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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Background This document was assembled by Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR) to guide the restoration and management of Bailey Point Nature Preserve.The property encompasses 24 acres in Elk River, MN and is located at the confluence of the Elk and Mississippi Rivers. Once owner by the Babcock family,the property was purchased by the city in 2012 with the help of the Minnesota Land Trust and a Natural and Scenic Area grant from the Minnesota DNR. Prior to European settlement,the area including the Bailey Point property was primarily prairie and oak savanna,with some floodplain forest along the rivers. There has been a long history of agriculture in this area of the County and agriculture continues to dominate the overall landscape. However,the area directly around the property is now mostly residential development,highlighting the conversion of agriculture and pasture lands as the City of Elk River expands. Since European settlement,the property has had a diverse land-use history, including serving as a fairgrounds,golf course,and recreation area,and has experienced continual woody encroachment in recent decades. Historically, conversion of prairie and savanna habitat on the property led to the loss of many native plant and animal species. Existing conditions show evidence of much disturbance to the site, especially a proliferation and dominance of non-native vegetation. Driven by a lack of natural ecosystems in this matrix of residential and agricultural lands,and by degradation from invasive species and other land use practices,this plan recommends restoring native plant communities on the site.This plan focuses on restoration of prairie and savanna communities,which are targeted by the MN DNR as being among the most in need of restoration in this ecological subsection (Anoka Sandplain/Big Woods subsections). Vegetation and breeding bird surveys are recommended by this plan to monitor the site for plant and bird diversity,the measure of which would show trends that would indicate whether the site's habitat is improving for wildlife. Natural Resource Inventory and Assessment A natural resource inventory and assessment was conducted by staff from Friends of the Mississippi River in the summer and fall of 2015.The Bailey Point property consists of three primary areas: floodplain forest, savanna,and an old hayfield.The narrow belt of floodplain forest rings the entire property and is a mix of silver maple and ash dominated areas,as well as areas of less traditional floodplain species-box elder,hackberry etc.The rest of the property is composed of a hayfield at the north Friends of the Mississippi River Bailey Point Nature Preserve NRMP 5