6.2 at 1 Camp Cozy Park_NRMP_2023

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63 Friends of the Mississippi River Camp Cozy Park NRMP Management Priorities PRIORITY 1: Woody removal within Unit 1 North Prairie and Unit 2 South Prairie The remnant dry prairies in Units 1 and 2 have drastically decreased in extent due to woody encroachment by smooth sumac, eastern red cedar and quaking aspen. While native prairie species are persisting in the shade of these woody species, some cool season grasses have become established, and this condition will only worsen with time. The smooth sumac (2.2 acres in Unit 1 and 1.1 acre in Unit 2) should be cut in July or after flowering and triclopyr applied to every cut stem by dauber or wick application when temperatures are below 85 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent herbicide volatilization. Sumac is clonal, so care must be taken to treat all stems to prevent resprouting. Fire stimulates resprouting in sumac, so judicious spot foliar herbicide application may be needed after burning if the sumac is persisting. Cut sumac can be piled in the large, mowed areas of each prairie and burned in the winter when snow cover is present. Extreme care should be taken with the use of herbicides and gas-powered equipment on this site given the proximity to the river, high potential for groundwater contamination and rare plant communities. Glyphosate binds to soil particles and is generally not mobile, so may be a better choice than other herbicides that are more mobile, especially near the water. However, triclopyr-based herbicides like Garlon 3A and 4 are generally more effective at preventing resprouts on cut shrubs and trees. The quaking aspen encroaching the north prairie (0.5 acre) should be cut periodically to reduce its cover and slow the clone’s further progression in the prairie. Cut stump herbicide application would affect the entire stand of aspen, which is not a desired goal. Conversely, fire will stimulate the growth of the aspen, so prescribed burns should generally avoid the northern tip of the north prairie. The large eastern red cedar (approximately 50 trees) should be cut prior to prescribed burning. Cut material should be dragged into the peripheral forest areas to serve as winter cover for wildlife. Cut stump herbicide treatment is not necessary because cedar does not resprout. Smaller cedar can be left standing and consumed with prescribed fire; this species is very susceptible to burning.