HomeMy WebLinkAbout5.b. Recognition of CF Industries and Update on their Natural Resources Enhancements4ROSEMOUNTEXECUTIVE SUMMARY
CITY COUNCIL
City Council Regular Meeting: February 16, 2010
AGENDA ITEM: Recognition of CF Industries and Update
AGENDA SECTION:
on their Natural Resources Enhancements
Presentation
PREPARED BY: Scott Aker, Fire Chief
AGENDA NO.
Eric Zweber, Senior Planner
ATTACHMENTS: Phasing Concept Map, Natural Areas
APPROVED BY:
Management Plan
RECOMMENDED ACTION: None
BACKGROUND:
This is a request for Council to recognize a donation previously received and to acknowledge the support
that CF Industries gives the fire department. The donation is for the purchase of equipment that will be
used for water rescue.
On January 20, 2009, the City Council approved a planned unit development (PUD) concept plan which
described the phased development of their facility to the east while maintaining, protecting, and enhancing
the natural resources on the Mississippi River bluffs and the native tree stands separating CF Industries
from the Spring Lake Park Reserve. Within the PUD was a natural areas management plan that called for
improvements and enhancement within the next four years. Mr. Dohmen will provide an update on the
progress of these enhancements.
Scott Dohmen, from CF Industries, will be in attendance at this meeting.
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APPENDIX A: NATURAL AREAS MANAGEMENT
General comments
The brief management plan outlined below is based on the best current practicable
knowledge in the field of natural areas restoration and is premised on the idea of adaptive
management. That is to say that the management activities outlined for the first three to
five years can be carried out with relative certainty. Activities proposed for the time
period beyond five years are also outlined here, but these may be modified in a minor
fashion based on feedback from management
This approach is referred to as "adaptive management" and is premised on the fact that
nature is a complex system influenced by a myriad of biotic and abiotic factors. Retaining
the flexibility to modify activities based on feedback forms the basis for adaptive
management and will be important for achieving the best results for natural areas
restoration at the site. This approach also requires that a brief review /updating of
management approaches and activities be taken every few years. Although this periodic
evaluation does not need to be an extensive planning effort, it will be important for
ensuring the best outcome for the physical and financial resources dedicated to this
natural areas restoration and management effort.
The management activities outlined below are provided in order of priority for
management, with the remnant oak woodland adjacent to the Dakota County Parks
property. Additional management activities are recommended for the remainder of the
bluff line and old field areas, but are proposed to begin only after the initial push of
restoration is complete in the oak woodland site (approximately 2 -3 years, minimum).
The majority of natural areas restoration work is planned occur within the first 3 -5 years
following initiation for any particular area, while less intensive follow -up management
activities would occur as ongoing maintenance beyond year five.
Summary of Proposed Restoration Activities
Oak Woodland Restoration:
Management priority: High
This area includes an oak woodland - brushland area called out (along with adjacent mixed
woodland area) for restoration on Figure 9 of the July 25, 2008 PUD Concept Plan
document. This oak woodland areas is of moderate quality in its current condition,
primarily as a result of a dense shrub layer of the nonnative, invasive shrubs European
buckthorn and Tatarian honeysuckle, as well as having relatively poor quality ground
layer vegetation. The top priority area is the oak - woodland brushland immediately
adjacent to the Dakota County regional park. Management activities for this area include:
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Invasive, nonnative brush control
Winter 2008 -09
The top priority for this area will be to cut and treat invasive nonnative shrubs. These
should be cut within 6 inches of the ground and cut stumps treated with a seasonally
appropriate herbicide (e.g. 20 -25% solution of glyphosate or picloram). This work may
also include cutting of select invasive trees that have poor structural qualities, or
excessively large vines that are impacting or inhibiting existing quality native hardwood
trees, or similar. For instance, selective cutting of weedy softwood species such as
boxelder may occur where this activity could release more desirable native hardwoods
such as oak, hackberry, black cherry, ash, and similar.
Supplemental native ground layer seeding
Late winter, early spring 2009
A diverse native woodland grass and flower mix should be planted (more than 20 species
total) to improve species diversity of the ground layer, improve wildlife habitat, and
provide competition to hinder resurgence of nonnative shrubs, as well as to add color and
improve the appearance along the highway and park sides of the property.
Follow -up control of invasive, nonnative brush
Fall 2009 — spring 2010
The winter after initial invasive shrub and tree management it will be important to
perform follow -up management of invasive shrubs. This may include stems that
resprouted, were missed, or advanced in size from seedlings not cut/treated in the
previous effort. In most instances, this work is a small fraction of the original work
amount. However, in some instances it can require as much as one half to two thirds of
the original effort.
Mixed Woodland Restoration:
Management priority: Medium
This includes several mixed woodland areas mostly dominated by early successional
trees and shrubs, resulting in these areas being of moderate to poor quality in their current
condition, primarily as a result of a dense shrub layer of the nonnative, invasive shrubs
European buckthorn and Tatarian honeysuckle, as well as having poor quality ground
layer vegetation. Although it would be beneficial to manage these mixed woodland areas
for improved quality, the oak woodland adjacent to the regional park is of higher priority.
Management activities for the mixed woodland areas include:
Invasive, nonnative brush control
Anticipated winter 2010 -2011
Initial restoration efforts in these areas will be to cut and treat invasive nonnative shrubs.
These should be cut within 6 inches of the ground and cut stumps treated with a
seasonally appropriate herbicide (e.g. 20 -25% solution of glyphosate or picloram). This
work will also include cutting of select invasive trees that have poor structural qualities,
and/or those that are impacting or inhibiting existing quality native hardwood trees, or
C.F. INDUSTRIES - ROSEMOUNT, MN 11
similar (release cut for highest quality hardwoods in these areas). For instance, selective
cutting of weedy softwood species such as boxelder may occur where this activity could
release more desirable native hardwoods such as oak, hackberry, black cherry, ash, and
similar.
Supplemental native ground layer seeding
Anticipated spring 2011
A diverse native woodland grass and flower mix should be planted (more than 20 species
total) to improve species diversity of the ground layer, improve wildlife habitat, and
provide competition to hinder resurgence of nonnative shrubs, as well as to add color and
improve the appearance along the highway and park sides of the property.
Follow -up control of invasive, nonnative brush
Anticipated Fall 2011 — spring 2012
The winter after initial invasive shrub and tree management it will be important to
perform follow -up management of invasive shrubs. This may include stems that
resprouted, were missed, or advanced in size from seedlings not cut/treated in the
previous effort. In most instances, this work is a small fraction of the original work
amount. However, in some instances it can require as much as one half to two thirds of
the original effort.
Prescribed burning (optional)
Prescribed burning is beneficial for prairie and oak dominated woodlands. Depending on
the rate of development of the native seed mix, the resurgence of invasive brush, and
potential for teaming with Dakota County Parks to conduct a prescribed burn across
property lines, this activity may be employed.
Open (old field) Areas:
Management Priority: Medium -low
There is at least one open area currently dominated by nonnative pasture grasses, a few
species of weedy native forbs as well as pioneer /invasive trees and shrubs. This area is
well- suited for restoration to native vegetation types, including prairie /savanna
restoration or forestation. These are briefly described below:
Prairie /Savanna restoration in old field areas
This work would occur in the same areas as the tree (and shrub) plantings described
immediately above and would either complement or serve as an alternate to this activity.
These areas currently have perennial ground cover dominated by nonnative grass and
weedy trees and shrubs. We propose to prepare the site through control of the existing
nonnative vegetation and plant native prairie to increase the native species diversity and
wildlife habitat value of the area.
Site preparation measures would include a combination of herbicide application
(proposed glyphosate and broadleaf herbicide such as 2,4 -D). Seeding would occur
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approximately 1 -2 weeks following a spring herbicide application or the following spring
if herbicide application is conducted in late summer /fall.
Savanna restoration in this old field area would include the additional planting of
approximately 10 -35 oak trees per acre in this area in the one to three years following
initial planting of a diverse prairie seed mix.
Forestation: Native Tree (and Shrub) Plantings
There are several small openings on the edge of the mixed woodland (shown on Figure 9
of the July 25, 2008 PUD Concept Plan document) that could potentially be planted to
native trees and shrubs to provide in -fill for tree canopy gaps. We propose planting bare
root stock in these areas with a stocking rate of 400 trees /shrubs per acre. These would
primarily consist of native, hardwood tree species, especially oaks and native shrubs
characteristic for oak woodlands.
CF Industries - Natural Areas Restoration Management Summary
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Item
Timing/ Date
Oak/Mixed Woodland
Cut invasive trees/brush
2008 -09
Oak Woodland Seeding
2008 -2010
Follow-up cut/treat invasive shrubs
2009 -10
Prescribed burning (optional)
TBD
Mixed Woodland
Cut invasive trees/brush
2010 -11
Woodland Seeding
2011
Follow-up cut/treat invasive shrubs
2011 -12
Prairie /Savanna restoration in old field
Site preparation - Spray
TBD
or forestation
Prairie Seeding
TBD
Prairie Grow -in Maintenance
TBD
Forest Expansion Tree & Shrub
Plantings
TBD
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