acde des proposed to meet those gosh are sed,e ent with preserving the conservation valves stated or the conservation or'.. greased on this date by David Rowe se Washer. dr. County over the subject prolog P:r l III oll WovrY'1er31T- r 1n11111S 111aetwst11 C I for W[ssm,rir." I t alar 101 ps, 11 11117/{'.1 ➢v, I,, Ii fton'LMf. Prepared for. David Rowe And The Washington County Land and Water Legacy Program TABLE OF CONTENTS Figure 1, Sire Lrrntinnond Ccurext..........._ ..............--- ..................... ..........._.. ....... 9 Figure 2. SurflcinlO eon, and Soil types.._._ .............. ._.................................. ... ........ 11 Figure 3. PreseNemmt Vegamtion..._.........._.._....._ ....................._ .............................1] Pinner. Historic Aerial Phatog] aphl939 ............ .... ............ ......... ._.._........... ......._._... 18 Fignrc 5, Existing Laad Cover ........._ ........... .......................... .........___........_.......... 22 Appends, A. Plant Species Recorded at the Rowe lkoperty .Appendix B. Methods for Coanollicg Invasive Exotic Trees and Slmubs Appendix C. Ecological Carnscrors Appendix D. Possble sources of ms[ -sfiam rods. ]'e /ovDx01'///eNssdni v/1�Po4 I Aurv..2M�)e, ]rc_.Pe.w EXECUTIVE SUNENARY Whea residents of Washington County, Mhmonax passed a land and water legacy referendum in 2004, David Rowe saw an Wporanity to acquire permanent pmtecdon for his property,!rannod along the St. Croix Rivcran Inc north side of St Croix Bluffs Regionut Park. With the help ofFrieods of the Mississippi River (FN[R), fie applied to the cowry program and was approved for land protection finding. Ifs final agreement is reached, Was'lingmn County will hold a conservation casement over doe property, ousting nearly 88 and i.c'mdivg all or porn. of five passe§. Om requirement of a conservation crac curs, is ran a oamrat resource mamogemmt pit, be prepared for the protected prope:y. Washingtoa Comryretained FMR W develop this plan, in coottlinmlov wirhrhe ovmsa Croix lghthe iv , property coa vo knrwn mre plant or animal species, i[ flacks the St. Croix Res, providing imPOCfmt wildlife habitat and waver gmliry bevcfit, as well as dmersiry mn ho to other important namal areas.,' has been t as highbiologic it, sby the pepaanent by t l Resn Comarry ty Bi Bioll ogical Survey and d t l a onaltysioftn' Delia carmen It. by the Men, d Co Conserrazirn Con dorx (a regionA land 1 prorectionplan of the Depa rtmmtofRatnal Resomca), This document describes ecotm[candinons mdpnatido, recommmdetb,,a, methods and approximate cosh for cohmorm, the ecological health of rho entity ptope and"storing natural emomuaities. Tne prums, recomtnendarn as are for management[ of the oak forests [o rctnI. and,o,.,o their eaalo&Il health. Hisodc vogeation ache sit, was likely oak savanna on the flatter blufRnp areas, with ock forest cowing doe steep ravines and bluff slopes. Trainman, been loans family ecoca since sedlemene its 1849. Lend use activities were very moderate: pa.H., of wooded areas call I.. the 1930'x, and some 5111ood Inrvesp const coon of o dirt mad and:aTaxti -al use off or beach area. Curren, Iand cover is 82 acres mess oI, Into, 22 res bayfeld (nor -move dominated Wassland), 2.1 cores croplaM, and 1.5 acre riverine sand flocs. Management goals are to restore aM improve lb. ecological ➢hnetions that the histonc native pram wmmmiries would have provided, includiog Inbi'a' far a diversity ofwiWlffe species; euvimt and water cycling= carbon smrnge; modertion ofwatcr -table levels; n Corm'ol; 5ltrndon ofactrots; sed'unems and pollctaacs; development and erdclonan of,61,; sad boat,enpera. moderation. The Stuart, marwgemev[ recormnendntion is for exotic brush removal on the oak fast. A cords, recommmdadou is ro convert hayfield and cropland areas to m,ive Paine. Other mars,no nt coosls's pnmadly of Wn,,. monitoring, WCluding retarding wildlife and vegetation aver rime, and responding W ecological threats, such as disease or invasive species. Aidrough din nnmal resource management plan is requimd and ciced'm the concretion easemevq the Iandowcef is not requimd to implement any or all units "commended p ]F] /IVfiP "' /ev]RI'rs 2 Rarra SU.v. PU, activities. The enlmucement and restoration actividla detailed in replan are allowable activities that are consiuont with preserving the scone rwdon values stated in the rvthan easement The plan may be revised or altered with the joint approval ofdre ourty and landownor as necessary. Any utwo,car changes to the pWn must be wended before becoming effective. Funding and impbruccrin,or, plan and III .,sociatin project, and acsivities,[bough strongly encouraged, will be annual, no the p.¢ of cone.[ of frure landowmr(s); fnding the activities will be rive resporu'ibitity oPthe wndnwneKs;. Friends of the Mississippi River is committed to analning an active p. , in this pro'.ece, 1 assist with sec mg funding and implementing nj,, tr as determined by the landowner. Px]arvat'a'RN'HCfmrcrrlVPtly H IfuFO MYVUI/yem F"I Fa(U'c.YO /IHtl FOMS].o'rcr[Rr2a 4 Rmradfmp 4e }eEV]'p", INTRODUCTION This Natural Resource Management Plan presents the site vaadysia and management plan f the Rowe Property in Denmark Tewnshi , Mimesma. The entire pmpamry is 87.6 arms, which ioclude, portions of Svc parcels. Toe land cover consists of about 92 acres of mesic uses forest, 2 acres urn -native dominated hayfield, 2 acres ofcmpland had 2 some oft sandbevbeacb. The conservation retention, behold in poryemiy to came, me following con, --a- 'e'esa: 1. Preserve, Ne high nality vmile plain counamehies. 2. Maintain ecological cotmec[iviry along are St. Crain River. 3. Poorestsama views alongthe So Croy River, a federally- demped Wild and Scenic River 4. Avoid negative Unpack to Lake SC (mix, a Polimion Coned Agency- designated impaired water body. S. Provide m ecological buffer her SL Croix Bluffs Regional Park. 6. Provide a possible hurt addition to the path. The coosevates, easement maims a management plan for normal resnurre er'sment practices and recreatirnaf mores undue protected proFetry. Specifically, n ma vmge oserplea is needed forthe ag lmwd r .r of neat watercourses, lakes, shorelines, Manipulation r alterationofurtmn wammaursshorelines, wnivnds sprngs i or other surface or subs bodies g dealing, A of d . ., ,,h,, inc or m en draivine, filling, escalators or oval at r hand, and,g r,,,, avel, rockoroNt materials. afti Removal sproa erando o products. inwg, restoring oming or enhancing habitat for wildlife andnv5ve bioiegi<al comemorm communities. This document dnails recommended management and land use activities her the tre The documrn[ can be changed only by written vgreemort by both the landowners and Washington Caunry. This plan was develaved to: • Daaribe the exacng condition creature cearrum Eras on the property Determinemretnzmml commuiti and u theadaptive managementand cosencent Identi on • godsfy methods improvingthe w ildlife habitat value of the prposes led Ha thero rry property, easemfy methods far improving the w property, and Ecological Management Gerais for the Property no over- arching goal for the property is mprotect and maimsm the outstarding biological diversity and ... logical gaudit, and functions afthe natnal commwlty including fil areas of ronoff, wildlife hrbi;re, and lcurna vity in the land cape, Restoring the vegetation to conditions found at the time ofEmopean settlement is not always feasible or desirable, but ezt_vnt of rntfdfu'usJ'nf IIi✓CN 5 Av .fM N.r.'f'R1r /'!. ry SITE INFORMATION Parcel Information Owner tame, address, citylmwnship, coanty, and phase David Rowe 9449 St Cmbx Trail Hoods, MN 55033 Denmark Township, Washingor County (651) 436 -5666 Township, range, section: T271l, R20W, Section 22 Parcel data: Proper[yldenchishooe Numbers(PLo): 2202720130002: e.5 re 2202920240001: 13.6 aC 220r,20240002: 15 0 ac 2202920310001: 16.Bac 2202720420001: 41.8 he Toni she: 87.6 acres Cons"Am. easement: Site 876a.res Held by: Worthington County Landscape Context Proximity to established g,eanw,e The Decorator., of'Ilamral rawaves has idendfed a network efcemdars throughout the Team Cities mctropolimn aura, known as the Mon. Conservation Condom (M CC), a ar fur accelerating and enhancing habitat protection and restoration by texceed high- Primary fears areas. The network of connectivity is armed far the movement creative plants and wildlife ..as the landscape The Rowe property is located within the Foaion of me McCC specified as the St Croix Candor (Figure 1), which snatches boom the nmtb border of C6ise, Corry to the Mississippi Rive. The parcel is adisma to the SL Croix Bluffs Regional park, and less Nan two miles south of Afton State Park Ecological Agnificanee and wildlife value The Rowe property was assignatd by the Departure, of Natural Rate.., as High Biediva iy somfilews, Oaofthe most imporar ecological frame's ofthe Rowe property is the mesic oak fares, which return. about 82 acres efdie easement area. This plant COmmunity is considered imported in NC State, due ro is ony. It provides wildlife habitm, riverbank entemince, and water quality protection. It also provides connectivity with other camel auras to the landcape, especially along the St. Croix River. presenlament conditions can often be used as guidelines for improvements. Spastics o amsnt goals arc m: • Increase biological diversity by restoring a complement of native plant wifies, Improve wildlife habitat by managing non -native invasive species and shut factors, Provide mr'nectiviry with root named areas in the landscape, Maintain and mange the property for weer quality by: o Improving infamous. o Reducing soil ar.h. o Reduce nutrients, sedimene,and enterpellutanrs he surface runaff, o Im Msoagingwamrsowfo ugh m a rm lownt losim.s ation. enc nu a nieno d the e man of t ro e Emthance and expand the ecological functions efNe property and Se larger Matto • Cumerva =.ion Cacidoralovg the Bt. Cmlx River. Al 'i Ch P+'F HL" rvet Rlvm 6 R "SYaAdE iN9'Pi�n The ohinow, along the river itself is also o key feature of this Bice. The St. Croix River is r asked one of most biologically diverse mess in the Upper Mississippi River basin, one to its sloughs and backwaters, as well to to ealetierd, arms, vegetation along Its banks. It bmbom numerous ran, plant and animal species, including 17 species oficam, and federally - endangered mosselx. However, due se poorly socialist developmen, ate Lower St, Croix River was idatifed by Anerioan Rivers in 2009 as a one of Americs's nest endangered rivers. Gale St Croix (the lower 25 miles afire river) was desi,.,d as an "imported ware's" by the Mhchesom hUmban Control Agency due to high levels of phosphorus. The mature £netts along the 1,600 feet of shoreline d the Rowe property help to defray pollution impacts 5em other parts ofrhe watershed and also contribute to the gmlity ofthe wildlife habitat. In addition, the presence structural vegetation. the landscape is he important asset. itself Ameenungm the DeparmentofNabusl Raoumea County Biological Sorveg less then See percent efhigh Ideal ... hy native plant communides remained in Washirgmn Canty as tons 1990 survey. That amount has cemen decreased as urban development in Ne cowry has rendered since than. The growth nice for the county is expected se pees'st intbe text few decades and will continue to expand into femdand and are arm areas, making meal resource .,our and restoration increasingly important Dominant land use of the area Land use within twamiles afthe property within both Mirmeseta and Wiscoos.6 heavily dominated by agdculmral land, murspersd with frtmsteeds. The land adjacent to the St. Cross River, however, is mostly wooded on bath sides, with generally he least 500 -foot width, The Rowe property is within a large, mosdy forested, .1 area along the over that is roughly 700 sates in size. A significant an ofehat is area o with. the Se Croix Bluffs Regional Park. e o. fueYfo'nrsr>ny'ax 7 R J4[ssur remr/tn• F :m n re; Vell" mR'ea 8 oe"11v nv'Lis Figure t. Site Location and Content Ro.vePmceM Eralogiml Moselare"tPO a lore Iall0Rnrako[ p {496 In, eat leans m Geology and Soils Geologic interstice and bedrock Glaciers were the primaryfon e thatshapednhe passe -day landscape alga Twin, Cities metropolitan stem. Thry dmrsminedmost ofrhe existing soil War and topography, which, in turn. affected the tvva, efolont communities that developed. Glaciers carved the till and aatwash. Meet aumvash from the Supn area was later altered I ofsand, gravelly send, and gravel about 160 re 220 d above floodplain level. Bedrock is cam vamywimin 10 fe[oftite surface. The eastern edge ofNe property -Inns rho river cmiri- of discondnuously exposed bedfack or bedrock teases, generally covered with less than five Feet ofsandy mrocky coibovium and loess. The bedrock -.is. ofthe Prairie du Chien Group, which is domicered by dolosmne. Due to the fam soil and shallow depth to bedrek, moo sethe sites caned "Very Fli'h" for sensitivity ethe ground wmm m pollution, meaning pollutants could Mae) the gvwndwamr origin below to months. Flatter areas above the bluffs ace rated High (weeks to ycros), Summary of geologic Infestation: Bedrock: Prairie du also group Depth to Bedrock: less than 50 ftet. • Water Table: c bout 725 feet above sea level. • Granted Water Flow Direction:."Only. • Sensitivity of nhe Ground Water to Pollution Very High on the hairs, High above the bonds. 11 ruTdLVS[ 11.1n21 10 s— ..... 4t'....4u '.. Sol I Code Soil Name Percent Slope Acres Erosion potential (water) 49B cmi.silt loam 2 -6 all 155C Chetek loam 6 -12 2.2 329 Chaska wild,.. Iavd 15 hi h 411 Wauke on, silt loam 0-2 3.9 4116 Weeks on sill loam 2 -6 2.1 454F Mahtomedi loam sand 25-90 5.5 hi h 472C Chamr nova sill In. 6 -12 Z8 529 Ri onsiitloam 1-2 4 It on in loam f 2 -6 1 14.0 529C Ripon silt loam 6 -12 3.7 I 1819F Domnon rook aummp m lax 25 -65 173 high 1820E __......, b(ahtomedi variant -rock ammo corn ocx 25 -60 12.9 ! hig6 Sails Mast ofthe soils on the perpen, an silt loam (Table 1) with Ripon silt loam the mast abmtdam(22 acres). Sdt becalmils were denved from glacial oclwach and loaa(fine- gained Pardoll deposited by wind during gle.iatioa). These soak indicate a rich, moist condition, and gave rise m the areal, (moist) forest at the pmpeny. Tahh,1 S. o Tile site is also located on seeps slopes, however, with highly erodible soils ar soil omplexee, characterized by thin soils, and subsoils and bedrock outcrops (Figure 2). Descriptions of the an,, ,,- Joe, ca ll s , taken from the Sail Survey ofWashingtaa and Ramsey Cowries (SCS 1980), are provided below. 49B Amigo silt loam. This is a well - drained soil on undulating flars ofgiacial outwash plains. The serfa. layer ofvary forkgrayeh brown silt loam is about 9 inches thick, the subsoil 6 about 22 inches. The underlying material is gravelly sand The saffron and subsurface soils have moderate permeability, while the underlying materiel has vary rapid permeability. The available wafer.1co ry is moderate, surface IT 1, medium and the organic matter contact and natural ferdlory are moderato The sail is well- suited n noes. If cultivmed, there is abarred enrollee. no soil occupies the level wooded blufeal area at to Rowe property. 411 Waukegan silt loam. This is a well - drained sell on nearly level let ain of glacial convenh Plains, valley tars, and shown mrruces The very dark brown sill loam surface layer is ahem 30- inches thick, tying ova. a 21-men thick subsoil Of silt loam, and over. sand. The undmlying material is coarse land. Pennwbility is moderate he the surface layer and maid On the aMedymg mania. Surface foaoffls very slow, available water capacity u modaata, neural fe dliry is medium and organi<maY.er cannot is moderile This sail is Fsl_ll 11 1 111111111"Rm kt 12 RontAeialGYF9vr' lb,' Figure 2. Surficial Geology and Soil Types Rovn Pmpury Nedand nasauta ManaganaM Plan well- suited to cultivated crops as well as pasmm, and building site'. Septic sysmme in this soil type present ahszard of growdwater pollution and need w be specially designed. At the Rowe property, this soil is found w the wesem edges office woodlands. 454F Mahwmedi loamy sand. This is an excessively drained soil on very steep slopes. It ccuples escarpmm, convex ridgew, , and had sloes one hillsides in areas of,lic -1 drift. The surface layer is about 3 inches thick ofvery dark Stay loamy send. The 20 -inch subsoil is dark brawn loamy rand and the underlying material is brown sbadeed medium sand and Straitly coarse sand. Nounniffid, ofthis soil is rapid, runoffis very rapid, available water capacity is very low, organic matter and natural fertility am low. The steep slopes and high rinsion and drought potential make it poorly emad m crops. Lavers, shrubs and trees am also difficult to establish on this soil. This soil is found atong the steep normficiing slope st the euatem pan mthe Rowe pmpedy. 529, 525D gad 529C Ripon silt loam. This is awed- drained, gectlyIn modemedy sloping soil feat formed from loess deposited over, grassing, bedrock on uplands end maces. The sufne, layer ofsoil is about 10 or I l inches of very dark grayish brown silt loam. The subsoil 13 m 18 inches ofsit loam, ovedying hmaxecom bedrock Soil perm and iry a moderated, ampace, runoff is stow to or. depending can slopes Depending on the depth m bedrock, ava=!abte wamr capacity is lowto moderxte. Nuarai gi iliy is medium anal mean. mutter content is moil.. The soil is fhuly suitable for cropland, but tends to be droughty. These or a hazard Of round wourpollution by s.nm rystems. At me Rowe pmpery, Eis it assume, mostly forested arses attire shouidets of the bluffs. 1819F Deserted rock outcrop complex, 25 to 65 pumantalopes. This soil complex and I S20F occupy the stxpat slopes at he Rowe pmpezty, along the side ofthe canines and alcng the dam The suits are ve rywe ll- dtahced, comistng ofmmey Droard soils with 15 to 20 percent rock outcrop on shoulder slopes and upper back slopes. The Doregon sailors smface layer ofvery dark gray sandy loam and about 4 inches thick with a subsurface of sandy login. The suit soil is about 12 inches thick ofbrueagravelly to naggy (mucous flagstone) clay to=. Limestone bedrock underlies the soil at a depth of45 w 70 inches. Permeability is moderate and sorrres runoff is cupid. The available water capacity is moderato, organic matter wntenet is law and natural fertility is medium Most areas of this sail complex are preserved as native hardwoods for scenic pmposs, 182OF Mehtomedi Varian -Rack auhrap complex, 25 to 60 percent slopes. This omplex consists ofvery steep, caressively drained soils and rack outaop on stream valley side slopes. The Mnhtmargo Variant soils arc on plane to sligh9y concave, mid and lower back slopes The surface layer is a very dark gay sandy loam, about 3 inches thick. The subsoil is about 39 inches thick, consisting of loamy sand. The Rock Outvoo occupies 10 m 30 percent ofilm area It consists ofsandat me bedrock 2 to 10 put high and is exposed woud odderslopes and per back slopes. permeability is rapid, available water capacity is low, I-pim rmoffis mold, end organic matter ceutmt is flow. It is poor for building site devon rocnt, crops and pnsnve. It is best far wildlife asking and scenic mayncses. Piwtmv of %Ifi'!d]Sa /sx]ve /Un'fll I3 Rnirli K!r "/n ]RVrP"I orrocir in the ravines and new castor control methods may be available to reduce runoff futime, The she should be or- assessed by the Washington Conservation District far .1. condidons and maintennne needs. 11-1 be possible to increase m£dttgom at the top of the ovine, so that less water flows into fa. In the long terns o stontion ofthe mltivaeed field and he haoisid to n.five pride vegetation will be a beneficial way to mass, the ,muff and emsioq while also increasing biodimmity ofthe site. Water resource management and reswmtiol In 2008, Lake St Croix -the Iowa, 25 -mile I.. development, the national orgammtioq American Rivera, declared me Lower St Croix River m 2009 as one of the cup ten endargemd rivers in America (hV,jYe umvivcts.org). new events point or the landladies s edge than um heahh of the river is Intended on, and "se gran impocmce ofretata nuesisco, natumI areas along dm river. Residential or mmmemiot development ofd site such w this would amour nuairnts vM othermoiiumnr5. The excellentvegetaxtl dpagan butters! hel th bawd,xdtmethevolume l wa tefiltepountantsadium rival and that ps w retain the cool wter tempmarvres and redvice algal gnwfn. Rare Species There are no mcmds of rue plan[ or animal oI.gor. .. Ischia one mile of the Rowe miserly, pioweveq the mesia oak forest is excellent quality, and has a state conk of S2, indicating it is imperiled in dre stain due to adry A formal bird survey was not conducted fir the property, but species dececmd during site visits are listed below. Those marked with an asterisk world have been incoming through, while the rest would likely be found bmeding a the site. All are relatively mmmoniy com species, but do ovenbird and rose bmastad grosbeak have been identified by the Department ofNatural Resources as "species of gxis al cousovadon need" due to region [ declines and habitat loss. Amedcaambio Baltimore oriole Blaejay Blm-gay stroamhm Browe- headedcowbird Cbi,sagspanaw GreaCcreated fl"atchur dairy woodpecke' permit hmshr (Veobad Palmanblue Internlwoodpecker Red - bellied woudpeelte, Roee- btered consists S.'apace. Whimbceand ,.,batch wild wrk, veilow -ramped warbler' Topography The topogaphy or *I site is primarily a mu.,ouram ofhis[ode water flow and site geology, Rnaoff during glacial L landthe St. tended iv carve pathways through softer deposits d, water hawed aces the laud. fie St. love[ ix Rivet the primary rd o v r Once stage one, Therd, . de e pl y di s oma d d ve,bl u ad as the at, I f am, do Croix dropped over time. go is a deeply dissecte mar blff scape o steep slopes and narzow ravines. imwtove exposures am coemnon along the bluffs. Tro vidgenvaricus sammount property encompasses a sand, canine that flows to the east, with two smaller Mbutade, angling into it form flue Iogir and south. The north tributary flows southeast, while the south one flows x the uagheasg. Elevation at die proper,, drops nearly 200 feet, from 870 feet above sea level in the wetem pan of the p.at ce 680 fret at dm rive, Slopes are over 50 pemmt in places, with primarily Inch a ad eam-fxon, aspects. The dvectioro frogmen wax, flow is toward the central main ravine, which flows east to the St. Croix River. Water Resources Surface waters (fake; streams, rivers, wetlands, springs) Term are no pemmnent sarom waters rashe property. The ravines carry waterPorimlly during significant to enema or "me, runoff. Craundwatef recharge or inflation. areas Due to thin soils and shallow depth to the water table, muse of the Rowe property is classified as "very high" farsensinvity arm gmundwaro tit pollution (Meyer 1990). A rating of "very high" is the highest rating given, and indicates that wx m uraars will almost annu mach the grown water system in hour an months. Permanent pmxcdon If raw property will help to amount potential groundwater contamination that could occur if the site were to be developed. Smonotater management issues (emsioq contaminants, buffers) The existing woodland along the nverpmvides an oudicat dioxin burger, at least 1,200 feet wide at she Rowe property and much wider than that in adjacent parcels. In addition to benefits as wildlift habiust, the heavily wooded buffer is important for sail stabilization along the dvcr and for sediment and nutrient filtration from npiand runoff Scurry nom do voldareas on the pmpecry is tamed dudish the forested ravines flow the Se Croix Rive, The two oibumry ravines each have a cuIvan drat carries wafer Sam upland agradvaai areas. The volume suit stickily ofwaterto the ravines is danefive much greater man would be an a nmwal sysmm. lewide control srucmres that were installed many rom, ago have si,xii -a i, reduced the velocity Ifwaxr in the ravines, and tavehdped m control the ate of erosion. Lag -jams in the emits have also aeipeo slaw the water and drop the sediment load. Still, there is evidence ofconsiderable zmru I. of E.N11, m' 11"Isnnw111laIR 14 1—I 11-1111c, 191p Historic vegetation Fite was probablyhe most Impo=t natural pmcess m influence plant coammitypattns in the region, following glaciation. Wild fines were a amt . occurrence and typically traveled eon wax to east with the prevailing wills. Fire was the primary Some that allowed prairie and savanna communities to persist, as it prevented esmblimma of woody species. Faces., on the other band, developed in Sax,mtemed areas, imbuing earth and east- facing slopes and customs, low areas and edges of sm. suit other wage, bodies. Fire suppression began with Eampen sentiment in the mid ISOO %when most of the Twin Cities metropolitan area wax developed for agmule ills¢. Remnants of native plant urddes; espaially pride and sayson , are small and scattered and bane hank dr uifaractly also, ad by tack of fire. Most smacas and prairies have grown halo woodlands and have been invaded by exotic shmbs Sawa sc, and honeysuckle) that were brought from Europe and Asia as undmapmg pleats. The best Information, .,liable on plant communities present to Minnesota at the time of Small. settlement comes fiom the 1850'5 told surveyor notes, which recorded dominant plant species at one -mile intervals access the state The cotes woe laser converted mm a map, showing rye historic vegetation offs, ante. Vegetation at the Rowe property was primarily recorded as "oak opmings and barren.{' (Figure 3), roughly chu samozed as amide grassland with scattered groves of oak tees gad brush —what we law [firs, Is as oak a The land survey information was a large -scale genealizatioq however, so is da not depict plant communities her may have been pmccul at a furs, scale. h ins gcits prraly fast the Rowe p10,0, also bad forested areas, es,ard ally mthe deep ravines and north or cambeing slopes. Hismdc aerial photogapbs farm 1938 also provide some mdimtion ofthe previous six conditions and vegetation (Figure 4). It is ap,am. Gom me photograph that the ravines ere densely fmeaed, while the south mpan ofpro site, in Pontoons, was much more open, appearing more as a fImW,vmma complex. We cu 1 how time much eta area may have been alter ipdor to1938,but it seems reasonable to suggest that it could have been a more opm savanna that bad begun to fill in with trees in the absence of fire. The upper unit was fairly densely breexd in 1938, and had likely been that way for marry decades. Whatever the past use may have been, it is Clem that the wooded areas have been altered very are, if at all, since 1938, and path asly long before that. A 1988 survey of the pmpeay by the potassium ofNarms Remmces County 8mtogical Sam, found the site Or be au very good ecological condition. The vegemllon was described as follows: "Excellent quality comoduark forest dominated by Whim Oak (Qaerc s albod mid Red Oak (Q,— oubwo with occasional American Basswood (Till. n.) and Buttemn, (J.,Axv nacrea).'@e subcanopy was A. tMin no } Soso, Maic(Ace —es..), Bitxmut lock., (Cole Issas rood), and komvood (Osnya ur fewtoy The Bound cover was a diverse mint re stood. species. Trees were mostly less than 50 cm (20 inches) and straight holed. There was very little buckthode. Soils woe diverse and developed en loess, alluvium, and I.Ibmeum." Historic and Existing Land Use The Rowe propety has been an fe family since 1849 and a. moldy tcrashed in a 0.1 condition over draft 'line win' the co.ervadov casement area Yoe great nwjority of'hc land cover w. oak rnsc About 44 act's were th alcuitlned use at the time of this report -Zl acres of cultivated land and 2.3 acres of hayfield. These arena had bew cultivated since at least 1938 Need on the seral that,), and probably long before that. The remaining forested auras ofhe prop eery we¢ gazed by holes, and cows until me 1930', (liters, ram.D. Rowe), sad there has bee some firewood removal overtire years. Typical indications oflegging (old stomps) and gazing (an abandence, of Notiglvenis sedge, roomy plants and other species), wane not apparent either at the 1988 DM survey or the 2009 survey, ,c they occurred on modo.. levels. In 1939 asmail cabin was built along the rive bluff in the sonrheen pan of the elan. It had von been in use for many years at the time offe, 209 survey. Ad incre :o the if", is an overgown forme railroad bed from the Milwaukee line nor, went between floorings and Stillwater TOO railroad was removed several decades ago, but roe conidorzeouins opce, ith some ground cover Freese, but no flees. The slimed was removed in the 1970', and there wet, no otharzemaka of it acted, barer active use at the proporV have been ptimadly recre rtional. no beach urea. de ve, has been need for recreavmal gatherings and activities over roe dcndes, though that use has Featly declined in recent years. To facilitate these activities, do beach bas also been moderately altered by Fading to keep it Irvcl and fee of ,'- reacher, end installation of o footbnd -c as wad. some seeing to hold a channel in place. Apit toilet wan also best' a. distance back from the dvo,. PM1Oto 2. 0. repro$' bed anon, river. ced treilerxnd picractadeseen in P". Fxlrbavm'nrr Nmmo'utRrvS: 19 nonaxn �;eaammcw There hove also been several mad, or nails budu on the p opady(Figura 5). The primary read (Photo 2) was build to prmide access. the be lob. It is a did ad was thatpthellice the primary ne, fcdoxdag a neep yrzade down roc bluff m dra er. The mad currently roouircs atmual grading and roadbed mainrereawe due to on-gain- erosi Paving the road is being considered to prevent the continued degadation. Along the south side of roe to road, and nenrthe bottom ere two areas that have hadsome excavation far gravel and sand, which w. used for road no co dance or for other areas on rho site. The hillside soufo off, mad was mostly zevegemted and did not appear m be actively used. The site On cbe beat. off, rand was actively used. Though unsightly, topama,la, con cess were noted. Photo 3. Roadbed erxAn on ecd to the beach. Photo 4. tshide g mvel borrow area. Photo 5. Scant, . slope borrow ph. In addid.oh the main road re the beach, serval modest ove-eack dirt roads were also reared in the flatter Ideffops of both the northern and eauthemforested are.. Tory did rot appear to have been heavily used and was probably for ocoasioml access. P.eu:.w m»5'y➢sC.4m1R1 20 Rot "11- 11ve :P RU' MOURE 4. Historic Aerial Photograph -1938 R0.re Portnoy Nathat Rasw¢e mer'no'd Plan EXISTING CONDITIONS and MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS The primary objective p end property is W maintain aad improve the ecological r ece pt ors that the native plant comm.dties provide, including: • habi.6 far a diversity ofwlldlp, species, factor. and water cycling, = erosioncontrol, • bill Of rentanr, sediment and pollutant. A healthy plant concretionary can provide rnuch greater wildlife and ecalogical value than a degraded or , and mode to be more stable and less suseptibte to disease, invasive species, end other cancoms. One of the i ch eco use to define as existing of. cots da; and to dataominhlg what a degraded community could be restored to, is a classification system developed by the Minnesse, Departneet oflodu rat seashores and the US. pored Service (DNR 2005) that is based on cliaete, geology, topography, soils, hydrology, endvegaUtic, Using this system, the to rest at We Rowe property, formerly inferred to as c oak forest, is classified as Southern Dry mrad Oak Forest The DNR ob coptiors of the pdent communities,provided in the edituding ¢embers, indicarehow they might appear in the absence ofhurean dect anaes, and can help to Fide future management decisions. In addition do the ecological claeieachan, the DNR developed rise Mirmesom Land Cover Gasification Sysea (NILCCS), which clausal all types ofland cover, current native plant. communities. Tne tVILM was used all a basis for the sire adderifirn, which wa conducted by FbIR's ecologists between May and An,,,, 2009. Each of the land cover areas shown in Figure 5, u sammaeizod in Table 2, and described in the paragraphs below.£cologicat informationnandled tv each land cover area included to plant species and their relative coverage (Appendix A), .;I type, slopes, animal signe and ecologia d concerns, and a efosien, exotic species ere. Ea.a0 as cover I ..."a., earl types rowleemmuniry Fns- y onilt loam. 0eason re's same.' one is 5suti,om motarreaat caraopampl„; Wpon it e m. cloy loa Ory.Me9c Oak FOresl(,H.ra" don. .native tldr,"O'tl ,—O.Od j.'s Ripon za Wemco SooLYem Maslc . spo...if Cmpland sca' uoiltkem souter, Mesic Pvare lrevol)soon ,aCe .,do.aalto RwaNvCl tlOa, 'as •A = NII somplemeae of satire spmiex B'.— Imo -1 -11 specbe, dal mwmat —11, "arils e Bolin, for anow, deewor O= domineers ofesarl epeoio. Pvuc.+aon exxdnsnnvrlulr -eF 21 rtmvFRUtP•larm- viltix Mesic Oak Forest polar, conditions Th ..in forest was about 81.9 acres, occupying steep hour, slopes and level bWflYOps. The canopy was dote and the chose layer was sparse, as u typical of a stasis oak forest. There was a good ai. of ins, sizes, indicating he forest aamred are-. time, ratter, than all at areas, sash as after a dearest The canopy and subecnopy composition was mmh door spa in 2009 de described by the DNR in 1988 (See Historic Vegetation, Section 6); oak es were dominant, especially white said and red aad, but bur oak as ordL Orion cormma Species included American basswood, big - tootled aspen, ranking zspmy.gat maple, and paper birch. Batteries, black wait green ash and black cherry were less aburAaat Subcade, species included anewoad, red ask, sugar maple, bittenut hickory, American basswood, and American eta. Photo 6. The northern No--- area had lard age..'a'.. vin awarded, brae siaresso -- Old d.luals -siIDd :tees In ounmed, Whla oak a Ne Iarye can in Ne hack, door, maple :s In we foreground The tlensa caaepy insults at an Open anderser, (shrub rayed). The ground cover is well advocates, though seen here In steno when plan's am linA The southern porded o£the oak foresrbad ,slightly different canopy coaposifion than the confined pan Oaks veto still domitune, but also maed hr were mature white pine, which is nerthea Minnesota species and is uncomandhe the meanpolitan area flood additional photographs in Appenix B). Red codur was also common income areas, indicative ofd mare ices canopy ifa the pa.. Tea[ h r, co cottonwood o wita dflood G more ohm ce re other e s in the , in la photo graphs. tithe e Inufne rose were sand long dpecies ant in low aeundur. -cos m foe som pas, apecialiy in the Ind .eaz a t he river. The non - native ahmb, common beckhorn, which is very rnverive in naive waodlands, was not abundant in the aortLea part, except along the west edge where it fairly dens. Large plants lined the fomsVcomfeld edge, with awide swath ofamalher plants along the interior edge. The rest Of La nnrdea foxed wa nearly devoid afbuckthom, b. there were also a few small Fetches is the foralinte nil, especially near. road or other canopy opening. Dm to somewherfee more open canopy, the soufne apart of the forest had a much Tender abwidnce and variety afshrobs he geOctal and amvch gat. abundatme of bershom, in particular Not restticted just to the edges of the facto it was abuadant in interior cans ehanceed to be mow open. 1, was eared, from the dense canopy areas, especiall, adhil- facingsepes and do, oneduce, The Inertial was mostly small diaaMtt, end not quire at the &nit- bearing age, Photo 6. Most of the aRmbs to 0. thole ware common buUhwm, which was tlence In Ina ardoctory of the ,unhand wooer. 111.111oL lWa ismu Nrgv zJ ( 'M a..:GldvrPUV s :1111 11 '3 11-111; 11 24 IIOny,Ka.V ',u_n' &ea Paolo ]. White pine, uncommon fad Nh pan of ad stale, was found in lie scutham woods. no coverage ofgtmuo Mayes spades vaned dwenvery sphow to nearly full eove age, but overall the coverage was roughly 65 pemeaL Two interesting species detected in the soutirem area were mhlme b, is imen th and walking fear. The former is an orchid with very disrincrive variegated leaves k was found along e?e ea=ch -firing slope by die main road. The other species, walking fear, was found on a reek in tee deep shade of a mvwe. When cps of fern leaves much moist goo ed oo moss <overed rock, anew plant can form, and thus the plant "walks" acrass the ,rased. Nsimus species is raw, but they are ammmmron. Photo i3. Entrenching some at es", mv.m. Photo ii. P very lergedlame[a basamme has (oar. In a state. basawootl- doweatehelanofa. what. wm 1 Photo 9. M sum.n.an plant mood in ma Phob 10. Widess, tam was oneyer walhnn ...as wag tawny rattlesnake plan2iry tmeeneate plat, mood Stowing in me on orthla sa ... a, male enam.. Non - native species were uncommon at ere site and were found primarily on a II, a mad or trail. Species detected "=eluded modati -an, burdock, and plantain, none o fw extremely invasive, although motherveat and burdock can spread aggressively in the right conditions. Genic sus "fd was not detected. The lit ofmme woodland species was long and gives the impression of a assay, div=er forest The gmoub ter was domimted, however, by es few common species such as painted leaved dak trefoil, wild geranium, hog pease, meta en's nightshade, and Virginia romper (ace list of ail merles recorded =2009 he Appendix A). Cities woodland spsons, that should have been more abundant were fairly uncommon, such as wild ginger, bellwan species, wood anemone, rue anemone, mod erry and athem. A few specie typically found in deastype of forest and seemingly lotting ware asse (Sangaina m cosadensu), Iack- m- see pulpit(Arisaema eriphyllem) and straVemlla(A? ads waRcmdu). Howson, spurge and sell bellflower were m couple afire atypical specie found aloe, the old mdroad bed. More commonly found in open Items or sa cares, they may have been relicts of a former savanna or simply the more open area cree=d by the milrmd. The lack of abundance of many wildlImeor specie may be the result of norm sm ... Earhwmms an not sative m Minnesota and save been spread by people duough arras nr rnc+nsaysrvraRrrzv 25 rvumsxtinpm'hs. +far.,_. Similarly at the maitre m the south of me pafomy =vine, Here is a aulven at the head chat ce offthe hayie!d at hie southwest comer ofthe site. The now Rom lire oulvo, appeem to be actively mmenching the =wine and the side slages appear to have slumpap. Photo 12. Ripmp at essom outlet at north re. e, heated le'm'ma, eormat many yeas ago. Photo is Appamem gully .'es,an asesn ng le me naMem,thine. gardening, fishing and other activities. The worms significantly aher Ne composition of name woodland peso wherever they occur by consuming the duff layer (hie layer of pamaily decomposed material tart lies ho a forest floor) in which the native wildflowers are rooted. Evidence of earthworms was apparent at the Rowe property ha the lack of duff and in the presence of worm castings. Seedling nee species detected were tad oak, sn,. maple, Amnemicaa basswood and immune. eM. Seedlings )£white kand but III, which aze not shade adaywa Species, emas not detected. It appears that to time, and in the absence )fen j., deasubsomen, dds totes, will succeed. a amerce- basswood forest, which is the nannal 11o1m11m, Some smin a as, along the =vines, amassed, on hie wes"mn site of the propeng have developed into basswood- dnmiatted forests with e very difliboot appearance :ban the:est afthe unit. Eup basswood trees, one me =an, sham 40 inchas dim tower over:he tares, The canopy ass so dense that tar forest flue, I nearl devoid of ground coverplants. The subeanopy consisted nfsugac maple, mostly about 4 to 1).inches he diameter. Tbc=vine that ties to the north of the primary mare is located on very highly eradible Mahtomedi soils In far, the ravine exists there in part bemuse ofthe eredibiesolis, which thes i allowed a conduit foe wale head o fi prirmry soar yubb face woof m chiss the =vine is the seem ma d located at the heed of is comm.1oyie ns se w t hem at be erosion leadavcom as p lanmany years ago l fan ¢ironcontrolsystem. Abatis at be hard of .. ravine was less). d [o, (2- to allow ordination of small min even.. (roostd I eves, des are an inch of less). A large (2 swan the downpipe and mivenweve installed the bottom ofthe basin m 11. ova'flow. Tun culveY. empties iota the "vice, were apfap was piled m rodu<e hie enetey ofthe flow. The systemhm appamtly worked well, bat veins The the ap =p appease w be sigo, fIl umm oseph and some sediment still washes tows the rte. Ifsl I and o-ccs have felleuree =dy Some of ellmdebfr effecti cre velyatedadamolding much)£thewanand pl sam it from m moving i way and the ovine. In tune however, and d with a large rein went, , m the e dam will likely give way sad the sediment will be , card . w ed doom [o [fie river. IrRP.vm'ue na"I'll- P1101A 26 rra11111,o..0 1'11- Eaologieal concerns In general Ne £oars he site looked healthy, sepecially the modern pan. There was rro evidence of ask will of other significant dimes., there was very goad Imme ueem the fours, a goad she of age classes ofmeea theme was a good diversity of Vot ies and good ipound c Compared to otb be sires iatlte unim ns i el axes this one was very ha te , venal health. Nwenseies, ff wi minimal obaiams human Impacts for many decade; this forest is beginning is be affected by satin= Iwman- related factors. The pamary emlogicnl conceive at this unit acme }evasive, attan shrub sped= wastes fail - natve avint, Soil i rosins in r thavines. Erosio to, roadbed • Potential for fumrei¢vasive species. Non -native shrub se <s . no quantity mommmam beeddavm, especially at she embeem pan ofthe site, is ofpIIn ce n asit bay resehed a level ofabrelows mans is likely beginning to halt a so gativeimpeet oa me natiae floss. While it is less abundant in the match, and much of a has not begun fruits, yet,,hatwili ehaage to hie nextaaupleyeaa. As more effe, plants reach fmitng sire, the earn,, will aces mare quickly Ind., a oa ,afar. Removing the buckthom be the single most important manifemem need se this site to prase, the intepary ofrne eshtimg move sprain diversity, so it should be done as soon as seekbit, N native earthworms The second concem, a ntless s, is more insidious and th<x are he effective ransom measures at this time. It's impanang however, to be aware that they alter sail conditions, resulting in covditons that we seam attainable to non - native, massive plant species, sure as mo0erwon and gudie mustard. The beat way to address the situation is to support the growth of some vegetation by m=oving noa- native invasive species, by oaitering for disease, and by resmnng namml pmceleal. Fires was notes signifiesat fault, in meek forests, but the did neam modeally and may be mushmerg to should, fe,suopomng the native plant life. Setting upmommaimg plans would also be useful, to pie a better undersmading of haw he forts[ is changing. It may be possible to supplement hie native species by direct planting o, dire.: wading (only with very locally shouted genetic matenal). Ldil erosion The third arse = is and erasion in the forested =view, While the .,it. Phata es. Lag Ism In norm mama s cavmlpmject reduced she flow volume andvelacity, them was still some active erosion. mxeame et"Imanitrap. The erosion control semoture was installed a long time ago and should be re- aeesmd by the Was'niman. Conservation Disease tor[he current candifiom and maintenance needs. it was ..it that the comfeld was nearly two feet It,, Nee she adjacent woodlet to the west. Mast offset soil erosion probably ocmned in the past. In addition to sail, howeveq is Ne concem of other reambofs and chow ale sanded is the manor. Nivogen farm agaculemw rnnoff in the Midwest is I=owa to conlributc to the dead zone an moufnofthe Miss n,i River. It is not known what chemicals am used at Isis site, nor wive compounds mig §be preset in hie ruvoff. There am simply issues of concem toe any agoml =rat p odemen new a waterway. In me loci, corm, it would be very beneficial to "store the P - hFSr�C NIe - ti'IPr r.W ax 27 11- Mnr'1111nrl'Li„ F '!uvM1'n'14 rpM1Pnrx Zg Rareillr. "itn'I , Copland site back to the tisrodc conditlon ofwdvepairie (or savawa). Doiogsovomld help m stabilize the erosion ofi6e revises, reduce the possibiliry afchmnical veroffte the while Steady mucasing hie wiWue habitat diversity a the site. P 1 far Po . Numerous non- native species and plant diseases are ,contort in the landscape and new am appearing regdlarly. For example, the presence of eaMwovms makes the site come c..c bblc m other invasive species, such u garlic mustard,whichis comcooain womenopotian w ould Onceumbrrsh itewdisplace native species and fam o a near meno u b avoide oded be especially oc r ing is to this site, bumf detected earlyan the itecoul be nr site mosnonimrin6 is snongty m recamendedto mamminrhe mtegrhry afthie comp tmpo Artane tire site Target Plant Community The rn,,...date. for the moods forest w m retail it u mesa forest, but also to mamge it to improve the native species composition and to reduce erosion. Tice DNR description for this community, refereed to as Soufnem Dry -Mesic (Na'x Forest, is: la,cv mhordwsedfomn I.. co! eve 1. thin, winddepvsiw 'in v Icul and n a w. vfbN ek bled, the ge N- lays. ram Pnahym n . o l'—, aPn'K s Mende lady tom, poived loud, tlek newt /, CUY ^sswtttcieely— Iameia viPM5hnC4 aU gemvium,hngpeavnL avJwhirtavvk <[ove. seects '—verupmchybincemsed.Cemmvv apeeiex ialnde ad vote, hlxk thery, chvkeeeerty. Nvericw hQe'sat. Miunmi gvvsebem, end door advgwnod Subeunopy+pec seluda bovwe kc cm aok,whi coao —a .1.11 kbie Thee vopy's nttrtnpKtl saeovvnroux. T6emwtnmm ropes xaa atl vote, white oak andbavwead Camxaophic dis[u: WCCe nlbisPiav m N. Analpisof?umcLard$IvoY coon mlieaa[hae re evphic mega e v e le. 'o-wat c econee of kvphiewietttrow 39nyenrs. Eve ca 2atafvl[ed i con. of iallaa Ntte ,nrl lay u6ht iulvice Erts concha rail av meta lion nbwt 2oyea,r. BasMOn the Nxm calla evJ aSOp avfWS<fnrz s,ihercw ulJ benvo gowth SivSas eeparaad hyab gP d f a.vov. Management Recommendations I. Remove nawnative shrub species. The pmon,a off ..atmanagment would begin with cards dark removal (primarily buckihom). In at cases this will be a said haravard,me,as coming and nearing the stumps (sec Appendix IS for derailed Instmc[ions). Treating new and va neared planes will be needed for several years. The sentiment method should be avaluated after the initial brush removal is completed. Due m the high dierssity of native plants at this site, it will be Hopwood, re minima, the use ofberbieides that could negatively impact native species. Woody removal work should also be conducted when soils are frozen, to minimize soil compaction or desebance. 2. Conduct prescribed laming. Dry-mesds oak forests did not down R asst ly, but law -level burns would have occurred periodically (roughly every 20 yeses). Fire is a very effective method for eliminating budahoen seedlings. Athe born would probably be most desirable at this site, as it would have minimal negative monsoon on waive wild^.owers. nmsmsuvvxedun'scs,YVrl1mLl: 29 Ids rr.u:v. re.lr.hr. atv Non -NmHve Dominated Grassland Patent ng..n lifiam The 2.3 -acre gracclard, nod, for hay, was heavily domituted by smooth brace grass and Kentucky bluegrass. Reed canary grass Hat non-native invasive species) was present in mall paddies Cawda goldenrod was abwdant, and dotted St. John§ wort (a non - eative, ,orn ewhat invasive species) was common. A vary large monco s d nee marked the mrthwest comer'£site it Ecological ev ocerns The hayfcld bas bete mamged very well and neguim impacts from surface mnoffla" probablybeen reduced as much aspwsible, white still xeminingahayfield Therefore, there arc no real ecological concerns for this code at the present time, btu issues to consider far He future would be Furdwrreduciog impacts of mmtPon ovine erosion. Incmasing the biological diversity ofine wit. Runoff Rom the field cuneatly enters a mine¢ at the normeue'am"'bad empties into the vile to Hite north. the erosion sand/ sruc ,put m place there Issue sinpwaotly reduced th amount of erosion. However, it should be evaluaed by sloe Washington Cons rvmion Dismot vs it has been many Ism since it was installed and it appeals on—iv still some amount of active erosion. Widle shed colarm mvides hay and some mological benefits, such as sail smbibapper, infiltm,we of FS and wildlife Sheet, much go., benefits could be Halved if it wen°. ,,stored to a native prairie or seam.a plant -a uaily. A diversity ofwtive plans species would mmppoa a much greater stated, ofnadve animals than a non - native dominated Standard can, and the much deeper ooat systems would provide for increased infihmoon and soil snebilizalms. P•./n'nY 0.�Plcbllsdramf /R]l'e/l 31 RV.ik M:s:+MVxvYPL.iv 3. Evaluate all wastes. The mvlw heads should be ee,evaluated (Waship rw Comovidoa TSHHI) to assess weir arrest madidon and effec4vmess. Ifnecessary, additional mnnol nreasmes should be cotmidmed. in made. [he Wardens on Conse[vafiaa DisMct should evaluate any plains for paving the road, to insure tro mant methods ofrunoff. 4. Avoid soil denamane. Due to the high corroding of conch ofthe site, ne well as the high tendmay for oon- mativeinvasive species m establish at the site we mildly monmmmd that soils or mNgravel act b Iter d or removed by am nesen with s PH., review (Nove Ma Raw, currently e gandsimil for filing me ad and oor some, uses by his house Ddwc want tb np. me ?Wit tee be pppmedl Wmildralson.leawbundemenw. get the eoscmmn) Earn removal o f ' ve species sh.ld be 6ddmiakm wife great sotto dismab die soils or untive plants, luvasive buckthorn should never be pulled or dislodged, as the said dismrbance will enmers, mare invasive species. 5. Get prior review aimed Pavement plans. If installed property wife an mvmed crown, poring the road or the beach would H,diflcand, reduce emsiou mad moral nememnanca. However some flow diversions and/or mnveyawe to a hemmed, Saudi, (such as an infiltatier basin) would be nerved. iftim decision as Pave in reached, plans should be reviewed by the Washington (mom,wtion Dorder. 6. Avoid vigentis, disturbance. The potence ofwueed plant species and shighahun&nes ofnatrvespecies wfl for utmost sate to all site activities to minimize vegetation discuss.. Tice removal should be avoided rates, needed for ecological health ofthe forest primary reasons for twe .oval wield b directed a com possibly nhitm, g fd -so domadat. Iftee amorval is thou monetary, ecological darealosto should bconnected or adoee Should financed a,, be allemed? Tree, how an pit.hw mueh. Removal should be conducted when there as several inches efsmw cove, to minimize impacts. 7. Regular monitoring and evaluation. Site -wide monitoring should be conducted annually to detect invasive species, disease, and erosion concerns. It cold alm be very beneficial to establish long -term vegemdoo onimmig plots prior to conducting management activities. This will help to assess the effectiveness ofmame coo mactivities, to assess how the plant community may be changing over time due m mrmwmms or other factors, and to determine additional tasks that may be needed. Annual bird surveys, especially breeding bird surveys, would also be very informative and are easily conducted and repeated. At a minimum, card. breeding bird surveys prior to and after restoration activities that significantly alter the plant ..m, .on toe m one .I efbuckthom Rom dense areas or reco estmedoo of prairie at the boyfield. Fcxvvv I rva.— Vir, Rlrvx 30 R 11-1.1 PC' Target Plant Community The 2 3 -acre grassland and the 2.1 -acre cropland are discussed together as reanggement would be the same. As mentmned In the description of each site, they could both be mammmed as they me (though .,led control re-sssessmen. is due), but timed opportunity for restoation to native plant communities could be considered. The target plant conwuniry for both areas would be Southern Mesic Prairie. Southern Mesic Paine H disHil ed es follows: 'These sm, oroccomivmed'out god, rich commumme ceeomewha[pmrly deuced bweil- draived lase roils mainly farmed in remrted gL,I.i dill, an -flees is Ibin leads Ityer over rill and lecally in lamrnins sNimevts and ou[wash deposits. They occur pnmadly on level to gevdy tolling sties. Recurtat five is essential for neaivmivin, due wrecomi , as rvcc ... wa m forest will readily vicem in hie nbmnce er fire. Highkestem avd[ednvgtsa x-e the dnmimn[ull srssses. Othn impormpeareasarc pmme dmpreed lion bluesKm, pmcup-gt ass, side -cap aama coal to itdism a. Fam r b Varse to pally. Corenvv i,isd ,include hem - leaved elexanders, wide ssu5 di, ldecmd,pmte and whiK Amide dour,, came. bednaw,,cattle sage, end aroach blue ass. LeadPinat and pmme nett me the mast common dumb,, buecnveaga to wave, Trees we abaem." Management recommendations The long -teoda goal for the bayfreld would be to;esa — it to native prairie. Two methods far internal, the hayfield are outlined below, depardirg on the amount offambid, available or mepeaomipmfaence of the landowner or resomov manage,. Whiehevm method is used, develop acres for the so pro i commonaft Aspedes list from developed hued on the southern mesic prairie plant community data available from Ibe MV Department afNaewm Resources. 1. Reaterebayfieldmwtivepmine Opton l: Hmn and seed. The typical method ofpcaina restoration involves sevemlherbicide comment, plus plowingand dus�ingthesoil. soil ,seed. Two and nochemicaluse world bolothburv, R awin,inner. The native r r ace cno p, looc td. cold b e.,.di should follow ut w m the first a awing ehre proess meld e repeated m two or duce ma if naive eesare draw t a esmblish. Non - native species wilt persist, but will gradually become less dominant. Option 2: Herbicide, ham and aced. alternchwavo the brume grass is tenacious, may pe rmore than desired. M ative mehcafonidba edapply herbicide Poor to burning. h w smel S t,thehe seesitecad be w hglnly S epouftoseedi.,ng, m Sc bi be.tte, Inseeed o se ll contact. With wit sit thee be brstri il me forseeding will be b i l l, sc the nro did.tae wit seeds will get worked i over the winter, AdmvnaaP nik.lpsn'uYYlRnsa 32 Rnu EAJ LVn t£Mani'PUry p he. It. 5 mooln lane '—s dominates the lewntad. 1 Lou,,. manneemem. After, seeding, the site should follow standard managementpmedese. Atypical regimen would mvolvemowing rivet times in fistgrowing season, mowing chat in spring of the secoadyear and burning in spring o£the doo dyear. Spot hetbidde would be used to tannin ,a hout s wee erbicide houlds enc s Following the duce -year establishment period spat wive annd d rush hdbe continued as need <d, shod the he should be burned every 3 to 5 years. Cropland Existing conditions This unit consists of 2.1 aores along the edge ofd toughly 6 -acre cultivated field located in the shodo. efthe conservation easement area The 2.1 acre area is actually nindly brome grass, left along the field edge In reduce runoff into the bluftravines, m addition to smooth brome, other nos- native apatite typirel of vgrealmml areas were mixed in, such as red clover, common ragweed, white sweet clover, alfalfa, and dotted S[. John's wort no. species are notable because if it the decision is ever made m convert this cropland to a rmtive Amide, 6 is helpfdm know the types ofweeds tithe writ likelyrear. These are all commonweeds and readily mntroiled. Aso of mrenst was the presence of a few native fist, (wildflowers) atone the edge. - the cropland - yellow cornflower, ber early sonflewer. Canada goldenrod and pointed - Ieaved8ck- trefoil as well as red cods trees. None of fie native Sorbs were abundant, but theirptesmce is an indication of flop historic prairie ar s..a that was likely pteseut than rvuosm•ra¢nnssunnr1— 33 u, .xctime.m'.'reon A large area of the and flats urea was devoid ofvegetation, partially due to human activity on the beach, and partly due In the as ... itnaf grading done by the landowner. There was Iced vegetation m We paws of the beach where it is most needed -the uPSnevm edges where it forms a promontory are Eat river There sandbar willows and of o, plants there hold the sand in plea. Roodplain nee species along the sboreliee also smbilrse the beads, and included attonwoodsilva maple and black willow. Common Bound Jaye, species in the open sand included evening primrose, oneklebur, p ol, smarnveed and common ngwead. On the riverbank edge of the beach Ones then wed other tree species, including zed oak, sad eedar, ash, wrote pine, Aaer Thttewe hilkwoety Open's Ivyer species typical of edge ur aimt , andndmg raspberries, common milkweed, mor'n's quvnec, common ragweed, burdock, and soapwort Ecological toners, The and flats area provides escellentbabitatthatis impoannt fornestiag mNes. The primary cowed for tiro area is Potential negative impac¢ ofthe ghadingnad,, on male nests. 1l would be helpful to have some monitoring of the site re see how males use it, whoop the prime nest lhatoo. s are, and how the site canbe4 be used while protecting nest areas. Target Plant Community The tare. condid.. for the sand beach is to ohs. it as and beach. The DNtt description of vegeanon in the overrun n sOIdb, /,.d beach commmity as sparsely v,Oop tad herbaceous pieta communities on exposed sandy uiver when par, beaches, and sandbars Succeed by sand deposited by receding floodwaters and frequently reworked by currens. The plant species are biehly rating , but include nut readon, spike that, love,woon, willow herb and uthes. There k he need to change the species composition at the Rowe property, apply to Ecological na o...a As with the hayfield, the cropland unithas been managed very well and negative hapacts from smhce rmoffhave probably beeuroduced as mach as possible, while still retaining a a tissue Therefore, [acrearenoreal<co m e, would be far this unit at the present[ ®e, but issues to consider addassing in th Some, would be Yu diversity oftl ecount th e biingimpads Ofd,. lion. • Increasing the re unit. Runofffrom the field, though minimized, still likely curries nutrients, sedimems and other pollutants, which eveatuafly reach the St. Croix River, recently designated as impaired, In addition, the wildlife s,,scued by a cultivated crop is mitdmai, compared to v nadve plant unity, Croplands me typically treated with pesdddop, which bas thMer detrimental effects no wildlife. Bath offs ere concerns mold be addressed, ifthe opportunity and desire ants, by convening the field to native prairie ors., Monagement raommendar c, The lie.:etm goal for the ,.,land would be to restore itch andou prairie. The empiond could be restored very simply by seeding with native prairie species after a crop of Roundup -ready soybearvs or com ffi removed, and fallowing up with three years of aintananee (see bayfidd section). The soil should nor be worked vp all. the omp ruccural, and the seed should be broadcas on the soil, not drilled. Seeding fi onid onto place m the tall to allow dre freeze -thaw cycle on work the seed mto the soil, A cover crap would not likely be needed at the site, Mess there is ahigh potential for soil erosion. Riverine Sand Flats Estate, conditions The Sand pimps about LS acres. It was an area farmed by upland twoff, depsitme a sand delta inch foe river. The and flats were clearlypra.. at the time fthe 1938 statist photograph, and probably long before that The site of the area appears m be roughly similar in the historic aim. While the river may erode awaysochea llesand deposits daring significant floods, new deposits she occur, both don the river and touch upland tunoff. as opdn sane de ns mrmsd by . tie mOnsamee P, '.mot caddL rXIAaTA 34 Ilse Mrw,c ,'TI'L,r1 meant, far invasive species or has forms of degmdmioe. Ma nag em eat Rammmendations L Assess write usage of we site and adjust beach grading, if needed. 2. Manimrvegmndan far invasive species (e.g. purple loosesnifrJ. r -NI,ar.ae,wm:.mmelm m 35 36 rtrae.ra _ tr » -az Panto n, A raw native I. newary and gasses an to round along on edgaa or tat art0wad adds. Po.s. od Past erosion at h. bench a. has been eiabil'¢ee w1h retaining ---.