9.2.B. PRSR 03-08-2006 - Laserfiche WebLink

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2006 Metro Greenways Site Protection Nomination Page 2 Site Description Total Acreage: 36 Acres Describe past and current land use and land cover. The Woodland Trails Addition project proposes [o purchase two parcels of land. Both parcels are adjacent to the existing Woodland Trails Park, which now includes the park formerly named Top of the World and the Top of the World Addition. The new parcels provide critical buffering and corridor connectivity for the existing park and adjacent high quality natural areas. The first site, the Golf Course Addition, is an 18 acre band of dry oak forest along the east side of the Elk River Golf Course and Country Club. It has been owned by the Elk River Country Club since at least 1960, when the golf course was built and the site has been minimally used or left untouched since then. As a result, a good quality dry oak forest currently covers the site. Prior to that, the site was used as pasture. The second site, referred to here as the Malmstrom Site, lies between the eastern-most end of the existing park and County Road 77. A 15 acre BC rank dry oak forest dominates the site. Old field vegetation and occasional prairie natives form the rest of the cover. The site was once a homestead/farmstead for the Malmstrom family, but the land has been unoccupied for a number of years and the original farmstead is gone. Project Overview (50 words or less; include a summary of the project, total project cost, and amount of Greenways funding requested.) Elk River proposes to purchase 32 acres of BC-rank oak forest and 4 acres of "old field" adjacent to two existing parks. Combined, this protects and connects 390+ acres of forest on a Greenways hub and trail corridor. The City requests $175,000 in Greenways funding to leverage the $900,000 purchase. I. Ecological Value (Primary Criteria) A. Plant Community/Habitat Quality Sites located within, buffering or connecting to a Regionally Signifecant Ecological Area and/or having rare species and/or plant communities will receive a higher priority. Sites that have been disturbed or degraded should not require extraordinary restoration efforts and expenditures. Current and future use of lands adjacent to the site should not significantly diminish quality of the site over time. Describe the most important ecological qualities and features of the site, and describe how the site contributes to connectivity and/or buffering within the Metro Wildlife Corridors network of natural areas, parks and other open spaces. Include information on plant communities, aquatic features, wildlife use, rare species, and discuss any restoration needs. The Woodland Trails Addition project proposes to purchase two parcels of land. Both parcels are adjacent to the existing Woodland Trails Park, and provide critical buffering and connectivity for Cip= ojElk Rfver Woodland Trails Park Addition GYeenways Grant Bonevtroo and Asrociares. February 1006