8.0 PRSR 03-09-2017 - Laserfiche WebLink

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The paths around the grassland provide easy access for large equipment and vehicles. In some areas, chipping the material on site could provide mulch that would suppress buckthorn regeneration from the seedbank and protect against erosion.Access along mowed areas and field edges provides many possible areas to utilize a chipper. The City of Elk River removed buckthorn and other invasive shrubs from a large portion of both the floodplain forest subunits in 2014 and 2015. However,pockets of these species remain,both in the central portion of FF-1 and on the southeast and eastern side of FF-2. City or volunteer labor could be used in place of the contractor estimates in this plan; however, follow up treatments may be better suited for contractor crews. Once the first phase of removal is complete,yearly follow-up treatments will be necessary. If done correctly, stump-sprouting should only occur in small numbers (if at all),though these sprouts will need to be treated by mowing, cut and paint herbicide application, or foliar spray.The seedbank will be more problematic,as buckthorn seeds can remain viable for at least five years.Treating germinating seedlings will be a difficult and repetitive process,but can be accomplished through foliar herbicide application. Prescribed fire is a seedling management option in drier areas,but will be difficult in many of the wetter floodplain areas. Prescribed burns should occur in the spring if possible,when buckthorn is actively growing and its carbohydrate stores are low. In the more open areas of the property,seeding may be necessary after buckthorn removal. Cover of native plants will help to fill unoccupied niches and compete with and suppress germinating buckthorn seedlings. See Appendix B for a list of native plant species for restoration of floodplain forests. Native Shrub Control(optional but encouraged-lower priority) Aggressive native shrubs such as prickly ash and smooth sumac can be controlled if time and budget allows. Prickly ash,a native shrub of open woodlands and savannas, can be controlled in areas that it is overabundant along the grassland edges.This will keep it from encroaching into the restored savanna and prairie areas. Cutting and treating of stumps is recommended to control overabundant populations,but eradication is not recommended. Burning will top-kill prickly ash, but will not kill the root. PRIORITY 2: Prairie and oak savanna restoration Prairie restoration will occur on the 2.36-acre hayfield,and 13.45 of savanna will be restored in the central and southern grassland portions of the property. Restoration can commence once woody invasive species are removed from the property.The difference in the two restorations will primarily be the seed mix used (mesic prairie versus mesic savanna mix). Friends of the Mississippi River Bailey Point Nature Preserve NRMP 55