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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09.10.14 meeting packet&CITY OF it 1685 CROSSTOWN BOULEVARD N.W.. ANDOVER, MINNESOTA 55304 • (763) 755 -5100 FAX (763) 755 -8923 • WWW.CI.ANDOVER.MN.US Andover Open Space Advisory Commission Meeting Agenda September 10, 2014 Andover City Hall Conference Room A &B 5.30 p.m. 1. Tour of Martin's Meadows 2. Return to City Hall for regular meeting 7.00 p.m. 1. Call to Order 2. Resident Forum 3. Approval of Minutes: August 13, 2014 Regular Meeting 4. Open Space Acquisition Update 5. Martin's Meadows Management Plan Review 6. Other Business a. Next meeting: October 8, 2014 7. Adjournment C I T Y O F NDOVE 1685 CROSSTOWN BOULEVARD N.W. • ANDOVER, MINNESOTA 55304 • (763) 755 -5100 FAX (763) 755 -8923 • WWW.CI.AN DOVE R.MN.US TO: Andover Open Space Advisory Commission FROM: David L. Carlberg, Community Development Director SUBJECT: Approval of Minutes — August 13, 2014 DATE: September 10, 2014 INTRODUCTION The Open Space Advisory Commission is asked to review and approve the minutes from the August 13, 2014 regular meeting. DISCUSSION Please share any changes to the minutes at the meeting. ACTION REQUESTED A motion, second and vote are necessary to approve the minutes. Attachment August 13, 2014 meeting minutes Respectfully submitted, David L. Carlberg REGULAR ANDOVER OPEN SPACE ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING AUGUST 13, 2014 MINUTES The Regular Meeting of the Andover Open Space Advisory Commission was called to order by Chairperson Gretchen Sabel at 7:00 p.m., at the Andover City Hall, 1685 Crosstown Boulevard NW, Andover, Minnesota. Commissioners present: Aaron Jarson, Kim Kovich, Jim Myers, Jim Olson, Bruce Perry and Suzanne Van Hecke (arrived at 7:01 p.m.) Commissioners absent: None Also present: David Carlberg, Community Development Director Donna Aasness, resident RESIDENT FORUM Donna Aasness stated that she really likes the new parking lot and commented that it looks very nice. Commissioner Van Hecke arrived at 7:01 p.m. APPROVAL OF MINUTES — July 9, 2014 Motion by Commissioner Perry, Second by Commissioner Kovich, to approve the minutes of July 9, 2014. Motion passed 6 -0 -1 (Olson present). OPEN SPACE ACQUISITION UPDATE Mr. Carlberg provided an update on properties discussed at the previous meeting. He advised that he did pass on the information about the available parcel on Round Lake and believed the opportunity would be passed to the Park and Recreation Commission at a future meeting. He referenced the Selmer property and noted that the property owner is back at the negotiation table with the City. He provided additional information and advised that the City Council will discuss the possible open space purchase via closed session the following week. He noted that there could be a possibility in purchasing land from Kuiken as well, if that property owner is also interested. OPEN SPACE IMPROVEMENTS UPDATE a. Access to North Woods Preserve from Hanson Boulevard NW Mr. Carlberg reported that the parking lot was finished today. He stated that perhaps a natural barrier of trees will be planted around the parking area and confirmed that the visibility from Hanson will remain a focus. He reported on planned road and signal improvements at the intersection of 161" Avenue and Hanson Boulevard being done by Anoka County Highway Department. He stated that if the City allows the County's contractor to park their construction trailer in the lot temporarily the contractor will donate the materials and construct the paved approach off of Hanson into the parking area. He advised that the gravel parking area was constructed by the City's Public Works Department with some materials being had onsite, noting that there would be space available for approximately 14 vehicles. Regular Open Space Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes —August 13, 2014 Page 2 b. Signage of Aasness Property Mr. Carlberg reported that because of the wet conditions thus far Public Works staff has not been able to install the open space signage along the property but will before summer is over. He noted that staff will create a winding walking mowed trail as well, possibly with wood chips in areas where needed. He advised of a trail connection that will also be obtained through the platting of the White Pines Wilderness 2 °d Addition development. Chair Sabel confirmed that there will be sufficient parking for the public even with the construction trailer. Mr. Carlberg stated that he is unsure that the site should be publicized much until after the open space signs can be installed. He stated that the Commission will review the management plan for the open space area following the tour of the property in October. c. Kiosks Mr. Carlberg advised that the Eagle Scouts are creating their own designs for the kiosk option selected by the Commission at the previous meeting and are working with staff throughout that process. FUN FEST RECAP Mr. Carlberg asked for input from the Commission on the event. Commissioner Perry stated that he was surprised at the response of the public to the Commission, noting that the group was well received. Commissioner Jarson stated that he also was encouraged by the number of residents that were interested in the information and advised that half of the residents he had spoken with had actually been to an open space area. Commissioner Myers stated that most of the questions he received were regarding what is allowed in terms of activity within the open space. He believed that it would be helpful to have a handout with allowed activities in the future. Mr. Carlberg confirmed that the Commission would like to continue to staff a booth with the Parks and Recreation Commission at future Fun Fest events. Commissioner Kovich noted that he enjoyed being able to speak with the Park and Recreation Commission members as well. Chairperson Sabel stated that it may be helpful to list ruining areas and trails within the City. Regular Open Space Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes —August 13, 2014 Page 3 OTHER BUSINESS a. Next Meeting. September 10, 2014 (6: 00 p. m. — Tour of Martin's Meadows) Chairperson Sabel stated that she would like to change the tour time from 6:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Mr. Carlberg confirmed that the tour will begin at 5:30 at the Martin's Meadows open space area meeting on the Navajo Street access point with the regular meeting to follow at City Hall at 7:00 p.m. He noted that he also forwarded a list of bird observed at the open space area by a local birdwatcher. He also reported the available balance in the open space account. The Commission discussed plants and vegetation found in open space areas and parks within Andover. Chairperson Sabel stated that it would be nice to partner with the Parks and Recreation Commission to raise awareness of the parks and open space areas. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Commissioner Kovich, Second by Commissioner Jarson, to adjourn the meeting at 7:38 p.m. Motion passed 7 -0. Respectfully submitted, David Carlberg Community Development Director Drafted by: Amanda Staple, Recording Secretary mmm� 1685 CROSSTOWN BOULEVARD N.W. • ANDOVER, MINNESOTA 55304 • (763) 755 -5100 FAX (763) 755 -8923 • WWW.CI.AN DOVER. MN. US TO: Andover Open Space Advisory Commission FROM: David L. Carlberg, Community Development Director SUBJECT: Open Space Acquisition of Property Update DATE: September 10, 2014 INTRODUCTION Staff has continued to work with property owners to pursue acquisition of open space property east of Hanson Boulevard NW and north of 1615` Avenue NW. DISCUSSION An update will be provided at the meeting. ACTION REQUESTED A discussion will be held at the meeting. Respectfully submitted, :2 d David L. Carlberg ! C I T Y 0 F A 1685 CROSSTOWN BOULEVARD N.W. • ANDOVER, MINNESOTA 55304 • (763) 755 -5100 FAX (763) 755 -8923 • WWW.CI.ANDOVER.MN.US TO: Andover Open Space Advisory Commission FROM: David L. Carlberg, Community Development Director SUBJECT: Martin's Meadows Management Plan Review DATE: September 10, 2014 REQUEST The Commission is asked to review the attached Martin's Meadows Management Plan that was developed in 2011 and advise staff on changes the Commission deems necessary to update the plan. Staff has also prepared a draft revised plan to assist the Commission on possible updates to the plan. Respectfully submitted, David L. Carlberg LNNT Y O F OVE Martin's Meadows Open Space Management Plan CITY OF ANDOVER 1685 CROSSTOWN BOULEVARD NW ANDOVER, MINNESOTA, 55304 (763) 755 -5100 MAIN (763) 755 -8923 FAX WWW.CI.ANDOVER.MN.US Martin's Meadows Management Plan Table of Contents Land Cover Types Map .............. ............................... Land Cover Types Description ........................... ............................... 2 Management Tasks Summary ........................... ............................... 4 Site Recommendations Description ............ ............................... VisitorsMap ............................................... ............................... TopographicMap ................................................. ............................... 10 PropertySurvey, .... ............................................................................. 11 Fes;r'' ;.. a � - � t vi '. # • - xt. u .�`„ Floodplairr Forest, Silver Maple Subtype A Al Aspen P Wet Meadow, alest Shrub Subtype' ° € Black Ash Swamp s WetMeadm% Oak Shrub Subtype Forest ,4e Oak Forest, Dry Subtype Dry ar ,% Subtype p Oak Forest, Dry Subty ". , Planted or liaintained Otasurs "_ - #k`�r.'' `, *, - - 4 ":.�,•,.,. Martin's Meadows Management Plan Land Cover Types Description Aspen Forest This aspen forest is of recent origin and characterized by a nearly uniform stand of quaking aspen, with generally dense amounts of brush. Interestingly, the landowner notes that the area was historically a prairie hay meadow up until the last 30 or 40 years, after which it was no longer hayed and quickly grew up to brush and trees. As evidence, where there are still some gaps in tree and shrub cover there is a good representation of mesic prairie grasses and (orbs including Indian grass, big bluestem, switch grass, bottle gentian, ironweed, Canada anemone, and others. Slack Ash Swamp This small forest area has a canopy dominated by black and green ash. It lies along the bluff, south of the electrical line that traverses the north end of the site in an east -west fashion. This area has a spring/seep area at the base of the bluff that is reported to flow in most years, with exception to instances of severe drought. In the past several years there have been minor amounts of water being discharged from the seep, a reflection of the below average annual precipitation in 2008 and 2009 and perhaps an indication of recharge area and residence time of groundwater prior to discharge. Floodplain Forest, Silver Maple Subtype The floodplain forest and associated wetlands along the Rum River represent the best quality natural community on the northwest side of this site. Although there are some areas with moderately young trees, many of the silver maple canopy trees are over 15 -20 inches in diameter and in places form a cathedral -like canopy. The subcanopy and shrub layer include boxelder, silver maple where canopy gaps occur, as well as black ash, green ash, and elm in slightly higher elevations of the floodplain. The ground layer here is generally diverse for the community type and exhibits overall good quality with only minor amounts of nonnative species. Common native grasses encountered here include wood reed, prairie cordgrass, giant manna grass, white grass, and Virginia wildrye, as well as several species of sedges. Observed native forb species richness was very good and includes spotted touch -me -not, toothed sage, water pepper, veiny pea, blue flag iris, sneezeweed, ironweed, several species of aster, and others. Mixed Hardwood Swamp This area of Grow Oak View Park and the adjacent residential properties is a shallow wetland that is densely populated by a canopy of paper birches, tamaracks, red maples, and black ash trees. The understory plants include a combination of grasses sedges and shrubs also found in the adjacent wet meadow. 2 Martin's Meadows Management Plan Non - native Grassland Areas of non - native grassland are located in the southeasterly portion of the site which was cleared for farming many years ago as well as along the transmission line corridors and in Grow Oak View Park. Several groups of aspen trees are located along northerly and easterly side of this area bordered by oak forest. Oak Forest, Dry Subtype These two oak - dominated community types occur on somewhat rolling upland areas at this site and are characterized by having relatively closed to fully closed canopies. In oak woodland areas larger bur and pin oak trees are scattered, or occur in groups. These older trees have moderately dense to very dense growth of younger trees and shrubs. Common among these second growth woody species are black cherry, quaking aspen, eastern red cedar, pin oak and to a lesser extent bur oak, green ash, basswood, and white birch, in decreasing order. The shrub layer is moderately thick to very thick with the most common shrub species including common elder and to a lesser extent species that are tolerant of grazing (thorny, e.g. prickly ash, raspberry and gooseberry), spread by runners and are vigorous resprouters (e.g. chokecherry), are unpalatable to most cattle (eastern red cedar), and/or demonstrate the ability to colonize sites following moderate to severe disturbance. Sedge Meadow Sedges and grasses dominate the south end of the large wetland where the ground remains saturated throughout the year and restricts the growth of trees. Wet Meadow The floodplain wet meadow is nice quality with several species of sedges, giant manna grass, white grass, wool grass and common sweet flag.; Wet Meadow, Shrub Subtype The larger wet meadow is dominated by lakebank sedge, tussock sedge, water dock, marsh fem, spotted joe -pye weed, sensitive fern, arrowleaf tearthumb, water hemlock and many others characteristic for wet meadows. Past attempts to drain the south wet meadow through ditching appear to still be affecting the hydrology and plant community composition of this wetland. This is evidenced in part by the large amount of red raspberry in some areas as well as some other shrubs that appear to be on the increase. AV Y O N NN ANDOVE Management Tasks Summary Martin's Meadows Management Plan Task Description Time Frame Approximate cost Site Access/Trails 1. Clear path through shrubs to facilitate entrance Winter 2010 -11 $250 2. Maintain existing trails On -going $1,000 3. Boardwalk access future Option a. Six foot wide by 485 feet on helical piers with handrail $160,000 Option b. Six foot wide by 550 feet with steel frame on poles with mud feet $50,000 c. Develop new trails future $3,000 Signage 1. Maintain signage and add signs as needed On -going $500 Manage invasive species 1. Clear buckthorn, prickly ash, and honeysuckle from wooded areas Fall 2011 $5,000 2. Continued removal of invasive shrubs Every 5 years $2,500 3. Manage reed canary grass within floodplain Future $5,000 4. Manage reed canary grass and purple loosestrife within wetland Future $3,000 Manage Native Species 1. Establish prairie within grassland. Remove invasive species (red cedar) Future $20,000 2. Manage wooded areas Future $5,000 Erosion control 1. Prevent erosion of soils On -going $500 Martin's Meadows Management Plan Site Recommendations Description Access The highest priority for this site is making it accessible to the public. At present, the best access is from the Rum River. Over land, the only access to the property is from the cul -de- sac at the end of Navajo Street NW. There is a relatively steep slope leading into the site that descends approximately twenty feet into a wetland. A direct route across the wetland is approximately 520 feet. There is a dense cover of understory vegetation and saturated soils in this area, which makes navigation by foot challenging. In the Winter of 2010 -11 a route through the wetland will be created by thinning the vegetation through higher areas of the wetland. In the short term, this route will provide access via land to the site. Light trimming of vegetation will be needed periodically to maintain the access. The success of this method of access will be evaluated as the general public makes more use of the site to determine if it can continue to provide sufficient access to the site. Should this natural trail access become problematic due to intermittent areas of surface water or saturated soils, a second option is to construct sections of boardwalk to bridge any gaps. If it is determined that the natural trail access and boardwalk sections will not provide sufficient access a more extensive boardwalk will need to be constructed through the wetland. Two options for a continuous boardwalk through the wetland have been identified. The first option is a permanent structure that would be constructed with wood sections secured to a steel frame that would be mounted on helical piers that would be anchored into the ground. This method of construction would require a permit from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Trails A second option is to construct a six foot wide boardwalk with wood sections set into a steel frame that would be supported by steel posts with wide mud feet that would sit on the surface of the ground. Based on the city's experience with a similar structure in Kelsey Round Lake Park, adjustment to the boardwalk would be necessary in the first few years as the supports settle into the ground. A series of natural trails within the site were created and maintained by the Luedtke family over many years. The highest priority is to continue to maintain these trails to provide a variety of routes through the site and to keep foot traffic from having a negative effect on the plant communities. Maintenance of these trails will involve occasional mowing and trimming of brush and tree branches. The trail routes will be evaluated periodically to determine if additional trail connections through the site are desirable. Martin's Meadows Management Plan Signage Entrance and boundary signage installation began in the Fall of 2010 and will be completed in the Spring of 2011 as weather permits. An entrance sign is located at the end of the Navajo Street NW cul -de -sac as well as along the river at a point where the site is accessible by watercraft. The entrance sign summarize the regulations established for open space properties by City Code 8 -4. Boundary signage was installed along the perimeter of the property at locations where they would be visible to visitors. Trimming of vegetation around the signs will be necessary to ensure that they remain visible. The signs will be evaluated periodically to ensure they remain in good condition as well as to determine if the use of the site requires additional signs to be installed. One potential issue is at the southern boundary of the site along the access road that continues onto the Luedtke property to the south. Boundary signs have been placed on either side of the road at the property line to clearly delineate the property boundary. This area will be monitored to ensure that visitors respect the property boundary. In the event that this becomes an issue, a gate may need to be constructed at this location. Additionally, snowmobile traffic from the river and transmission line corridors has been an issue in the past and continued to be an issue in the winter of 2010 -11. Snowmobiles traversing the slopes of the site can disturb the ground cover and leave areas of bare ground susceptible to erosion. No motorized vehicle signs will be provided at these entrance points and additional measures such as temporary snow fence will be considered where necessary. Management of Invasive Species The highest priority is to remove invasive species from the wooded areas of the site to allow the native plant communities to continue to prosper. Areas of Buckthorn, Prickly Ash and Honeysuckle have been identified and several approaches for removal have been discussed. The first option is to utilize in house staff and volunteers to periodically remove areas of invasive species. If events can be scheduled on an ongoing basis, this will be a cost effective way to control the invasive species on the site. Should these efforts not prevent expansion of invasive species, the city will need to consider contracting a professional service to remove invasive species based on available funds. A second priority is to manage Reed Canary Grass within the floodplain along the river. While total eradication may be very difficult, the goal is to prevent these grasses from hindering the natural growth of the floodplain forest species, which includes trees, shrubs, flowers and grasses. A third priority is to mange reed canary grasses and purple loosestrife within the wetland along the western boundary of the site. Due to the dense vegetation within the wetland and the overall difficulty of controlling these species, eradication will be a great challenge. The goal is to reduce the amount of invasive species to allow native wetland plant species to continue to be successful. Martin's Meadows Management Plan Management of Native Species The overall site has a solid foundation of indigenous plant material and maintaining its integrity is the most important goal. This will primarily be attained by the activities mentioned above. If funding or other resources can be identified, there are areas that can actually be enhanced. In general, this means a combination of management of unwanted species and introduction of native plant material. If successful, benefits include but are not limited to improved aesthetics, improved wildlife habitat, improved diversity and greater long -term sustainability. All of the different plant communities, including the prairie, woodland and floodplain have an opportunities for enhancement. The design and implementation of enhancement projects will be based on available resources. Prairie The prairie area is contains a significant amount of Eastern Red Cedar trees. Despite being a native tree, it is not a preferred species in a native prairie. In addition, there are several non- native grass and flower species that make up the prairie. Thus, a large scale cedar removal and eradication of the invasive grasses and flowers should be considered. Management activities that should be considered include prescribed burning, mowing, weeding and spot spraying. These all fall under a category of management termed Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Overseeding the site with a pre - determined mix of native grasses and flowers would also greatly benefit the site. Prairie restoration is a long -term commitment. In order to get the prairie to be fully functional and self sustaining, it could be a 5 to 7 year process. Once it's started, it's very important to continue, as stopping efforts could cause a major setback and end up being more costly in the long run. A full- fledged effort for this site could cost between $7,000 to $15,000. Project staff will do a thorough site analysis in the Spring of 2011 to evaluate the potential for prairie restoration. It can then be determined if restoration is feasible given the budget situation. A low- budget, short-tern management plan for the prairie that should be strongly considered is the cedar removal and a prescribed burn. Both of these activities could be done inexpensively, but still give the prairie a significant boost. Removing the Cedars could be done by City staff or contracted out. In either case, the Cedar could be utilized, which would keep the price down. In addition, the trees are small and easy to remove. This could be done at any time. A prescribed burn would most likely be contracted out. It would knock back the unwanted vegetation and give the natives (warm season grasses) an advantage. The best time to perform this is in late April or early May. The highest priority is to establish native prairie within the non - native grassland areas of the site. 7 Martin's Meadows Management Plan Wooded Areas Along with controlling invasive buckthorn and other species, some planting of native trees and shrubs can be accomplished in select areas. An analysis will be performed by project staff to determine areas that are short or lacking of quality, native material. These areas would then be prospects for planting projects. Volunteers could be recruited by staff, and bare root stock could be purchased at a discount rate. This can be an inexpensive way to immediately improve a woodland area. Floodplain Areas Due to access challenges, the complex nature of such projects and varying conditions of these areas, improvements to the floodplain areas are the lowest priority for management. This isn't to say things can't be done, but enhancing the other areas would most likely take precedent. With adequate resources, many types of projects could be done. A few examples include, tree and shrub planting projects and bank stabilization projects involving biologs and native seed blankets. Erosion Control An ongoing concern will be the potential for erosion and its effect on the river and the site as a whole. This is a secondary concern, however, as the site is well vegetated and currently does not have any major issues with respect to this. E River Overlook Bluff Overlook T • u �Vn`r4 � � r � Try :ice I y A J4 "b".. ¢� '� „I.. �. �M,b�• eY I t.., ,,-.- op � Certificate of Survey r ipT r City of Andover IMt Y91 Ow '.l1 O46 v W.ry. Mw. Y�nnx 4 L YAe L �ws'i ]L Iw n NY Yny Y� MY �,MY�AWMw�t nwa IYYY�v4Mn YY� �4nwYM „uY w, K1 wlrSYUrwwnsu MYYw 4w>Im,��Y,�„N nn~IY�aYM, wIM w Ww s1 M �sYMM V fY�w IYY4`aY In N4YIYYVh' to 1t ( MD Hoko sonn Andarrson Assoc., Inc. Pm% aro� Ow ve. m..a FOR i u~o -mom ,u rota Yi -mm aewmmnt Ict }. s ), UIZ Mi x. (t. & mow t mwY..rm..mmY.um . o c � U I YWE 0 Martin's Meadows Open Space Management Plan CITY OF ANDOVER 1685 CROSSTOWN BOULEVARD NW ANDOVER, MINNESOTA, 55304 (763) 755 -5100 MAIN (763) 755 -8923 FAx WWW.AN DOVE RMN.GOV Table of Contents Land CoverTVoes Map ...................................................................... 1 Land Cover Types Description _~.__.~_.~_..~._.-.~. 2 K8@nagemnRntTasksSu,nmary .......................................................... 4 Site Recommendations Description ................................................. 5 Visitors Map .................. Topographic Map ............ Property Survey ....^ .......................................`..^.........9 ........................................................ 10 ..................................................... 11 DRAFT• Land Cover I�pes Martin's Meadows Management PI Floodplain Forest, Silver Maple Subtype r ^n c reCru`' , Wet Meadow T V y Lf Wet Meadow, >� A Aspen Forest s. Shrub Subtype / , ko + Black Ash Swamp �ORnytie�d >4 i<,It y > _ Wet Meadow, Oak`• -. 6 ; w Shrub Subtype Forest _.g�* Oak Forest, Dry Subtype Dry Subtype Oak Forest, Dry Subty �r Non -me" Gran aand Upland"s�ne with Planted " >° or Maintained Grasses ,t" .v': 1ZE" AF Martin's Meadows Management Plan R D Land Cover Types Description Aspen Forest This aspen forest is of recent origin and characterized by a nearly uniform stand of quaking aspen, with generally dense amounts of brush. Interestingly, the landowner notes that the area was historically a prairie hay meadow up until the last 30 or 40 years, after which it was no longer hayed and quickly grew up to brush and trees. As evidence, where there are still some gaps in tree and shrub cover there is a good representation of mesic prairie grasses and forbs including Indian grass, big bluestem, switch grass, bottle gentian, ironweed, Canada anemone, and others. Black Ash Swamp This small forest area has a canopy dominated by black and green ash. It lies along the bluff, south of the electrical line that traverses the north end of the site in an east -west fashion. This area has a spring/seep area at the base of the bluff that is reported to flow in most years, with exception to instances of severe drought. In the past several years there have been minor amounts of water being discharged from the seep, a reflection of the below average annual precipitation in 2008 and 2009 and perhaps an indication of recharge area and residence time of groundwater prior to discharge. Floodplain Forest, Silver Maple Subtype The floodplain forest and associated wetlands along the Rum River represent the best quality natural community on the northwest side of this site. Although there are some areas with moderately young trees, many of the silver maple canopy trees are over 15 -20 inches in diameter and in places form a cathedral -like canopy. The subcanopy and shrub layer include boxelder, silver maple where canopy gaps occur, as well as black ash, green ash, basswood and elm in slightly higher elevations of the floodplain. The ground layer here is generally diverse for the community type and exhibits overall good quality with only minor amounts of nonnative species. Common native grasses encountered here include wood reed, prairie cordgrass, giant manna grass, white grass, and Virginia wildrye, as well as several species of sedges. Observed native forb species richness was very good and includes spotted touch -me- not, toothed sage, water pepper, veiny pea, blue flag iris, sneezeweed, ironweed, several species of aster, and others. Mixed Hardwood Swamp This area of Grow Oak View Park and the adjacent residential properties is a shallow wetland that is densely populated by a canopy of paper birch, tamarack, red maple, American elm and black ash trees. The understory plants include a combination of grasses sedges and shrubs also found in the adjacent wet meadow. 2 Martin's Meadows Management Plan At I Non - native Grassland Areas of non - native grassland are located in the southeasterly portion of the site which was cleared for farming many years ago as well as along the transmission line corridors and in Grow Oak View Park. Several groups cedar trees are located along northerly and easterly side of this area bordered by oak forest. Oak Forest, Dry Subtype These two oak- dominated community types occur on somewhat rolling upland areas at this site and are characterized by having relatively closed to fully closed canopies. In oak woodland areas larger bur and pin oak trees are scattered, or occur in groups. These older trees have moderately dense to very dense growth of younger trees and shrubs. Other species found include black cherry, hackberry, basswood and paper birch. The shrub layer is moderately thick to very thick with the most common shrub species including common elder and to a lesser extent species that are tolerant of grazing (thorny, e.g. prickly ash, raspberry and gooseberry), spread by runners and are vigorous resprouters (e.g. chokecherry), are unpalatable to most cattle (eastern red cedar), and /or demonstrate the ability to colonize sites following moderate to severe disturbance. Sedge Meadow Sedges and grasses dominate the south end of the large wetland where the ground remains saturated throughout the year and restricts the growth of trees. 1.'L�u�Tli*,7 The floodplain wet meadow is nice quality with several species of sedges, giant manna grass, white grass, wool grass and common sweet flag. Wet Meadow, Shrub Subtype The larger wet meadow is dominated by lakebank sedge, tussock sedge, water dock, marsh fern, spotted joe -pye weed, sensitive fern, arrowleaf tearthumb, water hemlock and many others characteristic for wet meadows. Past attempts to drain the south wet meadow through ditching appear to still be affecting the hydrology and plant community composition of this wetland. This is evidenced in part by the large amount of red raspberry in some areas as well as some other shrubs that appear to be on the increase. CRAFT Management Tasks Summary Martin's Meadows Management Plan Location Task Description Timeframe Cost Prairie areas Prescribed burn Burn off the prairies to Spring 2015 $2,000 knock back weeds, encourage native vegetation and prepare seed bank Prairie areas Plant forbs Broadcast seed forbs Spring 2014 (completed) $300 Prairie areas Prep for Prepare good seed beds Spring 2015 -fall 2015 $10,000 seeding/seeding seeding/seeding after burn and seed Woodland areas Thin stand Hire a logger to come in Winter 2014 -2015 $10,000 and remove the marked trees (by project staff) to improve health of stand and allow for more diverse, native plantings to occur; logger will utilize the timber Woodland areas Tree plantings Purchase and plant a Fall 2015, spring 2016 $10,000 variety of native trees; utilize volunteer groups to perform the plantings Floodplain Manage invasives such Try and limit the invasives Spring 2015 -fall 2015 $10,000 as reed canary grass from taking over area by strategically spraying them accordingly Mixed hardwood swamp Buckthorn control Continue efforts with On -going $5,000 buckthorn control by cutting and chemical applications Sedge meadow Boardwalk Construct a boardwalk $100,000 across sedge meadow to improve access and allow for maximum enjoyment and use of open space; City would apply for grant if we choose to do this Entire open space Signage Maintain signage and add On -going $500 signs as needed Entire open space Trail maintenance Maintain trail system for On -going $1,000 users �A Martin's Meadows Management Plan pRP Site Recommendations Description Access The primary overland access to the site is from the cul -de- sac at the end of Navajo Street NW. The site can also be accessed from the Rum River. Entering the site off of Navajo Street NW, there is a relatively steep slope leading into the site that descends approximately twenty feet into a wetland. In 2012 -13, the City re- graded the slope to provide a switch back to provide easier public access. A split rail fence was also added to define the access trail and to provide to the general public a safer traveled route. A direct route across the wetland is approximately 520 feet. There is a dense cover of understory vegetation and saturated soils in this area, which makes navigation by foot challenging. In the winter of 2010 -11 a route through the wetland was created by thinning the vegetation through higher areas of the wetland. In the short term, this route will provide access to the site. Light trimming of vegetation will be needed periodically to maintain the access. The success of this method of access will be evaluated as the general public makes more use of the site to determine if it can continue to provide sufficient access to the site. Should this natural trail access become problematic due to intermittent areas of surface water or saturated soils, a second option is to construct sections of boardwalk to bridge any gaps. The City will apply for grant money if the boardwalk idea is pursued. The applicable permits thru the DNR and the LRRWMO will be pulled prior to any activity occurring. Trails A series of natural trails within the site were created and maintained by the Luedtke family over many years. The highest priority is to continue to maintain these trails to provide a variety of routes through the site and to keep foot traffic from having a negative effect on the plant communities. Maintenance of these trails will involve occasional mowing and trimming of brush and tree branches. The trail routes will be evaluated periodically to determine if additional trail connections through the site are desirable. Signage Entrance and boundary signage installation began in the fall of 2010 and was completed in the spring of 2011. An entrance sign is located at the end of the Navajo Street NW cul -de -sac as well as along the Rum River at a point where the site is accessible by watercraft. The entrance sign summarizes the regulations established for open space properties by City Code 8 -4. Boundary signage was installed along the perimeter of the property at locations where they would be visible to visitors. Trimming of vegetation around the signs will be necessary to ensure that they remain visible. The signs will be evaluated periodically to ensure they remain in good condition as well as to determine if the use of the site requires additional signs to be installed. One potential issue is at the southern boundary of the site along the access road that continues onto the Luedtke 5 XZNO Martin's Meadows Management Plan property to the south. Boundary signs have been placed on either side of the road at the property line to clearly delineate the property boundary. A gate has also been installed at this location. Additionally, snowmobile traffic from the river and transmission line corridors has been an issue in the past and continued to be an issue. Snowmobiles traversing the slopes of the site have disturbed the ground cover and left areas of bare ground susceptible to erosion of the scenic overlook. No motorized vehicle signs were provided at these entrance points. In the summer and fall of 2012, native shrubs were planted by City staff and an Eagle Scout group to help stabilize the slope, deter snowmobiles and provide additional wildlife habitat. Finally, in 2013 -14 additional measures were taken on the slope's west side with the boarding or terracing and snow fence installation. An informational kiosk is being planned to be installed at the entrance to the site off of Navajo Street NW as a part of an Eagle Scout project. The planned three sided structure will be equipped with site trail maps, birding information and other resources in an effort to enhance the visitor's experience of the site. The project will be completed in 2014 -15. Management of Invasive Species The highest priority is to remove invasive species from the wooded areas of the site to allow the native plant communities to continue to prosper. Areas of Buckthorn and Honeysuckle have been identified and several approaches for removal have been discussed. Over the past couple years, City staff has done buckthorn management in the heavily infested mixed hardwood swamp area. Plants were cut and chipped up with a wood chipper as needed (fall 2012). Other seedless plants were left in the woods. In addition, grant funds were used to contract for the spraying of plants by Great River Greening staff. A second priority is to manage Reed Canary Grass within the floodplain along the river. While total eradication may be very difficult, the goal is to prevent these grasses from hindering the natural growth of the floodplain forest species, which includes trees, shrubs, flowers and grasses. A third priority is to mange reed canary grasses and purple loosestrife within the wetland along the western boundary of the site. Due to the dense vegetation within the wetland and the overall difficulty of controlling these species, eradication will be a great challenge. The goal is to reduce the amount of invasive species to allow native wetland plant species to continue to be successful. Management of Native Species The overall site has a solid foundation of indigenous plant material and maintaining its integrity is the most important goal. This will primarily be attained by the activities mentioned above. If funding or other resources can be identified, there are areas that can actually be enhanced. In general, this means a combination of management of unwanted species and introduction of native plant material. If successful, benefits include but are not H Dl1 NO Martin's Meadows Management Plan limited to improved aesthetics, improved wildlife habitat, improved diversity and greater long -term sustainability. All of the different plant communities, including the prairie, woodland and floodplain have opportunities for enhancement. The design and implementation of enhancement projects will be based on available resources. Prairie The prairie area contained a significant amount of Eastern Red Cedar trees. Despite being a native tree, it is not a preferred species in a native prairie. In addition, there are several non- native grass and flower species that make up the prairie. Thus, a large scale cedar removal occurred in December 2013. Prairie restoration is a long -term commitment. In order to get the prairie to be fully functional and self sustaining, it could be a 5 to 7 year process. Once it's started, it's very important to continue, as stopping efforts could cause a major setback and end up being more costly in the long run. Management activities that should be considered include prescribed burning, mowing, weeding and spot spraying. These all fall under a category of management termed Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Over - seeding the site with a pre - determined mix of native grasses and flowers would also greatly benefit the site. A prescribed burn would most likely be contracted out. It would knock back the unwanted vegetation and give the natives (warm season gasses) an advantage. The best time to perform this is in late April or early May. The highest priority is to establish native prairie within the non - native grassland areas of the site. Emphasis will be placed on maximizing plants that benefit pollinators such as bees, birds, etc. Wooded Areas The wooded areas are in pretty good shape overall. Under the latest grant received, these areas could benefit from Timber Stand Improvement (TSI), involving the thinning of the stand and the incorporation of more native trees and shrubs. This will involve involving a logger to remove the marked trees and utilizing the product. This will diversify the forest and prevent insects and diseases from having a big impact on its health. Volunteers could be recruited by staff, and bare root stock could be purchased at a discount rate. This can be an inexpensive way to immediately improve a woodland area. Oak wilt is present in this area and poses no serious threat to the stand. Staff will continue to monitor the areas for this and other insect and disease problems and take necessary management steps where needed. F000dplain Areas Due to access challenges, the complex nature of such projects and varying conditions of these areas, improvements to the floodplain areas are the lowest priority for management. This isn't to say things can't be done, but enhancing the other areas would most likely take precedent. With adequate resources, many types of projects could be done. A few examples 7 Martin's Meadows Management Plan include tree and shrub planting projects and bank stabilization projects involving biologs and native seed blankets. Erosion Control An ongoing concern will be the potential for erosion and its effect on the river and the site as a whole. This is a secondary concern, however, as the site is well vegetated and currently does not have any major issues with respect to this. Big Rivers Grant and Current Management Goals With the latest grant the City received under the Metro Big Rivers Phase 4 grant program, staff is currently working with its partner, Great River Greening (GRG), to prioritize management activities and utilize the $117,000 it received. The City has until June 30, 2016 to improve the different parts of Martin's Meadows under this grant. More details of proposed activities are ensuing as discussions between the City and GRG occur. 3 M NL A a.. 4012 ,S yµ River Overlook -- r Bluff i Overlook y ♦ � s 1 I � 1 r 1 r � 1 NL A a.. 4012 ,S yµ 0 t i ✓.Yfi/ f ,� $ I• 1 � - " W�i:i' Yf'1r1 '•�, ice• . _ _ Yr ha', I y i 4 K" y r .e a, Certificate of Survey City of Andover .y0( dOx O/w NEVI ESTAMS.0 Ca^M1. YlinnMi. n1O po.anwsn a +. eaaa ,. TMWYp ]2 �9a r. ,waw cNb. eaaaaaaw. M�v xores i. 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