Houlton Farm Planning Committee Meeting 2016-02-02

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the biomass of the topgrowth. Early season burns will only destroy what little topgrowth has formed at that early part of the growing season. Late season burns also are more damaging to native forbs, so it is recommended to switch to early season burns in successive years, once smooth brome has been controlled. A late -season burn should be adequate. Then switch to a regular burning cycle of 3 to 5 years. If late -season burning alone proves to be unsuccessful, then spot treatments of herbicide can be performed. Care should be taken to reduce collateral damage to native plants. Burns can also be scheduled to coincide with establishment burns on the prairie units. However, the entire site should not be burned at once; refugia for plants and animals need to exist on the site at all times. The site should be evaluated after each burn to see how well plants (agj&rnals) recover. Once the areas are burned, native seed should be purchased and OWto these savanna areas. This seed can be broadcast throughout the unit, and wil p i e cover and diversity post -burn. Dormant seeding followed by establish a owNandu rairie restoration section) will help native species gain a footh hese aririe and savanna species establish in the farm field, seed can b llected on sitbuffer these smaller areas. Otherwise, seed should be pur d fro cal eers. Oak restoration The first priority for the prairie/savanna savanna species. Once the prairie has be t particularly oaks, can be considered. Wood 1 be introduced as part of the seed mix, helpin these prairie and savanna sys stablishi will primarily include bur pi11 s. These is the es 11wiment of prairie and ish, introcrction of woody species, Ilikajou tin ant and prairie rose will blis a 5 `SO% shrub cover typical of the savanna canopy can come later, and L!�-, planted in copses at locations throughout the prairie Figure ), though fyiPhumber and location of copses are entirely flexible. How ciai a given to locating copses along the cut bank where erosion has pr d. T e ees will help to slow erosion by stabilizing soil as the roots ffximu Ultima nsiderations such as oak wilt may push the species compositio all bur o snore resistant of the two), which is also currently the more ndant oa a nro tv. Bareroot sS ther oody species, including chokecherry, hazelnut and wild plum can be addedstos° cion to increase structural diversity once the prairie has established. Fa ,'r areas of the field, dogwoods may be an appropriate addition. Like the oakscies should be planted in low densities in copse or clump orientations. Erosion control Currently, the farm field is in production almost to the edge of the Mississippi river on the south side of the property. Along with the natural bend in the river, this has caused serious erosion along this slope. While this is partly a natural process, establishing native vegetation along the top and on the slope will help stymie this process. Native prairie plants have much deeper and more complex root systems than the non-native vegetation Friends of the Mississippi W.H. Houlton Conservation Area NRMP .: