6.2 at 1 Camp Cozy Park_NRMP_2023

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60 Friends of the Mississippi River Camp Cozy Park NRMP shade, and sun-loving dry prairie plants will be diminished and degrade the habitat further. Woody invasive species removal is the second priority which will improve habitat quality and decrease soil loss in the forested areas that are adjacent to the floodplain and river. Reestablishing an herbaceous layer and native shrub layer where woody invasive species have been removed is a third priority. Restoration Goals Natural resources restoration goals for Camp Cozy are centered on the native plant habitats within the site and the strong community value of preservation and protection of these habitats. From an ecological perspective, returning fire to the remnant dry prairies, reducing woody encroachment in the prairies, and managing woody invasive species are the key elements of habitat restoration. This approach aligns well with community values expressed at a public input meeting held in November 2023. Community members and Elk River Parks Commission members conveyed the unique experiences that they had at Camp Cozy because of its diverse habitats and special location and emphasized the need to protect and restore the rare plant communities. Healthy ecosystems will support a variety of wildlife, reduce urban heating, increase water infiltration, build healthy soils that are less prone to erosion and create enhanced recreational opportunities like bird watching, fishing, hunting and nature observation. Toward achieving the goal of a healthier ecosystem, restoration will aim to improve the diversity, composition and structure of the plant communities throughout the property, which will also better reflect the historical plant community. This includes the restoration of prairie habitat that has been drastically lost throughout the state and improvement of Camp Cozy’s woodlands and forests. Restoration does not, however, intend to convert current natural communities to what may have been present in the past. Restoration of degraded areas will improve the ecological functions that both historic native plant communities and current healthy communities provide, including: • habitat for a diversity of wildlife species, • nutrient and water cycling, • carbon storage, • moderation of water-table levels, • erosion control, • filtration of nutrients, sediments and pollutants, • development and enrichment of soils, • local temperature moderation. Though somewhat degraded by fire suppression and unmanaged invasive species, the existing plant cover retains a good variety of native species and could be readily improved. A healthy and diverse plant community can provide much greater wildlife value than a degraded one, and tends to be much more stable, and less susceptible to disease, invasive species and other disturbances.