HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-04-30 Northern Prairies Restoration Management Plan 01/03/89 03:25 6129343952 SCOTT CARLSTON RE /MAX PAGE 01
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NORTHERN PRAIRIES RESTORATION LANDSCAyE COM ?ANY
PRAIRIES, WETLANDS, WOODLANDS
115 East MITI Street
Cannon Falls, MN 55009
507 - 263.0154
Date: 04/30/97
To: Andy Weaver
From: Stephen Tho fordo
Subject: Restoration agement Plan for Oak Park Heights.
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RESTORATIO MANAGEMENT PLAN
1 Ecological Parameters:
A. Location: Oak Parks N lghts, Minnesota.
B. Size: Approximatel $ acres
C. Sons: Uplands soils meat of glacial tells, sands and gravel.
Very poor fo tion of the A horizon; 1.5 acres.
The low land , ils are typical latusteriae foams. These soils
range from w .. , drained to poorly drained, dependent upon the
clay compone . ; 3.8 acres.
Closer to the etland, the elay becomes more prevalent, and the
soils are wet; *.6 acres.
Site to be se. zed into four zones dependent upon soils. This
square footage will allow the installation committee a chance to
fine tune thei seed selection.
1. Wet: 30,000 sq /ft
2. Wet mesic: 60,000 sq/ft
3. Mesie: 190,000 sq /ft
4. Dry mesic; 60,000 sq/ft (Seedlings only)
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D. Existing vegetation:
1. Wet: Reed Cana , grass, Popple, Red osier dogwood, Swamp Muhly
grass, Carex eta, Carer Iaeusterine, Broad leaf cattail.
2. Wet mesie: Reed Canary grass, Smooth brume, Quack grass,
Pox species, ' d osier dogwood.
3. Meek: Smooth , me, Quack grass, Poa species.
4. Dry Meek: Nati a species inelude; tittle bluestem, Dantonia,
Indian grass, Rig bin m, Black -eyed sumo, Bergamot, Lespedeza
capitate. (More nati species may present themselves after a burn)
Exotic species inched - Centaurea, Poa species, Smooth brome.
(More exotic species ay present themselves after the burn)
E. Sunlight:
1. 65% . 100'0
F. Slope:
Two knolls that tend o the Northeast are very steep, dropping
off 40 feet in 100 fee . The entire site tends towards the North
east.
G. Historical:
Pasture land. 0 into oblivion. Several native specks remake on
the knolls, where it as obviously to steep to plow, and too steep for
any intensive grazing to occur. Just how tnany native species remain at
thistle is unknown present. A more accurate species composition
could be determined a burn.
The lower southern , el mast have been plowed at some point, more
recently than any of r parcel at this site. The ground here is level.
The dominant specie is Smooth brome, Bromus inermis.
Fire suppression has torrid for the past 50 years.
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H. Comments:
1 have split the entire project into t stages, (Stage l and Stage If) based on site
preparation. The entire site is thus pilt in half along a line that runs from "The
Knolls ", to "Cottonwood Hill", near the old farm buildings. (See map)
Within the Two Stages there exists potential sites. The entire project could be
completed as one large site, or divi - over several years, as money became available.
Stage 1 lies on the south side of tb line. It contains 4 separate sites: 95,000 aq/ft
of mesie prairie, 30,000 sq/ft of we , mesic prairie, 1.5,000 sq/ft of wet prairie, and
15,000 sgHt of sedge meadow. The 60,000 sq/ft of upland knolls with the existing
native vegetation are contained in is stage. The sedge meadow is also complete
enough, that no herbicide treatment 's recommended.
Stage 2 lies on the north side of t line. It contains 95,000 sq/ft of meslc prairie,
and 30,000 sq/ft of wet meek pram These two sites are more rugged and over
grown than any of the sites in Sts : 1. This stage of the project will require some
extensive tree removable, and tillin .
1. The entire project should he considered as 5 sites, in as far as
species composition, d or installation procedures are concerned.
Stage 1:
a. Site 1 noils. Dry to dry mesas. 60,000 sq/ft.
•lective herbicide and mechanical weed
movable. Shrub thinning. Seedlings only
b. Site 11 nom land. Mesie 95,000 sq/ft. Wet mesic
000 sq/ft. Burn, herbicide, and no till drill.
e. Site 111 arsh perimeter. Wet. 15,000 sq/ft
• urn. Shrub thinning. Herbicide. No 011 drill.
d. Site IV ■ ge meadow. Wet. Spring. Fen. 15,000 sq/ft
urn. Selective herbicide. Seedlings. Broadcast
eed.
Stage 2:
a. Site V ough bottom land. Meek 95,000 sq/ft.
Wet mesic 30,000 sq/ft. Burn. Tree removable.
1 !nor tilling. Herbicide. No till drill.
This prescript a will allow for a great degree of blodiverelty,
which equate to stability.
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II. Installation Procedu :
The key to a successful restoration ort is to rid the site of all current vegetation.
In essence, we need to create a win w to re- establish the native species. Agricultural
fields can provide an exeellent host r a quick and quality prairie to establish. Turf
grasses are easy to kill, and also + on a prairie very well_ Old fields require a more
intensive weed management progra
1. Darn off entire site. A urn will rid the site of excess trash, stimulate
weed seed germination, and low for an equal and invigorated growth by all
weeds. These three factors ill allow the herbicides to achieve a maximum
effectiveness. The burn will stimulate dormant species to grow, thus
allowing for a more accurst species analysis.
April 20 - May 5
Fire Line establishment :500.00 / 500.00
Assist with burn 5200.00 / 200.00
Burn 52000.00 / 1200.00
Stage I
2. Site by Site Preacri .
A. Site I The Us:
Site 1 is a refuge. It omtains more good than bad. The need here is to
preserve what is, and selectively remove what should not be there.
Thinning of the shru - should be performed. After the initial thin
down, fire will keep shrubs In check.
This site needs to be monitored for species composition. Several native
species may lay dorm t, awaiting a burn to re -new their vigor. The
burn will ano stimui the exotic (weed) species, making them more
easy to pin point and eradicate through selective herbicide treatment and
mechanical removabl
On the steep knolls, here some actual native species do occur, I
recommend that the 1 not be disturbed, nor that a random applieath
of herbicide be appti - .
It Is obvious why the should not be diaturbed, for it would create
a potential for extre soil erosion.
The random use of h lelde would eliminate many of the species that
should be persevered this restoration project. The bad guys (weed
species) on these knot , are not bad enough to warrant the total
innlalation of an exi ng vegetation. Introduced native seedlings
should out compete t - weeds within a few seasons.
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This site should e tain soil microbes, fungi, bacterium, protistisns,
and Invertebrate an , ass, that will inoculate the other areas of this site.
1. Native species:
Little biuestem, hid n grass, Big bluestem. Bergamot, and other
species typically fou • in a slightly degraded system.
2. Seedlings:
Typical seedling rat . equal 1 plant/sq/ t. This site is 60,000 sq/ft;
hence approximately 60,000 native plants should exist at this site.
The primary conce here is increasing species diversity. I would
recommend the add" n of 1000 forbs per year over the next 5 years.
The addition should »elude at least 20 species.
I also recommend t addition of 7 grass species, 500 per year for the
next 5 years.
Species that I would recommend include: Butterfly milkweed, Pasque
flower, Liatris aspe , Prairie smoke, Alumroot, Blue eyed grass,
Coreopsis, Purple , rie clover, Leadplant, Prairie phlox, New Jersey
tea, White prairie c ver, Thimble flower, Silky aster, Heath aster,
Showy goldenrod, P iris sage, Smooth aster, Side oats gramma grass
Northern dropseed, ribners panic grass, Porcupine grass, Carex
seoparius, and Stone hill mushy gram.
Mechanical and the cal weed control, Including shrub thinning
3 visits per year $850.00
(Brush will be piled 1 a designated area and burned hi the winter;
included in price.)
Seedlings:
1000 forb plants $000.00
1000 forb plants dell red and planted $1,300.00
500 grass plants $ 125.00
500 grass plants deli red and planted $300.00
3. Contractual seedling o .
This option would al ' w the for the re- establishment of local genotypes
when available. 1 w Id gather seed from a twenty five mile radius of
this project and pro gate the seedlings. These seedlings would then be
planted at the site.
1000 forbs seedlings $1,500.00
500 grass plants $450.00
(This price includes gathering)
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This site should e : soil atkrobes, fungi, bacterium), protistians,
and inYertebrate ani els, that will inoculate the other areas of this sits.
I. Native species:
Little blaestem, tad • grass, Big btuestene, Bergamot, and other
species typically fou , in a slightly degraded system.
Stage I
B. Site II
Batton' Lauda
Moak 95,000 and Wet Made 30,000 sq/ft.
1. Weed Control:
Where the site k le » , a no till drill would be the weapon of ehoiee.
The concept here Is , burn in the spring, and then bit the weeds heavy
with 2-3 burn do of herbicide (3-596 solution of Round Up). The
first Spraying Shan be done during the last week of May. The site
should be monito , for the seemed complete spraying, which typically
occurs between July 5 sad August 15. A third and final swaying may
occur in September.
If planting does not , ur in the fan, then another complete spraying
should be perfo in the spring of 1998 before planting.
2.8 aeries spraying.
Chemteal S20&.00
Per visit 8200.08
Applieatioa =200.00
Total cost per emu spraying ;000.00
Spot spray
Per visit 8200.00
Per 1000/ , $ 12.00
Shrub thinning
One day 83011.00
2. Planting Site 11
Once the weed have been eoatrolled, planning may proceed. All
planting should be , ae with a Truax no till drill. The no till drill
effectively plants in soils that have not been tilled. Tilled soils in
situations like this, to lay rough until several tilling have been
accomplisked. soils also contain an exto live weed seed bank,
especially early species suck as ragweed and stinging
nettles.
Truax Drill Per =200.00
Tractor, Dill Installer $40.110/hr $240.00
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3. Seed:
With the Truax Drill, the site can be planted with 10/1b. per /acre. This
rate needs to doubled hen the seed is simply broadcast and harrowed.
The two choices rep nt a difference in the amount of forb seed in the
mixture. The typical mix is 80/20 in favor of the grasses. This results
in a grassy prairle.
The second suggest p ce represents a 60/40 ratio in favor of the
grasses. Some ex now suggest, where feasible, a 80/20 ratio in
favor of the forbs.
a. Meek 95,000 = 21 lb. of seed.
Neste: 80/ 12 ferbs 3 grasses $1390.00
Mesic: 60/ ' 0 24 forbs 4 grasses $2100.00
(We can work with a price in between these two figures)
b. Wet mesic: 30, sq/1t = 7 lb. of seed
Wet meslc: 20 12 forbs 3 grasses $595.00
Wet mesic: 0/40 24 (orbs 4 grasses $840.00
Additional comments: 1 missend planting this site In the Fall or the Spring
of 1998. 1 would work with Prairie Moon for the forb seed, and PRI. for the
Grass seed
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Marsh Perimeter.
Wet. 15,000 sq/ft
1. Site Preparation:
This site can be treat , the same as site II; herbicide application and no
till drilling. This site could use some shrub thinning.
The herbicide Rodeo to he used in conjunction with the wetland.
Rodeo is twice as ex : sive as Round Up.
If the herbicide appli . Ion coincides with Site 0 application, an
additional $150/per vi will be accessed. If this project is separate,
from Site 11, the a innate cost will be $350.00 per visit. (Both
figures include herbie costs.)
Shrub Thinning $500.00
(Includes burning the lies in the winter)
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2. Seeding:
Wet areas are best in the Fall. i have successfully planted in
semi frozen soils on et sites.
Ail seeding should be done with a no tilt drill. Some wetland species
need to be broadcast the surface. Prairie Moon Nursery packages
these species separa - . These species can 1* hand broadcast, or
broadcast with the T x Drill, drop tubes pulled.
3.5 lb. of seed shou , be used. I would recommend a short sedge
meadow mil to coin de with the existing sedge meadow in Site IV
Sedge Meadow. W 3.5 lb.
Wet mix 00/20 12 forbs / 3 sedges $450.00
Wet mil 6O/40 24 forbs / 4 sedges $650.00
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Stage I
D. Site IV
Sedge Meadow 15,000 t.
This site could contain several important fen species, although anything
edible has certainly eaten out by the cows. A simple litmus paper
test could determine if his is a cakareous fen.
Swamp milkweed, at two species of sedges, and swamp satin grass
already exist at this e.
After the burn, a eso accurate species analysis could be determined.
No site preparation is essary at site. Seedlings should be added. 1
would recommend the ition of 20 species. Install 1000 seedling per
year for five years.
20 Species. 1000 in ividual plants $1 000.00
20 Specks. 1000 in Ividuai plants installed $1500.00
1 would reeosamend , ailing at least 400 forb seedlings, and the rest
being grasses and • ; es.
Species: Blue flag i Flat top aster, Blue Joint gram. Fo :tali sedge,
Cord grass, Marsh m igold. Cup plant, Tall meadow rue, Joe pye weed,
Boneset, Northern raw, Sweet william (Phlox), Meadow biasing
star, Turk's eap Itlly, Great blue lobelia, Monkey flower, Mountain
mint, Culver's root, x.eye daisy, Blue vervain, and Golden Alexander.
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Stage II
A. Site Y
The Rough Bottom Land
Mesic 95,000 sglft.
Wet trite 30,000 sq/ft
This site needs some a. tonal preparation before planting. 1 would
recommend the Amino n of all Box elder, Buckthorn, and Siberian
eims from this site. trees are weedy and invasive. Their
elimination would alto for more effective site preparation. These
trees could be cut dow in the summer, and burned in the winter.
Tree removable and bu $1500.00
The soils at this site e rough and need some leveling (tiling). Two
complete tilling$ will to be done. The first tilling sgouid occur in
the Fall of the year, that the soils will mellow over winter• the
second tilling should . accomplished the next spring
Two fillings. $2000.00
Prior to tilling, the should receive some attention to prepare it for
a Fall till. There are two possible ways to prep the site. First, it this
site gets burned duri the spring, then herbicide should be applied
twice, once during the early summer and once, in late summer. It a
burn does not occur, n the site should be mowed down to 6 inches
twice during the sum er.
Spraying: $600.00 $600.00
Mowing
After the final tillin _ the site should sit for several weeks. This
process will allow t soil to firm up, which is desired.
surface a
w also allow any w . seeds that have been brrough
chance to germinate. if there Is a flush of weeds, and 1 suspect there
will be, then anothe spraying will be recommended.
1998 sprayings (Tw visits) $1200.00
Final Spraying $600.00
Within one week of final spraying the site should be seeded with a
no till drill.
Truax Drift + Plant g: $1440.00
Seed: 22 lb. of M and 7 pounds of Wet mesie
Mesic 80/20 3 Grasses/12 Forbs $1430.00
Mesic 60/40 4 Grasses/24 Forbs $2200.00
Wet mesie 80/20 3 Grasses/12 Forbs $595.00
Wet mesic 60/40 4 Grasses/24 Forbs $840.00
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Total ,approximate price for phase 11 $10, S00.
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III. Maintenance procedu
A. First Growing Season:
1. Mowing: The site ends a military hair cut all season long.
Mow at approximately i day intervals, or when weed height attains 16
inches. Mower height ould be set at 8 inches.
Mow dates, (approxlma ) June 15, July 2S, August 30.
2. Re -seed thin areas: Areas of one square meter with fewer than 3
native species can be • • red thin. These areas should be re- seeded,
or planted with seedli , .
Mowing and general intenaaee per visit: $400.00 / SS0.00
1 will also re seed any 'in areas if a maintenance contract is agreed
upon.
D. Second Growing Season: he second season might need souse spot
mowing, or spot herbicide tr meat. Have your installer agree to vlstt the
site mid way through the gro mg season, and make an assessment. Noxious
weeds need to be destroyed. in areas need to be filled. Start to maintain
primary fire lines.
(4,. Third growing Season: e native species should begin to dominate the
landscape. A fire in late A • would help this process. Noxious weeds need
to be destroyed. Thin areas • to be filled.
IV. Additional Comments:
If you do choose to go forward with this project, but choose to do it yourselves.,
please obey the following rules:
Number one: Kill all of the listing vegetation. Do not compromise on this
provision. .4 successful recto ion project begins with a successful weed
control program. Old fields quire an entire growing season to kill.
Number two Use only nativ and indigenous Minnesota seed. Do not use any
seed whose parental stock is taide of a 200 mile radius.
Number three: Follow a stri . maintenance plan. Do not let any weeds mature
during the first growing se . Have a trained restorationist / installer visit
the site during the second and make some recommendations to correct
any minor problem that m = exist at this time.
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