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Participation in Purchase of Conservation Easement - Wiklund PropertyCITY OF ROSEMOUNT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY FOR ACTION City Council Meeting Date December 21, 2004 AGENDA ITEM: Participation in Purchase of Conservation AGENDA SECTION: Easement Wiklund Property CONSENT PREPARED BY: Dan Schultz, Parks and Recreation AGENDA NO Director ATTACHMENTS Conservation Easement, Management Plan APPROVED BY: and Map RECOMMENDED ACTION: Motion to approve the expenditure of $100,000 om the Park Improvement Fund for the participation in the purchase of a Conservation Easement on the 25 15 acres owned by Aina Wiklund at 12110 Bacardi Avenue ACTION: ISSUE The City has the opportunity to participate with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Greenways and Dakota County in the purchase of a 25 15 acre conservation easement from Aina Wiklund The proposed purchase price of the easement is $500,000 The DNR would provide $150,000, Dakota County $250,000 and $100,000 would come from the City of Rosemount The entire 25 15 acres would be covered by the attached Conservation Easement and managed per the attached Management Plan Ms Wiklund then intends to split her property and donate the fee title to approximately 15 acres to the City She would keep the remaining 10 acres BACKGROUND In September of 2003 the City Council passed a resolution supporting the efforts of Aina Wiklund to preserve her land and the application of her property in the Dakota County Natural Area Program The Wiklund property provides important wildlife habitat and serves as a component of a larger wildlife corridor as described in the Northern Dakota County Greenway and as part of the Metro Wildlife Corridors Project The property is identified as containing important natural areas and the City of Rosemount's Parks, Trails and Open Space Plan has a nature -based park planned in the vicinity of the Wiklund property This project was a shining example of how a strong partnership of state, county, and local governments, private landowners, and non profits can work together toward the common goal of protecting important natural areas for current and future generations SUMMARY Staff is recommending the City Council approve participating in the purchase of the conservation easement on the 25 15 acres owned by Aina Wiklund at 12110 Bacardi Avenue The City would be responsible for funding $100,000 towards the purchase $50,000 would come from the City's Park Improvement Fund and $50,000 from a DNR Remediation Fund Grant the City is receiving 2 (Above Space is Reserved for Recording Information) DRAFT CONSERVATION EASEMENT THIS CONSERVATION EASEMENT is made this day of 20_, by and between Aina Wiklund, Grantor, and the STATE OF MINNESOTA, a sovereign body, Grantee. BACKGROUND I Grantor is the owner of real property, "Protected Property in Dakota County, Minnesota, which is described in Exhibit A The Protected Property is approximately 25 acres in size 2 Portions of the Protected Property were formerly agricultural fields, however there are important ecological and aesthetic values and restoration opportunities associated with this property. 3. The natural, scenic, and ecological qualities and forested, and open space character "Conservation Values of the Protected Property are set forth in the Property Report dated 20_, which the parties acknowledge accurately represents the present condition of the Protected Property. Each of the parties has a copy of the Property Report. The Grantees intend to use the Property Report as the basis for momtonng subsequent uses of the Protected Property and enforcing the terms of this Conservation Easement Notwithstanding this, the parties may use all other relevant evidence to establish the present condition of the Protected Property in the event of a disagreement as to whether a subsequent activity or use is consistent with the terms of this Conservation Easement 4. The State of Minnesota is qualified to acquire and hold conservation easements under Section 170(h)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, any amendments and any regulations promulgated thereunder and under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 84C and 84 64. 5 The Legislature of the State of Minnesota (hereinafter "Legislature") authorizes the State of Minnesota and counties thereof, as well as nonprofit organizations, to preserve, acquire or hold lands for open -space uses, which specifically include farmland, wetlands, native or restored prairie, or lands deemed critical to protecting soil, water quality, and enhancing fish Page 1 of 12 and wildlife habitat; and that actions pursuant to these purposes are for the public health, safety, and general welfare of the citizens of the State of Minnesota and for the promotion of sound land development by preserving suitable open spaces. 6 The Legislature has declared that public open -space benefits result from the protection and conservation of natural areas including the protection of scenic areas for public visual enjoyment from public rights -of -way, that the conservation and protection of restored natural areas as valued natural and ecological resources provide needed open spaces for clean air as well as for aesthetic purposes; and that public benefit will result from the conservation, protection, development and improvement of restored natural areas 7. Grantee, through its Department of Natural Resources, shall protect in perpetuity, natural areas and ecologically significant land for aesthetic, scientific, and educational purposes and pursuant to the terms of this Conservation Easement 8 Grantee has declared that the preservation of open -space is vital to the public interest of the State of Minnesota through its economic, environmental, cultural and scenic benefits 9 Grantee agrees by acquiring this grant of easement to honor and defend the intentions of Grantor stated herein and to preserve and protect in perpetuity the open -space values of the Protected Property for the benefit of this generation and the generations to come 10. Grantor desires and intends that the open -space character of the Protected Property be preserved, protected and maintained in perpetuity 11. Grantor desires and intends to place restrictions upon the use of the Protected Property and by executing this Conservation Easement, Grantor creates a conservation easement, on, over and across the Protected Property and grants affirmative rights to ensure the preservation of the natural elements and values of the Protected Property and to protect and maintain its native plant communities and native animal populations 12 Grantor intends to convey to Grantee the right to protect the ecological values of the Protected Property in perpetuity and to prevent or to remedy activities or uses that are inconsistent with the terms of the Conservation Easement. CONVEYANCE NOW, THEREFORE, the Grantor, in consideration of the sum DOLLARS to it/them in hand paid by the said Grantee, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, and pursuant to Minnesota Statutes Chapter 84C and Section 84 64, and other applicable Minnesota laws, does hereby grant and convey to the Grantee, its successors and assigns, forever, a Conservation Easement in perpetuity over the Protected Property subject to the following rights and restrictions. Page 2 of 12 AFFIRMATIVE RIGHTS The Grantor conveys to the Grantee and their successors and assigns the following rights 1 The right to enforce by proceedings, at law or in equity, the covenants contained in this Conservation Easement This right shall include, but shall not be limited to, the right to bring an action in any court of competent jurisdiction to enforce the terms of this Conservation Easement, to require the restoration of the Protected Property to its prior or more natural condition, to enjoin such non compliance by temporary or permanent injunction, and to recover any damages arising from such non compliance Such damages, when recovered, may be applied by the Grantee, in their discretion, to corrective action on the Protected Property, if necessary if such court determines that the Grantor has failed to comply with this Conservation Easement or the Natural Resource Management Plan, Grantor shall reimburse Grantee for any reasonable costs of enforcement, including costs of restoration, court costs, and reasonable attorney's fees, in addition to any other payments ordered by such court 2. If the Grantee becomes aware of an event or circumstance of non compliance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Conservation Easement, the Grantee shall give written notice to the Grantor, its successors or assigns, at the address set forth below, of such event or circumstance of non compliance and restore the Protected Property to its previous condition Failure by the Grantor, its successors or assigns, to cause discontinuance, abatement or such other corrective action as may be requested by the Grantees within thirty (30) days after receipt of notice, shall entitle Grantee to bring an action as authorized in this Conservation Easement 3, The Grantee does not waive or forfeit the right to take action as may be necessary to insure compliance with the covenants and purposes of this Conservation Easement on the Protected Property by any failure to act, Grantor waives any defense of ]aches with respect to any delay by the Grantee in acting to enforce any of the provisions or exercise any rights under this Conservation Easement 4 Nothing in this Conservation Easement shall be construed to entitle the Grantee to institute any enforcement proceeding against the Grantor for any changes to the Protected Property due to causes beyond the Grantor's control, such as changes caused by fire, flood, storm, civil authorities undertaking emergency action or third parties not under the control or supervision of, or not acting with the consent of, the Grantor 5 The right of designated representatives of the Grantee to enter the Protected Property in a reasonable manner to conduct monitoring, management evaluations and activities and determine easement compliance is recognized The Grantee shall give reasonable prior notice to Grantor of all such entries and shall not unreasonably interfere with Grantor's use and quiet enjoyment of the Protected Page 3 of 12 Property Each party agrees that it will be responsible for its own acts and the results thereof and shall not be responsible for the acts of the other party and the results thereof Each party therefore agrees that it will assume all risk and liability for itself, its agents or employees for any injury to persons or property resulting in any manner from the conduct of its own operations and operations of its agents or employees under this agreement, and for any loss, cost, damage, or expense resulting at any time from failure to exercise proper precautions, of or by itself or its own agents or its own employees The State's liability shall be governed by the provisions the Minnesota Tort Claims Act, Minn Stat. 3 736, and other applicable law The liability of the Grantor shall be governed by the provisions the Minnesota Municipal Liability Tort Act, Minn Stat 466.04, and other applicable law 6. The Grantee, in addition to other remedies, shall have the right to report any environmental concerns or conditions or any actual or potential violations of any environmental or other laws to appropriate regulatory or law enforcement agencies. The Grantee shall notify the Grantor at the same time it notifies any appropriate authority notified pursuant to this section RESERVED RIGHTS 1. Grantor reserves for the Grantor and its successors and assigns, all rights as owner of the Protected Property, except the right to undertake any activities which are expressly and specifically prohibited by this Conservation Easement or which are inconsistent with or detrimental to the protective purposes of this Conservation Easement. 2 Grantor agrees to notify the Grantee, in writing, before exercising any reserved right which may have an adverse impact on the natural characteristics or ecological and aesthetic features of the Protected Property protected by this Conservation Easement COVENANTS IN FURTHERANCE of the foregoing affirmative rights, Grantor intends that rights under this Conservation Easement conveyed to the Grantee on behalf of the public shall continue to exist in perpetuity. Grantor makes the following covenants on behalf of the Grantor, its successors and assigns, which covenants shall run with and bind the Protected Property in perpetuity Management Plan 1 All natural resource management practices on the Protected Property including implementation shall be in accordance with the "Natural Area Management Plan for Ama Ticklund Site" dated (Management Plan). The Management Plan may be revised or modified by written agreement of the Grantor and Grantee Grantor and Grantee will retain a copy of the Management Plan. Page 4 of 12 Residential, Commercial and Industrial Uses 2 Grantor shall not subdivide, either legally or physically, the Protected Property for any reason without the prior written approval of the Grantee 3 No development rights in or to the Protected Property, or any part thereof which have been encumbered or extinguished by this Conservation Easement shall be transferred to any location outside the Protected Property, whether pursuant to a cluster development plan or any other agreement or plan for transferable development rights 4 There shall be no residential, industrial, or commercial activity undertaken or allowed except for normal maintenance and upgrades to existing structures and within the footprint of existing structures as provided for in the Management Plan With the exception of storm water conveyance, no right of passage across or upon the Protected Property shall be allowed or granted, if that right of passage is used in conjunction with residential, industrial, or commercial activity, except for the existing private gravel road, which may continue to be utilized and maintained within the existing footprint. 5. No portion of the protected property shall be used to satisfy land area requirements for other pioperty not subject to this Conservation Easement for purposes of calculating building density, lot coverage, or open space under otherwise applicable laws, regulations, or ordinances controlling land use Construction 6 There shall be no construction or placing of any house, garage, barn, mobile home, or other buildings on the Protected Property except for normal maintenance and upgrades to existing structures within their existing footprints, and any other exceptions specifically allowed in the Management Plan There shall be no construction or installation of poles, antenna, lights, towers, water tower, utility lines, piping, and any other temporary or permanent structures on the Protected Property except for those structures required for storm water management and for repair or replacement of existing well and septic system There shall be no construction or installation of roads or parking lots of asphalt, bituminous, gravel, concrete or other materials on the Protected Property except for maintenance and/or upgrade of the existing private gravel road, which may continue to be utilized and maintained within the existing footprint There shall be no permanent or temporary fencing except as specifically allowed in the Management Plan Recreational Use 7. There shall be no trails established or maintained on the Protected Property except for those specifically allowed in the Management Plan Page 5 of 12 8. There shall be no operation of snowmobiles, dune buggies, motorcycles, all- terrain vehicles, or any other types of motorized vehicles on the Protected Property except for administrative, emergency, and management purposes Surface Alteration 9. The commercial extraction of minerals by surface mining and the extraction and removal of topsoil from the Protected Property is prolubited. The extraction of subsurface of deep ruined minerals from the Protected Property, including natural gas and oil, and the noncommercial extraction of minerals, including limestone, shale, gravel, sand and other minerals is prohibited 10 There shall be no change of the topography of the Protected Property in any manner except as reasonably required in the course of activities or uses in accordance with the Management Plan Waste Removal 11 Use of the Protected Property for dumping, storage, processing or landfill of solid or hazardous wastes generated is prohibited, including, without limitation, municipal sewage sludge and/or bio- solids application Signs 12 Commercial signs, billboards, and outdoor advertising structures may not be displayed on the Protected Property However, information srgnage is permitted, subject to the following conditions The combined area of any signs may not exceed fifty (50) square feet, and the srgnage is limited to the following purposes. a Displaying the name of the Protected Property, b. Announcing the existence of this Conservation Easement, C. Providing interpretive and directional information, d. Providing the name and address of the Grantor and Grantee; e Delineating the boundaries of the Protected Property in order to prohibit trespass or non- perimtted activities; f. Providing information with regard to on -site uses and activities pernutted by this easement which approval will not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed For all signs permitted by this paragraph, the location, number, size and design must not significantly diminish the natural and scenic qualities of the Protected Property. Trees, Shrubs and Vegetation 14. There shall be no removal, destroying, burning, cutting, mowing or altering of trees, shrubs, and other vegetation except that existing lawns and gardens may be maintained, and activities to prevent or control insects, noxious weeds, invasive species, diseases, personal injury, or property damage and/or enhance wildlife habitat or restore native biological communities are allowed in accordance with the Management Plan Page 6 of 12 Pesticides and Herbicides 15. There shall be no application of pesticides or herbicides on the Protected Property except those that are necessary as part of approved agricultural use and management practices specified within the Management Plan Animals 16. There shall be no livestock, feedlots, domestic or non native animals permitted on the Protected Property of the Protected Property in accordance with the Management Plan Agricultural Use 17 There shall be no tilling or plowing or use of the Protected Property for commercial cultivation of crops unless specifically allowed in the Management Plan as a vegetation management tool during phased ecological restoration Exotic Species Introduction 18. There shall be no plant or animal species introduced on the Protected Property except those native species that are consistent with the protective purposes of this Conservation Easement and consistent with the Management Plan GENERAL PROVISIONS 1. This Conservation Easement shall run with and burden the Protected Property in perpetuity and shall bind and inure to the benefit of the Grantor, it's successors and assigns, and any and all other successors to it in interest and the Grantee, their successors and assigns 2 Grantor shall pay all taxes and assessments levied against the Protected Property including any taxes or assessments levied against the interest of the Grantee established by this Conservation Easement The Grantee may, but is not obligated to, make any payment of taxes or assessments levied against the Protected Property or the interest established by this Conservation Easement and shall have a right of reimbursement against Grantor etc. for such amounts 3 The Grantor agrees that the terms, conditions, restrictions, and purposes of this Conservation Easement will be referenced by the Grantor in any subsequent deed or other legal instrument by which the Grantor transfers or divests the Grantor of all or any part of the Grantor's interest in the Protected Property, and that the Grantor etc will give the Grantee written notice of any such transfer within fifteen (15) days after closing Page 7 of 12 4 Any notice required in this Conservation Easement shall be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the following addresses or such address as may be subsequently specified by notice in writing, and the Parry of Record at the address of record in the Ramsey County Recorder's Office Grantee Grantor State of Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Metro Regional Administration 1200 Wainer Road St Paul, MN 55104 5. if any provision of this Conservation Easement or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is found to be invalid, the remainder of the provisions of this Conservation Easement and the application of such provisions to persons or circumstances other than those as to which it is found to be invalid shall be affected thereby 6 This Conservation Easement shall be govemed by the laws of the State of Minnesota. 7 The terms "Grantor" and "Grantee" as used in this Conservation Easement shall be deemed to include with respect to Grantor, its successors and assigns. and with respect to the Grantee, its successors and assigns 8 The Grantee may assign or transfer this Conservation Easement and the rights conveyed herein, provided that (1) the Grantee requires, as a condition of such transfer, that the original conservation purposes of this Conservation Easement continue to be carried out in perpetuity, and (2) any assignment 1s made only to an organization qualified to acquire or hold a conservation easement at the time of the transfer under the provisions of Section 170(h)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as it may be amended from time to time, and any regulations promulgated there under This Conservation Easement is fully valid and enforceable by any assignee or successor of the Grantee, whether assigned in whole or in part 9. The Grantor's and Grantee's rights and obligations under this Conservation Easement terminate upon transfer or termination of their respective interest in the easement or the Protected Property provided that any liability for acts or omissions occurring prior to the transfer or termination will survive that transfer or termination Nothing in this paragraph is deemed to alter or amend the remaining terms of the conservation easement in the event of a transfer of interest. 10. This Conservation Easement may be amended only in the event of unanticipated circumstances not specifically addressed by tlus Conservation easement and only in the sole and exclusive judgment of the grantee that such an amendment. 1) furthers the purpose of this Conservation Easement, u) 1s not inconsistent with and will not adversely impact the conservation values protected by this Conservation Easement, iii) does not affect the perpetual duration of the Conservation Easement, or iv) does not affect the validity of the Conservation Easement under Minnesota law. Page 8 of 12 11 If circumstances arise in the future such as to render the purposes of this easement impossible to accomplish, this Easement can only be terminated or extinguished, whether in whole or in part, by judicial proceedings in a court of competent jurisdiction or by agreement executed by the parties, their successors or assigns. 12 Each party agrees that it will be responsible for its own acts and the results therefore and will not be responsible for the acts of the other party and the result thereof Each party therefore agrees that it will assume all risk and liability for itself, its agents or employees for an injury to persons or property resulting in any manner from the conduct of its own operations and operations of its agents or employees under this agreement, and for any loss, costs, damage, or expense resulting at any time from failure to exercise proper precautions, of or by itself or its agents or its own employees The State's liability will be governed by the provisions of the Minnesota Tort Claims Act, Minnesota Statute 3 736 and other applicable law 13 The Grantor retains all responsibilities and shall bear all costs and liabilities of any kind related to the ownership, operation and maintenance of the Protected Property 14 The Grantor agrees that the conveyance of the perpetual Conservation Easement gives rise to a property right, immediately vested in the Grantee, with the fair market value that is at least equal to the proportionate value that the Conservation Easement, at the time of the conveyance, bears to the value of Protected Property as a whole at that time The proportionate value of the Grantee's property rights will remain constant 15. This Conservation Easement may be terminated or extinguished, whether in whole or in part, by judicial proceedings in a court of competent jurisdiction or by written agreement executed by both parties, their successors or assigns If a subsequent unexpected change in the conditions of or surrounding the Protected Property makes it impossible or impractical for the continued use of the Protected Property for conservation purposes described herein, and if the restrictions of this Conservation Easement are extinguished, in whole or in part, by judicial proceedings, upon the sale, exchange or involuntary conversion of the Protected Property, the Grantee will be entitled to a portion of the proceeds at least equal to the proportionate value of the Conservation Easement cited in the preceding provision The proportionate value of the Grantee's property rights will remain constant 16. On its own behalf and as attorney-in-fact for the Grantee, the Grantor may execute, acknowledge, and record or file any instruments necessary to assure the perpetual enforceability of this Conservation Easement 17. Dakota County shall hold a third -party right of enforcement as defined in Minn Stat sec 84C 01 (3) In the event that the State of Minnesota fails to enforce any terms of this Conservation Easement, the Dakota County Board of Commissioners, and their successors and assigns shall have the right to enforce the terms of this Conservation Easement through any and all authorities available under state law, including but not limited to Minn. Stat sec 84C 03 In consideration of the financial contribution received in relation to acquisition of this Conservation Page 9 of 12 Easement, the State of Minnesota agrees to offer to assign all rights, title, or interests of this Conservation Easement to Dakota County prior to termination, transfer, or otherwise divesting itself of any rights, title, or interests of this Conservation Easement to another party. 18 This document sets forth the entire agreement of the parties with respect to this Conservation Easement and supercedes all prior discussions or understandings IN CORPORATION NAME Its STATE OF MINNESOTA ss. COUNTY OF The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this day of 20_, by and its and on behalf of a corporation under the laws of the state of Minnesota, Grantors. Notary Public NOTARIAL STAMP OR SEAL. Page 10 of 12 STATE OF MINNESOTA ss COUNTY OF RAMSEY The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this day of 20_, by JAMES E LAWLER, Assistant Director of the Division of Lands and Minerals, Department of Natural Resources, on behalf of the State of Minnesota Notary Public This instrument was drafted by DULCIE M BRAND Assistant Attorney General 445 Minnesota St, #900 St Paul, MN 55101 -2127 Page 11 of 12 Exhibit A Legal Description of Protected Property The South 50 rods of the NW 1/4 of the NEl /4, Section 16, Township115 N, Range 19W, City of Rosemount Page 12 of 12 Proposed final draft NATURAL AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN Prepared for. Anna Wnklund 12110 Bacardi Ave Rosemount, MN 55068 TI 15N, R19W, WNE Section 16 Rosemount, Dakota County, Minnesota Metro Greenways Program Minnesota Department of Natural Resources 1200 Wanner Road St Paul, MN 55106 Rosemount Parks and Recreation 13885 South Robert Trail Rosemount, MN 55068 -3438 Dakota County Farmland and Natural Area Program Office of Planning 14955 Galaxie Avenue Apple Valley, MN 55124 Prepared by Tom Lewanski and Karen Schik Friends of the Mississippi River 46 East Fourth St, Suite 606 St Paul. MN 55101 Ph 651- 222 -2193 December 16, 2004 This Natural Area Management Plan has been reviewed and approved by: Ms Ama Wiklund date, Dan Schultz, City of Rosemount Kate Drewry, DNR Al Singer, Dakota County date 2 Table of Contents This Natural Area Management Plan has been reviewed and approved by EXECUTIVE SUMMARY INTRODUCTION SITE DESCRIPTION AND HISTORY Location and Local Context Geology and Soils Historic Plant Communities Historic and Present Land Use of the Wiklund Property SITE INVENTORY Methodology Community Descriptions Oak Woodland brushland Hayfield Buildings and Lawn Ecological concerns MANAGEMENTPLAN Home Site Management Goals Management Activities Residence Tract of the Home Site Management Activities Natural Area Tract of the Home Site CITY OF Rosemount Wildlife Preserve Management Goals Management Activities Oak Woodland Brushland 11 acres Management Activities Hayfield 5 0 acres Restoration and Management Techniques Brush and Tree Removal. Planting and Seeding Prescribed Burning (Rx Burns) Monitoring Management Activities CONTRACTORS AND CONSULTANTS INFORMATION SOURCES Figure l Site Location Figure 2 Soil Types Figure 3 Pre- settlement Vegetation Figure 4 Existing MLCCS Land Cover Figure 5 Land Management Restoration Appendix A Plant Species Lists for Woodland and Savanna Restoration Appendix B DNR Conservation Easement 2 4 7 9 9 9 10 11 12 12 12 12 14 14 14 15 15 15 15 16 17 17 17 19 20 20 21 21 22 23 24 25 3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY In 2000, Ms Ama Wiklund attended the public meetings held as part of the planning phase of Dakota County's Farmland and Natural Areas Project Based what she heard at these meetings, Ms Wiklund thought the program might be a good way for her to achieve her goal of permanently protectin her property Thus began a series of meetings between Ms Wiklund, her attorney, and the other project partners The Wiklund property provides important wildlife habitat and serves as a component of a larger w ildlife corridor as described in the Northern Dakota County Greenway and as part of the Metro Wildlife Corridors Project In addition, the Dakota County Farmland and Natural Area Program identified the property as containing important natural areas and the City of Rosemount's comprehensive plan has a nature -based park planned in the vicinity of the Wiklund property The project, which w ill be referred to as "the property", consists of 26 acres, located in the northern part of the City of Rosemount The entire property is protected by a conservation easement that the Department of Natural Resources holds The southern 16 (approximate) acres of the property will be owned by the City of Rosemount and will be referred to as the "City Wildlife Presern e" vhi]e Ms Wiklund owns the northern 10 (approximate) acres, which ti ill be referred as the "Home Site This Natural Area Management Plan focuses on the following two aspects of managing the property A plan for restoring, enhancing, and managing the existing natural areas on the entire property Guidelines for land use on the entire property Prior to European settlement of the Rosemount area, the property was likely covered by oak savanna and at least one wetland About a third of the property was converted to agricultural use and a home site was established Today, the property contains about 16 3 acres of oak woodland brushland, approximately 7 acres of hayfield, and 2 7 acres of buildings, lawn, and gardens This document will describe the plan for enhancing the ecological health of the oak woodland brushland and restoring the hayfield to prairie In addition, the document will describe what activities are allowable on the City Wildlife Preserve and Home Site portions of the property Landowners Ama Wrklund 12110 Bacardi Ave Rosemount, MN 55068 651- 423 -2762 City of Rosemount and c/o Dan Schultz 13885 South Robert Trail Rosemount, MN 55068 -3438 651- 332 -6012 Conservation Easement held by: MNDNR, Metro Greenways Program c/o Kate Drewry, 1200 Warner Road, St Paul, MN 55106 with a protection clause for Dakota County Property location Tl l5N, R19W, NWNE Section 16 Rosemount, Dakota County, Minnesota Parcel size 26 acres 9 Existing and Pro posed Land Cover Changes at Wiklund Pro ert Existing Land Cover Total Acres Proposed Land Cover Home site ac city Wildlife Preserve ac Total ac Hayfield 7 Mesic Prairie 2 5 7 Oak Woodland brushland includes wetlands 16.3 Oak Woodland- brushland 4.6 7.5 12.1 Oak savanna 0.7 3.5 4.2 Buildings/ lawn area 2.7 Buildings/ lawn area 1.2 1.2 Oak Woodland brushland 1.5 1.5 Total 26 10 16 26 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS There were many people and several organizations that worked closely together to permanently protect the Wiklund property This project was a shining example of how a strong partnership of state, county, and local governments, private landowners, and non profits can work together toward the common goal of protecting important natural areas for current and future generations. A special thank you is extended to Ms Ama Wiklund for her vision and commitment to protecting and improving the natural qualities of her property Her faith and trust in the partners was an important component of the success of the project Ms Wiklund has a strong land ethic and she is a role model for other landowners Her actions will benefit the plants, wildlife, and area citizens for many, many years Mr Barry Fernald, Ms Wiklund's attorney, also played an important part in the project His guidance and vision for the project were crucial in keeping the project on track and headed in the right direction His sage advice demonstrated that a private citizen landowner can "do well while doing good." Gratitude is specifically extended to Ross Sublett and Kate Drewry of the Metro Greenways Program at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Al Singer of Dakota County's Farmland and Natural Areas Program, Dan Schultz and Tom Schustei of the City of Rosemount, and Karen Schik and Tom Lewanski of Friends of the Mississippi RiN er Each person's expertise and experience made the project not only possible but enjoyable as well Funding for this project was provided by the Metro Greenways Program at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the Dakota County Farmland and Natural Area Program, the City of Rosemount, and Ms Ama Wiklund Thank you to the SKB Foundation for providing funding for the development of this management plan C7. INTRODUCTION This report presents the site analysis and management plan for the Wiklund Property within the City of Rosemount The property, at the time this document was developed, included approximately 16 3 acres of oak woodland brushland that includes a wetland, approximately 7 acres of hayfield, while the remaining 2 7 acres consists of buildings and associated manicured lawn and gardens The property has two components A Wildlife Preserve and the Home Site The Wildlife Preserve will be owned by the City of Rosemount and will be managed as a natural area The Home Site is owned by Ms Ama Wiklund and consists of two tracts The residence tract contains the home and corresponding yard, gardens, and outbuildings The natural area tract of the Home Site will be managed as a natural area The Minnesota DNR holds a conservation easement over the entire property Dakota County is a written party to the easement This Site Inventory and Management Plan were developed to Identify the existing condition of natural communities on the property, Identify management and restoration goals and target natural communities, Enhance the wildlife habitat value of the property, Document allowable uses and activities of the property This Site Inventory and Management Plan details management and restoration activities for the oak woodland brushland and for the hayfield This document and its management plan can be changed only by written agreement by both the landowners and easement holders Management Goals for the Property: Improve its wildlife habitat value, Improve its ecological health and role in the Northern Dakota County Greenway /Wildlife Corridor that links Lebanon Hills Regional Park with the Mississippi River at the Pine Bend Bluffs Natural Area, Restore the 7 -acre hayfield to native prairie, Maintain and enhance the quality of the wetlands, Improve the health of the existing 16 3 -acre oak woodland brushland; Serve as a model for responsible land stewardship, Pro-Y ide educational opportunities for area residents that are compatible with sustaining natural community function and mtegrtty, Provide for the safety and privacy of the resident of the Home Site, Utilize this property to guide construction and surface water management activities on adjacent land (if developed) in a mariner that protects and fosters natural community establishment, Utilize this property to guide the City of Rosemount in future park acquisition and dedication associated with development on adjacent land to enhance and expand the ecological functions of the property and of the corresponding wildlife corndor /greenway 7 Public Use Of The Property The property consists of two distinct areas A City Wildlife Preserve owned and managed by the City of Rosemount comprises the southern 16 acres, while the northern 10 acres is privately owned The City Wildlife Preserve will provide the public restricted nature observation for educational purposes, but is not meant for recreational activities There will be no developed trails, restrooms, or other constructed facilities Pets are not permitted Any activity that degrades or damages the resources air, water, soil, plants, animals, and rocks is not allowed The Home Site is privately owned and there is no public access or use except by permission of the owner R SITE DESCRIPTION AND HISTORY Location and Local Context The 26 -acre Wiklund property is located about 13 miles south of St Paul in the northwest corner of the City of Rosemount (Figure 1) The area is primarily agricultural, but the rural character around the Wiklund property is quickly being transformed as farmland is converted to housing developments The Wiklund property is now juxtaposed with high density residential developments of two suburban communities An Eagan neighborhood is less than 1 /8` mile to the northwest, residential development is taking place, within a mile, north of the property, and Apple Valley communities lie 3 miles to the west In addition, the 40 -acre farm directly west of Wiklund was recently sold and is slated for high density residential development Large lot homes occupy the adjacent land north of Wiklund The adjacent property on the east, however, retains 80 acres of oak woodland and wetland and the adjacent property to the south is 20 acres, part wooded and part hayfield These and other nearby areas, including the Wiklund property, are part of a natural greenway corridor identified in the Northern Dakota County Greenway (Figure 1) (Dakota County SWCD 2002) Most of this adjoining woodland w as identified as having high biodiversity significance by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) It is hoped that permanent protection can be obtained for these other remaining properties to retain a continuous greenway corridor that will network across the county Geology and Soils Glaciers were the primary force that shaped the present -day landscape of the Twin Cities metropolitan area and detennined the existing soil types, which, in turn, strongly affected the types of plant communities that developed Glacial activity carved the landscape of the region, worked and re- woiked the land surface, and deposited tremendous amounts of till and outwash Soils at the Wiklund property primarily formed on glacial deposits left by the Superior lobe, which advanced and retreated several times in the late Wisconsin period, 30,000 to 14,000 years ago (Hobbs, Aronow and Patterson 1990) Outwash from the glacier consisted of gravel and sand, and w as or erlam by till, consisting of sandy loam, with cobbles and boulders The loamy soils that formed on the Wiklund property reflect the character of the glacial deposits (Figure 2) Kingsley sandy loam (soil type 342B, 3% to 8% slope) covers most of the site (Soil Conservation Service 1983) About a quarter of the existing hayfield is 27913, Otterholt silt loans (1 to 6% slope) A small area of the woodland is classified as 1824 Quam silt loam, ponded Kingsley sandy loam typically has about 8 inches of black sandy loam at the surface, 4 inches of sand in the subsurface, and 26 inches of sandy loam in the subsoil It has moderate permeability, moderate available water capacity, and runoff is characterized as medium Organic matter content is moderate Erosion is a concern on cultivated soils, but can be controlled by nnmmum tillage The soil can be droughty Otterholt soils are found on side slopes and broad hill- crests on end moraines The surface, subsurface, and subsoil are all sandy loam, to a depth of about 35 inches The soil has moderate permeability, high available water capacity, and medium runoff Organic matter content is moderate The soil is very susceptible to erosion when cultivated The topography at the Wiklund property is mostly gently sloping from northwest to southeast The elevation drops 50 feet from 970 feet above sea level to 920 feet The lowest areas in the east/southeast are ponded Historic Plant Communities Minnesota can be divided into three major biomes or ecological regions, wluch correspond to major climate zones in North America prairie in the west and southwest part of the state, deciduous forest extending northwest to southeast, and coniferous forest in the northeast While these eco- regions still exist, they have been greatly altered since the time of European settlement m the mid- 1800's Land surveyors who surveyed the state between 1847 and 1907 recorded the plants they encountered at each section comer These records were later compiled and now provide an image of the pre settlement vegetation The metropolitan region falls within the deciduous forest zone, but includes multiple plant communities Dakota County was primarily tallgrass prairie (Figure 3), which was concentrated on level to gently rolling portions of the landscape Oak savanna was also very abundant, especially on rolling moraine ndges Oak forest and maple- basswood forest w ere restricted to the portions of the landscape with the greatest fire protection, either in steep, dissected ravines or where stream orientation reduced fire frequency or seventy (DNR 2000) The Wiklund property falls within the "Oak Openings and Barrens" pre settlement plant community (Figure 3) Today this is often referred to as oak savanna, though it also includes areas that were more densely vegetated with shrubby oaks Oak savanna is commonly described as prairie grassland with scattered oak trees or small clusters of oaks Today we can recognize historic savanna communities, even if they now appear to be woodland, by the presence of old oak trees with wide, spreading branches evidence of their establishment in a very open habitat Such trees (bur oaks) can be found in the woodland at the Wiklund property Some are quite large, about 24 inches in diameter Figure 3 also shows prairie and big woods communities located near the Wiklund property The map is a generalization and it is likely that these plant community types could have occurred on the Wiklund property as well Mesic prairie (also referred to as tallgrass prairie) occurs on moderately well drained to well drained fine sandy loams with abundant organic matter Typical mesic prairie grasses are big bluestem, Indiangrass and prairie dropseed, with little bluestem, side -oats grama, and porcupine grass occurring on drier sites Typical forbs (flowering plants) include purple prairie clover, rough blazing star, stiff goldenrod, Canada goldenrod, smooth aster, heath aster, flowering spurge, stiff sunflower, white sage, heart- leaved alexander, alum -root, northern bedstraw, and bergamot 10 Fire was historically the most important natural process in the region, strongly influencing plant community patterns Prairie persisted in part because regular fires prevented woody species from becoming established Likewise, oak savanna communities were maintained because mature oak trees are fire resistant, but the seedlings and other woody plants are not Tornadoes and high wind events also created significant disturbances and periodic flooding influenced changes in river and stream valleys These disturbances were a dynamic part of the landscape, influencing the formation and persistence of particular plant communities Most of Twin Cities metropolitan region was developed for agricultural use, which dominated the landscape after European settlement in the mid- 1850's Natural areas that remained, especially prairie and savanna, hay e been significantly altered by fire suppression since the time of European settlement Most of those areas have now grown into w oodlands, and most are invaded by exotic shrubs Few prairie remnants remain and trees and shrubs continually encroach upon unmanaged prairies According to the Department of Natural Resources County Biological Survey, only about 2 6 percent of the high quality, native plant communities remained in the Dakota County in 1997 Urban development in the county has increased rapidly in recent years and the growth rate is expected to continue at a very high pace This growth will continue to expand into farniland and natural areas, so natural resource preservation and restoration are particularly important at the present time Historic and Present Land Use of the Wiklund Property Ms Wiklund has owned the property for about 45 years The existing 7 -acre hayfield (which will be restored to nati e prairie in 2004) was formerly planted in corn or soybeans A small area northwest of the house w as formerly used as a sheep pasture Otherwise, the property has not been gi azed or cultivated in the last 30 years The woodland and possibly other parts of the property were probably grazed in the past, as indicated by remaining barbed wise fence The general character of the woods also indicates historic grazing, with an abundance of gooseberry, currant, raspberry and prickly ash, which increase with grazing Current land use activities at the property are minimal The landowner continues some maintenance activities such as mowing around the house The site is otherwise left alone for wildlife use 11 SITE INVENTORY Methodology In 2003, a prairie stewardship plan was developed for the Wiklund property, which included an assessment and vegetation survey of the woodland Information from that survey, conducted in May and June 2003, provided some of the vegetation data for this document Additional survey work was completed in April 2004 to further define the extent of the exotic shrub coverage All inventory work was based upon the Minnesota Land Cover Classification System MLCCS), developed by the MN Department of Natural Resources (2001) The land cover classification w as modified slightly based on the field survey Community Descriptions The 26 -acre property is located in what was historically primarily oak woodland brushland, or what is commonly referred to as savanna today Some of the land was cleared long ago for agriculture and the remaining savanna has grown in and succeeded to woodland The property now has three primary land co er types, shown in Figure 4 and summarized below Land cover Acres Oak wood land brushland 163 (includes wetland) Hayfield 7 Buildings and lawn 27 Total 26 Oak Woodland -b rush land MLCCS 42120 The oak woodland occupies the eastern half and southern edge of the property The terrain slopes gently to the southeast (10% slope) and terminates in ponded areas at the lowest part The woodland is dominated by bur and white oak, some of which are about 24 inches in diameter (Table 1) Quaking aspen, boxelder, American elm, green ash, and black cherry are also present None of these species are as large as the oaks and range from about 8 inches to 12 inches in diameter The oaks, therefore, likely matured in a more open habitat In the absence of fire or other disturbance, other tree species became established over time Today the canopy cover is about 70 percent The shrub layer is fairly dense, with about 50 to 70 percent canopy coverage Common buckthorn is the most abundant shrub species It is fairly dense throughout the site and consists of either closely spaced, small diameter saplings (less than 1 inch diameter) or larger diameter (2 to 6 inches), more w idely spaced shrubs On average, the stems are mostly Ito 2 inches Density is considered to be high (on a scale of very high, high, moderate, and low) throughout the site, though there are small areas of lower density Gooseberry is the most common native shrub species, forming dense stands in some areas, especially where the canopy is more open Few other native shrub species can be observed 12 Tartanan honeysuckle, a non native invasive species, is present though not abundant Sapling trees of ironwood, hack and black walnut are also present in the shrub layer The ground cover is fairly low diversity, with Pennsylvania sedge, false lily of the valley, rue anemone, and wild geranium most common The large number of fallen trees and abundance of gooseberry shrubs impeded travel throughout the woodland TABLE 1. Woodland Vegetation at Wiklund Property. Plant species recorded by FMR In May 2003 Exotic Family Scientific name Common Name Abundance Comments Groundlayer Corylusamencana American hazelnut ___P Populus tremuloides Forbs Juglans nigra Black walnut R Ranunculaceae Anemone qumquefolia wood anemone P Ranunculaceae Anemonella thatictroides rue anemone P E Asteraceae Archum minus common burdock R _Araceae __Ansaema tnphyllum Jack -m- the pulpit P_ Polypodiaceae Athrynum fdrx-femina lady fern P Rubiaceae Galium apanne cleavers P Geramaceae Geranium maculatum wild geranium C _Ranunculaceae Isopyrum biternatum__ false rue anemone C uiaceae Maianthemum false lily of the valley C Violaceae Viola sp yellow violet P Violaceae Viola sp blue violet __P Liliaceae Uvulana grandiflora large flowered bellwort R Lihaceae Uvulana sessibfolia sessile bellwort P Balsammaceae Impatiens capensis touch -me -not P Graminoids Cyperaceae Carex pensylvanica Pennsylvania sedge C E Graminaceae Phalans arundinaceae reed canary grass P Largepatch by pond Trees and shrubs Aceraceae Acernegundo boxelder P Ulumaceae Collis ocadentalis Hackberry R Vitaceae Parthenoassus mserta Virginia creeper P Roseaceae Prunus serohna black cherry P Capnfohaceae Sambucus pubens Red berried elder R Shrub Midstory Laver -70% cover E E Ulumaceae Celtis ocadentalis Hackberry P Betulaceae Corylusamencana American hazelnut ___P Populus tremuloides Juglandaceae Juglans nigra Black walnut R Caprifoliaceae Lomcera fartanca Tartanan honeysuckle P Betulaceae Ostrya virgmiana ironwood R Rhamnaceae Rhamnus cathartica common buckthorn A -D Saxifragaceae Ribes cynosbati gooseberry C -A Canoov 75% cover Aceraceae Acernegundo boxelder Oleaceae Fraxinus pennsytvanica _Green ash Salicaceae Populus tremuloides quacking aspen Roseaceae Prunus serotina black cherry Fagaceae Quercus alba white oak Fagaceae Quercus macrocarpa Buroak Fagaceae Quercus rubra Red oak 5' dram Small trees by pond 112 -6" dram Scattered to dense P 8" diameter P 12' (by pond) 8" P 8 -12" C 18" C -D 18 -24" C 8 -24" (24" by pond) 13 Ulmaceae Ulmus amencana Amencan elm P 10" Hayfield MLCCS 23212 Long grasses on upland soils The hayfield is located on the western part of the property, along Bacardi Avenue This is also the highest part of the property, and slopes gently (5 percent) to the east It is dominated by non- native grasses, such as smooth brome and Kentucky bluegrass, with various other species like white clover and dandelion At the eastern end there is a small patch of small to mid -size trees (oaks) and brush The field has been hayed for about 10 years The entire area will be restored to native mesic prairie in 2004 A copy of the prairie stewardship plan developed for the hayfield can be ie�N ed at Friends of the Mississippi River and the Department of :Natural Resources and is incorporated herein by reference Buildings and Lawn MLCCS 13134 Short grasses and mixed trees with 26 -50% impervious cover Three buildings are present on the property— a house, a pump house, and a large garage An area around the buildings is maintained as lawn and garden with scattered trees There is a small grove of trees west of the house that is dominated by very large and dense buckthorn in the understory Buckthorn is also present in the area behind (north) of the garage Ecological concerns Primary ecological concerns on the property are exotic invasive shrub species especially common buckthorn and to a much lesser extent, Tartarian honeysuckle Exotic invasive species are considered by many ecologists to be the single greatest threat to the integrity of our natural areas These species are very aggressive and impede the growth of native species They eventually form dense, impenetrable thickets, replacing native species that are more valuable for wildlife and for ecosystem diversity Buckthorn berries actually have a laxatry e effect, resulting in a negative value for birds that eat them Some birds species try to nest in the shrubs, but the location is not appiopnate and studies have shoe n that fewer fledglings are produced than in native shrub species 14 MANAGEMENT PLAN Home Site The Home Site is defined as the northerly 10 acres of the property There is no expectation of public access or use other than by permission from the landowner The Home Site is subdivided, for management purposes, into the residence tract and the natural area tract The residence tract of the Home Site (1 2 acres) contains the home and corresponding commons area, while the natural area tract (8 8 acres) makes up the rest of the Home Site Management Goals Allow everyday activities normally associated with the enjoyment and maintenance of the home and its corresponding yard, Prevent possible negative impacts to the natural areas on the Home Site and the City Wildlife Preserve from the pursuit of the normal ev eryday activities associated w ith the enjoyment and maintenance of the home and its corresponding yard, Improve the ecological health of the natural community (oak woodland brushland, prairie), Protect the native trees on the Home Site, Prevent encroachment of activities associated with the enjoyment and maintenance of the home and its corresponding yard into the natural communities of the natural area tract of the Home Site and the City Wildlife Preserve Management Activities Residence Tract of the Home Site The residence tract of the Home Site is that part of the site that contains the home, garage, outbuildings, and the surrounding commons area This tract is defined as the rectangle of land immediately surrounding the home and outbuildings with dimensions of 264 feet wide by 156 feet long, including the 420 foot long by 25 feet wide drivew ay (approximately 1 2 acres See Figure 5) Generally, the landowner will hav e the ability to utilize and manage this tract as it has historically been treated The following section outlines allow able and prohibited activities for specific issues related to the use and management of this area Existing buildings The existing buildings and structures as described and identified in Attachment B can receive normal maintenance and upgrades No new or additional buildings or construction, outside of the existing building footprints as detailed in Attachment B will be allowed Furthermore, existing buildings must stay at the gross floor square feet that existed at the time the conservation easement was acquired and recorded The existing access and driveway must remain a pervious surface roadway and the landowner may use normal methods to maintain it (snow plow ing, grading, addition of supplemental gravel, etc The well and septic systems may be upgiaded, maintained, reconstructed, and or relocated as needed within the residence tract Gardening and landscaping All normal yard maintenance and grass mowing is allowed Gardening and landscaping are allowed No cutting of native trees greater than 3" DBH, without written consent of the DNR, is allowed However, if all or a portion of a tree is threatening an existing building or the safety of the landowner or visitors, the tree or a portion thereof may be 15 City Of Rosemount Wildlife Preserve The City Wildlife Preserve portion of the property is comprised of 16 acres and is owned by the City of Rosemount It will have restricted nature observation for educational purposes and will be managed as a natural area Management Goals Restore ecological functions to natural areas Improve the value of the wildlife habitat Restore portions of the site to pre- settlement plant communities Management Activities Oak Woodland- Brushland: 11 acres Tareet Plant Communities Oak Woodland Bnishland and Dry Oak Savanna Historically, the woodland was likely a savanna community While the woodland could be restored to savanna by fairly intensive tree removal, burning, and seeding, it would be quite expensive and would take many years of concerted effort, and many more years of sustained management It would likely be in the best interest of the landowner to manage and maintain the area as woodland and restore some smaller areas to savanna (Figure 5) This approach would also maximize overall site biodrversity The target plant community, therefore, for most of the oak woodland brushland (about 8 acres) will be oak woodland- brushland Oak wood land-brushland is typically associated with dry oak forest, dry oak savanna, and dry praine It is structurally and floristically mtennediate between oak forest and oak savanna (DNR 2000) The canopy is patchy and the understory is dominated by tree saplings and shrubs Forests with open -grown oaks surrounded by younger trees are also included in this classification Bur oak, norther pin oak, white oak, and red oak are typical canopy dominants Aspen, however, may comprise up to 70 percent of the cover The shrub layer maybe sparse or dense and is often patchy It tends to be very diverse, with hazelnuts, blackberry, raspberry, gooseberries, dogwoods, cherries, and prickly ash The ground layer is poor except in open areas, where prairie and savanna species dominate This plant community is maintained by fire and was historically probably the dominant community type in the Twin Cities metropolitan area In the absence of fire it succeeds to dense, scrubby oak forest Few oak woodland- brushlands remain in the region Most are overgrown with scattered large bur oaks surrounded by pin oaks, as well as paper birch, basswood, black cherry, and quaking aspen and a scrubby understory At the Wiklund property, simply removing exotic species and allowing the woodland to follow a natural succession to oak forest is the most economical management track Prescribed burning would aid in the effort to restore the native plant species composition 17 removed to alleviate threatening conditions or safety concerns Non native trees, regardless of size maybe removed The landowner will plant only native trees and shrubs in the residence tract of the Home Site Any herbaceous plant used in landscaping and/or gardening should be non- invasive The landowner is encouraged to contact Friends of the Mississippi River or the Department of Natural Resources for guidance with these issues The landowner may erect signs designating that the Home Site is private property Management Activities Natural Area Tract of the Home Site The Natural Area tract surrounds the residence tract within the Home Site and comprises three distinct management areas Oak Woodland- Brush land This natural community, designated with the color brown on Figure 5, makes up the 6 1 acres (approximate) of the Home Site Prairie This management area, designated with the color yellow on Figure 5, makes up approximately 2 acres In 2004 it was restored to native prairie Oak savanna This natural community is designated with the color orange on figure 5 and is approximately 0 7 acre in size It is presently oak woodland brushland The management activities are identical to those recommended for the City Wildlife Preserve portion of the property Refer to the following section on the City of Rosemount's Wildlife Preserve in this document, for details on management activities for the Natural Area Tract of the Home Site The management of the natural areas on the Home Site is the responsibility of the landowner However, the landowner will cooi dmate with the DNR and City of Rosemount, which is responsible for management activities on the City Wildlife Preserve portion of the property An economy of scale can be gained if the property is managed as one unit Special management and use exceptions The 1 8 -acres (approximate) on the western edge of the eastern natural area tract (The area immediately north, south, and east of the residence tract) has historically been used by the landowner for a garden(s) and mowed grass walking paths These nearly 2 acres will be managed in the same manner as the rest of the oak N oodland- brushland in the tract, with the following exceptions The landowner will be allowed to maintain a vegetable /flower garden on a quarter 25) acre of land that is directly east of the house The landowner should use the same precautions described for gardening and landscaping in the residence tract The landowner will be allowed to mow the path(s) that has been historically mowed The path will remain grass and no other surface (examples gravel, asphalt, cement) will be allowed 16 3 5 acres of the oak woodland, located in the southwest corner of the property, could be restored to oak savanna Dry oak savanna, hill subtype, occurs on glacial till on fine to medium textured loams The MN DNR (1993) describes dry (hill) oak savanna as follows "Occurrences are concentrated along the ecotone between prairie and deciduous forest -w oodland zones and tend to be small Bur oak and northern pin oak are the major oak species The most common shrubs are chokecherries, wolfhemes, and smooth sumacs Leadplant is always present The density of the shrub layer is highly variable The herbaceous vegetation of open areas between trees is essentially the same as that of the hill subtype of dry prairie The subtype succeeds to woodland almost as rapidly as mesic oak savanna except on the steepest, droughtiest slopes Therefore, few examples remain Restoration methods for woodland and savanna are described in the next section of this document Control exotic plant species Controlling exotic shrubs is the imperative first step toward improving the oak woodland habitat Common buckthorn is pervasive throughout the site and will require intensive effort for several years The first year of management should focus on removing the largest plants (anything over about 1 5 inches), w hrch are producing fruit Smaller plants can be removed simultaneously, if time and budget permit, or in subsequent years, but before plants reach maturity Honeysuckle, though not abundant, should also be removed Removal and disposal methods are described in the next section of this document Re- establish native woodland plant species After buckthorn is removed from the woodland, there is likely to be a flush of buckthorn seedlings in the following years While the long -term goal is to establish a groundcover and shrub layer of native species, it will be necessary to control exotic seedlings before seeding or planting native plants A seedbank of native plants may also persist in the soil, so monitoring the site condition will be especially useful in the first few years after removing buckthorn Once the exotic species are under control, the site can be seeded, preferably in the fall, with native woodland species (Appendix A) Nativ e woodland shrubs, such as hazelnut, gray dogwood, American plum, musclewood, and nannyberry will be most effectively established by installing plants, rather than seed Bare -root plants are most economical Restore dry oak savanna An excellent opportunity for savanna restoration would be the wooded area on the west side of the property, south of the prairie restoration The restoration area could go as far east as the existing sumac stand, an area of about 3 5 acres The area has large scattered oaks, about 18 to 24 -inch size, surrounded by an abundance of small aspen, oaks and other trees Restoring these areas w ould piovide a nice transition from prairie to savanna to woodland, while providing a wonderful example of these three plant communities in one location Oak savanna, in particular, is a rare community and it is important to retain some examples of it in the landscape m Savanna restoration would consist of removing small trees and brush to create a canopy of primarily consisting of oak trees with coverage of 10 to 30 percent A groundcover of savanna species (Appendix A) would be re- established by seeding The cut trees could likely be harvested for firewood or for fuel (e g District Energy in St Paul) The woodland area north of the prairie on the Home Site could be restored to savanna at the same time for cost and time efficiency The small woodland island within the prairie itself should also be removed and restored to prairie, leaving a few oak trees Likewise, all of the woodland edge should be thinned out somewhat to create a more natural transition between prairie and woodland That edge and all savanna areas should be included as part of the prescribed bums that will be conducted on the prairie Maintenance and Monitonne On- going, long -tcrm maintenance should consist of annually monitoring the site, removing exotic species and recording any other ecological concerns Once the existing exotic plants are gone, maintenance should not be very intensive The primary importance is to remove exotic plants before they set seed and most of the woody species take several years to produce fruit The site should also be monitored annually for other exotic species not currently found there Garlic mustard, for example, is a very aggressive biennial plant commonly found in w oodlands in the metropolitan area The site should be surveyed in May for garlic mustard and any plants should be promptly removed before they flower and set seed in June The recovery of the site should also be evaluated to determine if a good complement of native species are being established In addition, oak woodlands historically experienced occasional fires, and it would be beneficial to conduct prescribed burning of the woodland Fire would be especially beneficial for removing buckthorn seedlings, which are difficult to control because they are so small and numerous Factors that may limit burning are inadequate fuel, inadequate bum breaks (since the adjacent properties are also wooded), and the likelihood of nearby high density housing in the future Nevertheless prescibed burning should be considered in the future since it is such a valuable management tool The development of firebreaks is allowed. Management Activities Hayfield: 5.0 acres Restore to mesic prairie A prairie restoration plan is already underway for the entire 7 -acre hayfield, and will be installed in Fall 2004. Maintenance Planned maintenance for the prairie consists of periodic mowing the first year (2005) and mowing or burning in the second year (2006) After that, landowners will take on maintenance activities Historically, tallgrass prairie in this part of the state burned as frequently as every year Typically, however, prairies are now managed by burning every two years Regular burning will control shrubs and weeds, while restoring nutrients to the soils and invigorating native plants 19 Restoration and Management Techniques Brush and Tree Removal The most efficient way to remove buckthorn, honeysuckle and other woody plants is to cut the stems close to the ground and treat the cut stumps immediately with a 10% glyphosate solution (e g Roundup) Rodeo, a glyphosate herbicide suitable for aquatic habitats, should not be used within 50 feet of ponded areas Failure to treat the stumps will result in resprouting, creating much greater removal difficulty Late fall or winter is the best time for removal because buckthorn retains its leaves longer than other species and is more easily identified At that time of yeas buckthorn is also moving resources from the leaves to the roots, so when chemicals are applied to the cut stumps they are taken deep into the roots and produce a more effective kill Most other woody plants are also most effectively cut and treated in fall or winter If cut in winter, the snow around each stem must be pushed away so the stems can be cut low to the ground High stems should be avoided because herbicide treatment is less effective and they create a physical tripping hazard Other woody plant removal methods are hand pulling (only useful on seedlings) and weed- wrenching (using a weed wrench tool to pull stems of 2 inches or more in diameter) Both methods can be done anytime of year as long as the soil is moist and not frozen The disadvantage to both methods is that they are somewhat time consuming as the dirt from each stem should be shaken off Weed wrenching can also detrimental because it creates a great deal of soil disturbance Existing desirable plants may be removed in the process and the soil disturbance creates opportunities for weed germination This method is probably best used in areas that have v cry little desirable native plant cover Brush can be disposed of in several ways Some relatively small brush piles can be left in the woods as wildlife cover In areas of low density, small stems can be scattered on the ground to decompose How ever, the vast majority of the brush at this site should be removed or burned, since there is so much It could either be stacked into piles in open areas and burned in the winter, or taken out of the woods, chipped up, and hauled away The year after buckthorn is cut there will be a flush of new growth as the seeds in the soil germinate This will produce a crop of seedlings that are much too small to cut The easiest way to deal with these is to bum the site If that is not possible, seedlings can be sprayed with a 10% glyphosate solution It is imperative that herbicide is only applied in late fall when other plant species are dormant Treating seedlings is probably the easiest means of control, but, seedlings could also be left for several years until they are large enough to be pulled or cut more easily The plants will thin themselves out over time so many fewer will be present The plants must be controlled before they start producing seed, generally within 5 years 20 Planting and Seeding All seed and plant material used at the Wtklund property should be of Minnesota origin, ideally within 50 miles of the site, but no more than 175 miles Nurseries should provide seed/plant origin information Seeding herbaceous woodland plants should not be done until the buckthorn (including new seedlings that germinate after shrub remov al) has been adequately controlled Buckthorn control may take two frill seasons or more The ideal time to seed the woodland areas is in the fall The cold and damp conditions of winter will naturally break the seed dormancy Seed can be hand broadcast in the woodland, since the seeding areas will be fairly small and scattered and not conducive to using equipment Seed germination is generally improved by raking it into the soil Raking is not absolutely necessary However, if seed is broadcasted in late fall, just before snowfall, the freeze /thaw cycles of winter will effectively work the seed into the ground Raking will likely be unfeasible at this site due to the presence of existing vegetation Normal seeding rates for a woodland restoration are about 8 lbs of seed per acre Because there is existing vegetation at this site, a seeding rate of about 4 lbs per acre would likely be adequate and the entire site will not need seeding Actual rates should be evaluated when seeding areas are determined Tree and shrub material is most cost effective when purchased bare root Bare root material also has good survivorship One disadvantage to bare root is that there is a small window of time in which to plant it Plants are generally shipped at the end of April and should be planted within a week or two Planting can be done fairly quickly by using tree planting bars rather than by digging Volunteers could be recruited to get community involvement Potted plants are significantly more expensive, and more tine- consuming to install, but can be planted throughout the growing season (though it is best to avoid the hottest months) If some plant material is not available as bare root, potted plants could be considered If groundcover species are seeded in the fall, trees and shrubs can be installed the following spring or in subsequent years, as budget permits The amount of plant material needed will depend on the planting space available Generally shrubs can be planted about five feet apart The target shrub coverage in the woodland can be about 40 to 60 percent Prescribed Burning (Roc Burns) Natn e plant communities such as savanna, praine and oak woodland are adapted to fire Regular use ofRx burns provides important ecological functions, such as recycling nutrients, improved plant vigor, and improved flovti enng and seed production Simultaneously, fire is an excellent way to control exotic and woody species The timing of Rx burns depends on the desired outcomes Most burning is conducted in the spring because burn conditions are generally safest and late spring bums are good for controlling non native grasses Fall burrs tend to increase flowering plant species, but leave a site susceptible to erosion and devoid of vv inter wildlife cov or 21 All Rx burns should be conducted by an experienced, professional burn crew A burn plan should be developed and bum permits must be obtained for all burning. including brush piles Neighbors should be notified of the burn event at least a day or two prior Monitoring Monitoring is a vital component of any habitat restoration project Monitoring tasks typically involve conducting simple surveys to document pertinent features, such as exotic shrub coverage Basic measurements are recorded, mapped, and photographed from established locations Survey results provide quantitative information on changes over time, and help identify if management is achieving its intended goals Adaptive management, the corollary to monitoring, incorporates monitoring results into future management actions Monitoring should be done annually, preferably at the same time each year It need not be intensive or time- consuming, but at should a minimum should consist of a walk through vegetation survey and photo-monitoring The vegetation survey should identify and map locations of exotic herbaceous plants For pervasive species, such as buckthorn. observational notes should be made on whether there has been any increase or decrease of target plant species, and whether any management action is needed It is important to map locations of exotics (GPS), even if they will be removed, because a seed bank likely exists there and new plants may continue to emerge Photo monitoring is simply taking photographs each year from established locations to have visual documentation of changes overtime Photo points should be mapped and numbered on an aerial photograph It is beneficial to mark photo points in the field (e g with surveyor flagging) and it is recommended that at least one permanent point be established and marked with a metal post Each photograph should indicate the direction from which it v as taken, and important observations from the image Photos should be taken at approximately the same time each year It is also useful to consider the characteristics of the plant species that are being monitored Garlic mustard, for example is best photographed when it blooms in May, whereas buckthorn is most visible in fall. when it still has leaves, but other plants don't It is important to develop a plan for controlling exotics as they are discovered Garlic mustard can reproduce explosively within lust two years Buckthorn plants do not produce seed for several years, and up to 10 years if it is in the shade, but seed can remain viable in the soil for five years and new seed is continuously introduced into an area Besides plants, other commonly measured biota are bird, insect, and amphibian populations At the Wiklund site, notes should be made of animals or animal signs observed dunng each site visit The City of Rosemount is responsible for monitoring the Wildlife Preserve portion of the property and will assist the DNR m enforcing the terms of the easement and management plan The management monitoring could be coordinated with DNR easement monitoring Mosquito Control Generally, routine control of nuisance mosquitoes is not allowed on lands subject to the 22 conservation easement However, with prior approval, the DNR will allow control operations for disease vectoring mosquito in cases where the Department of Health determines that such mosquitoes pose human health risks The DNR must approve mosquito control plans or make modifications as deemed necessary for the protection of natural resources, before control operations are started Management Activities Rough estimates for management activities are provided below, based on similar work conducted in other areas Actual costs will depend on bids received from contractors Priority Season, Activity Estimated cost Year A Fa111w inter Cut and treat exotic shrubs (19 ac) haul, chip burn All $600 to $1100 per Year 2 areas except grassland acre A Fall (Oct) Foltar application of herbicide to buckthorn seedlings, Year 2 small saplings May need to spray in Fall, YT 3, too (19 ac) A Fall After buckthorn and seedlings have been controlled, $2 000 to $2,500 Year 2 or 3 seed open areas of woodland with native seed (portions per acre of 12 ac) A Spring Plant native shrubs and trees (approximately $100- $4,000 to $6,000 Year 3 or 4 $200 /ac) to replace buckthorn on —12 acres (whole site) $1.500 to $2,000 A Spring Conduct Rx bum on restored prairie Year 3 A Spring Conduct Rx bum on restored prairie $2,500 to $3,000 Year 5 A Spring Conduct Rx burn on restored prairie (Rx bums should $3,000 to $3 500 Year 7 be conducted every 2 to 4 years beyond this schedule, dependui on needs of raine) B Fall /winter Remove undesirable trees from two savanna areas north $2,400 to $3,000 Year 3 and south of prairie Remove small patch of trees from per acre within prairie B Year 4 Prepare soil m savanna areas (8 2 ac) re -seed with $4,000 to $4,500 savannaspecies B Year 6 Conduct Rx bum on restored savanna $2,500 to $3,000 C Fall /Winter Thin trees along entire w oodland edge to create better $400 to $700 per Year 3 transition between praine and woodland acre C Spring Conduct Rx burn of woodland (13 2 ac) $6 000 to $10,000 Year 2 or 3 23 CONTRACTORS AND CONSULTANTS Friends of the Mississippi River would like to offer its services to provide on -going management of the project, coordinating restoration and management work, follow -up site visits and evaluation, and contractor negotiations The following is a short list of possible consultants and contractors for implementing the management plans This is not a complete list, but does include ecologists who are familiar with natural resource management Unless otherwise noted, all firms do prescribed burning Those marked with and may also do buckthom/brush removal. Many other brush remov al companies are listed in the yellow pages under tree care Applied Ecological Services, Inc Doug Mensmg Edina, MN 952- 925 -3359 North American Prairies Company 111754 Jarvis Ave NW Annandale, MN 55302 320 274 -5316 *Great Rn er Greening 35 West Water St, Suite 201 St Paul, MN 55107 651- 665 -9500 *Natural Resources Restoration Inc Craig Andresen 2013 Walnut St NW New Brighton, MN 55112 651- 636 -3462 Outback Nursery, Inc Erik Olsen Hastings, MN 651- 438 -2771 Prairie Restorations, Inc John Pauly Cannon Falls, MN 507- 663 -1091 24 INFORMATION SOURCES Hobbs, H C, S Aronow, and C J Patterson 1990 Surficial Geology in Geologic Atlas Dakota County, Minnesota University of Minnesota, St Paul Marschner, F J 1974 The Original Vegetation of Minnesota Map compiled from U S General Land Office survey notes U S Forest Service, North Central Forest Experiment Station, St Paul Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. 1997 Natural communities and rare species of Dakota County Minnesota County Biological Survey Map Series No 1 1993 Minnesota Native Vegetation A key to natural communities Version 15 Natural Heritage Program. St Paul, MN 2000 Ecological Classification System Oak Savannah http /www dm state inn us /ebin/ecs 2001 Minnesota Land Cover Classification System Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Section of Ecological Services, Scientific and Natural Areas Program 2000 Going Native a prairie restoration handbook for Minnesota landowners St Paul, MN Mossler, J.H 1990 Bedrock Geology in. Geologic Atlas Dakota County, Minnesota- University of Minnesota, St Paul NatureServe An online encyclopedia of life [N eb application] 2001 Version 15 Arlington, Virginia, USA Association for Biodrversrty Information Available http -/wvin natureseti e org/ (Accessed September 17. 2001 Packard, S and C F Mutel, editors 1997 The tallgrass restoration handbook for prairies, savannas, and woodlands Society for Ecological Restoration Island Press, Washington, D C Prairie Moon Nursery 2002 2002 Catalog and Cultural Guide Native plants and seed for wetland_ prairie, savanna and v oodland Winona, MN Shirley, S 1994 Restoring the Tallgrass Prairie an illustrated manual for Iowa and the upper midwest University of Iowa Press, Iowa City Soil Conservation Service 1983 Soil Survey of Dakota County Minnesota United States Department of Agriculture 25 Wovcha, D S B C Delaney, G E Nordquist 1995 Minnesota's St Croix River valley and Anoka sandplam a guide to native habitats University of Mimiesota Press, Minneapolis /London 26