14.1. PRSR 05-11-2016 - Laserfiche WebLink

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• Concessions/ Equipment Rental » Potential to include food/drink concessions in new park building » Rent equipment from the new park building,such as skis,snowshoes,compass, binoculars,and other trail use items. Natural Resources / Ecological Stewardship: • Manage and Treat Oak Wilt >> Treatments include vibratory plowing to sever root grafts, pruning only during the dormant period(November- March),and fungicide treatments(however these are not cost effective in a natural forest environment. • Manage and Treat Bur Oak Blight » Treatments include fungicide treatments(however these are not cost effective in a natural forest environment). » Bur Oak Blight does not generally kill the tree outright, however stress caused by Bur Oak Blight can lead to other infections resulting in the death of the tree. • Control and Remove Buckthorn and Other Invasive Species » Protect native plant species to maintain habitat and ecosystem functionality » Manage invasive species,including buckthorn, honeysuckle,and Siberian elm >> Use the following treatment methods:foliar spraying of seedlings with glyphosate,cut and stump treatment with a tricloper based herbicide(Garton 3A or Garlon 4), basal treatments with a tricloper based herbicide mixed with a bark penetrating oil(Garton 4 w/ Bark Oil Blue),or mechanical removal(mowing or hand pulling)however mechanical is the least effective method and often requires years of follow-up treatments(also causes vast soil disturbance which can result in better germination in the seed bank resulting in secondary infestations) • Manage Emerald Ash Borer » EAB affects all species of ash trees and is 100%fatal to ash trees once populations in a given area grow to a capacity capable of dense infestation » Treatments include injection of insecticides(however these are not cost effective in a native forest environment), additionally bio-control insects have been approved for release however their effectiveness is minimal and continual releases of bio-control insects may be required(survivability of the bio-control insects is reduced due to extreme Minnesota winters). » EAB has not been discovered in Sherburne County as of 2016, however it is likely a population exists and has currently gone undetected; EAB has a population growth curve of approximately 10 years with identification generally occurring around years 4-6;thus once it is identified there is likely only 4-6 years until a complete infestation occurs and go%loss of ash trees can be expected during this period. • Continue to Maintain Prairie Restoration Areas » Increase species diversity to a site, mature reconstructed prairies can contain up to 40 species of native plants » Vital for pollinator species and monarch butterfly reproduction » Vital for stabilizing soils and retaining moisture on the landscape » Important habitat for many species of wildlife providing nesting cover for waterfowl, upland game birds(turkey, grouse, pheasant),and songbird species;also important cover for many mammal species, reptiles(Blanding's turtles,eastern and western hognose snakes, bull snakes)and amphibians. • Explore Wetland Restoration Potential » Part of County ditch system to control flooding • Vital for controlling flooding by capturing water from the landscape and slowly recharging the aquifers » Rich in species diversity providing habitat for numerous species of reptiles,amphibians,waterfowl,and an important water source for other wildlife species. » Important for filtering sediment and contamination due to agricultural practices and manmade features such as roads and parking lots. • Restoration of the central wetland complex would assist in filtering water prior to it entering the Elk River and Lake Orono thus improving water quality of these two bodies of water. • * . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page4 • • ° ° ' WOODLAND TRAILS PARK MASTER PLAN ' ' a ° •