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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY <br />Bac round <br />This document was assembled by Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR) to guide the <br />restoration and management of the William H. Houlton Conservation Area. The property <br />encompasses 335 -acres in Elk River, MN and is located at the confluence of the Elk and <br />Mississippi Rivers. Once the Houlton family decided to sell the property, FMR worked with <br />various partners, including the City of Elk River, the Minnesota Land Tr and the Trust <br />for Pulic Land, to explore options for the property. In 2015, the Cityver - in <br />partnership with the Trust for Public Land - purchased the propeds from the <br />Outdoor Heritage Fund. FMR came on board in 2015 to write thurce <br />management plan and to help fund and manage the restorati !thCey. The <br />property will open to the public in 2016, with hunting occ ' n ough e property; <br />restoration is also slated to begin in 2016. <br />Prior to European settlement, the area including t lton erty was primarily <br />prairie and oak savanna, with some floodplain forest rivers. There has been a <br />long history of agriculture in this area of the County and pure continues to dominate <br />the overall landscape. However, the area ly around th ,ty is now mostly <br />residential development, reflecting the co f agricult nd pasture lands as the <br />City of Elk River expands. <br />Since European settlement, the property <br />continual woody encroachment 1 nta non. <br />and savanna habitat on <br />species. Existing cond <br />proliferation and dome <br />Driven by a lac <br />and degrad n froi <br />restorin rive plant c <br />and sa MMUnitie <br />need of rest n in this <br />Vegetation an ding.. <br />plant and bird diV <br />whether the site's <br />)pe' <br />to the <br />ow e d ence of i <br />' farmoFand grazed, and has experienced <br />d areas. Historically, conversion of prairie <br />f many native plant and animal <br />h disturbance to the site, especially a <br />al eco s in this matrix of residential and agricultural lands <br />Sive sp and other land use practices, this plan recommends <br />unitie on the site. This plan focuses on restoration of prairie <br />hich are targeted by the MN DNR as being among the most in <br />ological subsection (Anoka Sandplain/Big Woods subsections). <br />lYrd surveys are recommended by this plan to monitor the site for <br />lie measure of which would show trends that would indicate <br />is improving for wildlife. <br />Natural Resource Inventory and Assessment <br />A natural resource inventory and assessment was conducted by FMR ecologists in the <br />summer of 2015. The Houlton property consists of three primary areas. The main focus of <br />the property is the 160 -acre agricultural field. A floodplain forest surrounds the field and <br />is a mix of grassy openings that were once grazed, and a silver maple and green ash <br />dominated floodplain forest. A 70 -acre, floodplain island - a matrix of grassland with <br />Friends of the Mississippi <br />5 <br />W.H. Houlton Conservation Area NRMP <br />