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z T <br /> end and a degraded non-native dominated grassland/savanna in the central and <br /> southern portions of the property. <br /> There have been significant restoration efforts on the property, most notably <br /> invasive removal in the floodplain forest. The City of Elk River has conducted woody <br /> invasive species removal efforts along the northwestern and southern edges of the <br /> property. The rest of the property is highly degraded, both in terms of species <br /> composition and in the presence of non-native, invasive species.A lack of fire has <br /> allowed woody species -both native and non-native-to become overabundant, and <br /> has allowed herbaceous invaders to proliferate in the grassland. The hayfield and <br /> grassland habitats are dominated by non-native species such as smooth brome and <br /> Kentucky bluegrass. Common buckthorn dominates many areas of the woodland <br /> understory,while prickly ash is overabundant in some areas and creeping Charlie is <br /> present throughout the property. Other non-native herbaceous species are present <br /> in both the hayfield and savanna.Another potential issue is erosion of the bank <br /> along the Elk River.While this is a lower priority in terms of restoration of the <br /> property, it should be given consideration if time and budget allows. Finally, future <br /> issues should be considered as well. For example,the large contingent of ash trees <br /> on the property is at risk from the emerald ash borer. Understanding these risks and <br /> their likelihoods can help design and prepare future management strategies. <br /> Natural Resource Management Recommendations <br /> Based on the natural resource inventory and assessment,the landowner's past <br /> management activities,the city's current goals, as well as general goals by the <br /> Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for this landscape, this plan <br /> recommends removing invasive species and restoring native prairie and savanna <br /> plant communities on the site. Restoration is divided into two phases.The first <br /> phase focuses on the removal of non-native woody brush from the entire property, <br /> concentrating first on the floodplain forest ring around the property.As time and <br /> budget allows, overabundant native woody species should be thinned on these same <br /> units, including but not limited to prickly ash. Removal should be conducted in the <br /> fall and winter,and may be done through a combination of cutting and treating and <br /> brush mowing in certain areas. Follow-up treatment in subsequent years will focus <br /> on treating re-sprouts and newly emerged seedlings. <br /> The second phase focuses on prairie and savanna restoration and enhancement. <br /> Specific restoration activities include conducting controlled burns throughout the <br /> site and prudently targeting invasive species with systemic herbicides. Seeding the <br /> savanna with native species after the burn and interseeding to increase diversity <br /> will be important tasks. Planting the units with appropriate native shrubs will also <br /> help to add species and structural diversity to the site. Continued maintenance of <br /> these areas will involve follow-up herbicide treatments,rotating prescribed burns <br /> and supplemental seeding. In addition,vegetation and breeding bird surveys are <br /> recommended to monitor the site for plant and bird diversity,the measure of which <br /> Friends of the Mississippi River Bailey Point Nature Preserve NRMP <br /> 6 <br />