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The William H. Houlton Conservation Area presents a unique opportunity to restore a large <br />area of land back to pre -European conditions, improving habitat for a variety of wildlife <br />species. Given its unique position on the landscape - at the confluence of two rivers and <br />located within the Metro Conservation Corridors - restoration of this property would have <br />a large impact by providing habitat for migrating species. The amount of farmland <br />currently present also presents an opportunity to restore a large contiguous area of prairie <br />and oak savanna habitat that would benefit wildlife species, especially pollinators, which <br />are currently experiencing population declines due to habitat loss and other factors. <br />The DNR recommends stabilizing and increasing SGCN populations inZegrasslands <br />vanna and <br />prairie areas by managing invasive species, using prescribed fire an hractices to <br />maintain savanna and prairie, to encourage restoration efforts, t <br />adjacent to native prairie to enhance habitat, and to provide t ica nce and <br />protection opportunities to interested individuals and orgaWz ns. <br />The pre -settlement vegetation for this site was <br />savanna grading into prairie just to the west of theand i <br />forest on the south side of the site where it curren y s <br />site has been greatly altered through its history of agric <br />other native plant communities will be on of the top prio <br />Also improving and expanding the buffer lk and Miss <br />stabilizing certain badly degraded riverba ities, <br />herein. <br />The purpose of this mar <br />• Identify the exist <br />• Identify best mal <br />improve water, q <br />Specific <br />Mings and barrens" or oak <br />bottom or floodplain <br />:'In its current state the <br />use. Restoring prairie and <br />of this management plan. <br />i4tivers, as well as <br />will be explored in depth <br />property <br />wildlife values, and retain and <br />diversity <br />of the property <br />this property are to: <br />of native plant species and minimize non-native, <br />other natural areas in the landscape and along the river <br />• Maintain i ge the property for water quality through erosion control and <br />stabilization riverbanks, and by controlling runoff and nutrient loading <br />• Create a model for responsible public land stewardship <br />• Utilize this property to guide surface water management activities on adjacent land <br />in a manner that protects and fosters natural community establishment <br />• Utilize this property to enhance and expand the ecological functions of the area <br />Friends of the Mississippi <br />9 <br />W.H. Houlton Conservation Area NRMP <br />