9.2.A. PRSR 12 08 2004 - Laserfiche WebLink

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2004 Metro Greenways Site Protection Nomination Page 2 Site Description Total Acreage 80.5 Acres Describe past and current land use and land cover. The Top of the World Addition site has been owned by various gravel companies since at least the 1940's and most of the site has been minimally used or left untouched for most of those years. As a result, a good quality dry oak forest currently covers the southern 2/3 of the site. The northern 1/3 of the site is somewhat more diverse in the variety of communities present, and in the amount of past disturbance. Scattered wetlands (primarily rich fens and mixed emergent marsh communities) and ponds occur here, as well as altered/non-native communities. Sand recovered during gravel washing operations was deposited in this part of the site historically, and this Wash Flats area has developed into a unique community of quaking aspen over scouring rushes, prairie (orbs, and native grasses. Twelve years ago the gravel company that owned the site gave the City of Elk River permission to use the site for recreation. At that time, the city developed a biathlon range that includes 2.5 miles of mowed cross country ski trails. There are few biathlon parks in Minnesota, and since its creation, two athletes who have trained at the park have gone on to represent the United States at the Olympics. With the exception of some mowed trails maintained for the Biathlon Park and occasional cutting to remove hazard trees along the trails, the oak forest community at the park is intact. Project Overview (50 words or less; include a summary of the project, total project cost, and tmount of Greenways funding requested.) Elk River Parks Department proposes to purchase 80.5 acres of quality dry oak forest between two existing park parcels. Combined, the parcels forma 330 acre block of forest along a Greenways and trail corridor. The City is requesting $500,000 in DNR funding to help purchase the $1.7 million site. I. Ecological Value (Primary Criteria) A. Plant Community/Habitat Quality Sites located within, buffering or connecting [o a Regionally Significant Ecological Area and/or having rare species and/or plant communities will receive a higher priority. Sites [hat 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 sire 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 southern two-thirds of the Top of the World Addition was mapped as a high quality (B Rank) dry oak forest during the Natural Resource Inventory completed by the City in 2004 and includes areas mapped by the Minnesota County Biological Survey during their inventory of Sherburne County. This portion of the site offers a canopy of mixed red oak, ur oak and pin oak, with black cherry, bur oak, and occasional elm in the understory. It is typical of a dry oak forest that has not been subject to fire in recent years, and has a shrub layer and ground layer dominated by characteristic native species. Invasive species such as European buckthorn are present in low levels. ('iiy fllk 2/ver%bp jN¢•WorldAddirim~Greeewavs C3mnr lfnncstrno mid As.voalmer, November 29, 200J.