7. PRSR 04-11-2007 - Laserfiche WebLink

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manufacturer's safety recommendations is critical, including the use of appropriate protective equipment such as chemical resistant gloves and eye protection. If cut brush is piled, it should be in areas where the least amount of native cover exists. Potential sites for stacking cut material are on top of larger stumps, rock outcrops, bare soil, and the adjacent crop fields. Brush piles for burning should ideally be constructed in layers with alternating limb directions. Keeping these piles small in basal area but tall makes burning them easier and minimizes soil sterilization. Piles can be burned during most times of the year after the material has had a chance to dry out, but winter is often the best. Snow cover greatly reduces the threat of soil sterilization and unintentional burning of adjacent areas. Other Invasive Species Control Although an inventory was conducted for the area and no significant nonnative species problems noted beyond buckthorn and similar species, there is still a possibility that new problem species will show up or was missed during the inventory process. Detailed inspections should be made at least annually for early detection of problem species on the site, particularly garlic mustard. An integrated resource management activity approach should be used that minimizes the presence of these species, with as little impact on native species as possible. Potential methods for management of problem species include cutting, mowing, spot herbicide application, hand removal, introduction of native species that provide competition, burning, and biological controls. For additional information, see the problem species management section. Oak Recruitment and Release During this phase of restoration, the earlier control of nonnative shrubs and invasive trees, as well as prescribed burning should begin to show results for oak seedling and sapling recruitment. If oak saplings are .found in areas where the canopy above them is dominated by weedy species of trees, selective cutting should be used to release the oaks and provide the opportunity for them to graduate into the canopy. Cutting of boxelder, cottonwood, or aspen to create canopy gaps that enable oak saplings to mature is most preferable. Less preferable is the cutting of other native hardwoods including black cherry, hackberry and other similar species. Although young elm are common in some areas of the forest and may currently hinder the development of some oak saplings into mature trees, the elms will likely fall victim to Dutch elm disease and may not need to be cut to release oaks in their shade. Prescribed (Rx) Fire This activity will be important for maintaining the oak component of this forest and should be considered for application to any given area approximately once every 5-15 years. A few of the positive aspects of well-timed prescribed burning include the Top of fhe World Park Addition Natural Area Management Plan 12