Loading...
5. Wind in the Pines Invasive Woody Removal Project Staff Report Date of Meeting: March 4, 2020 To: City Council From: Brenda “Bee” Stignani, Office Assistant Re: Project Support Request: Invasive Woody Removal Project Proposal Background: Friends of Scandia Parks and Trails (FSPT) is proposing a project to remove non-native invasive woody plants from several Scandia Parks and Minnesota Scientific and Natural Areas (SNA): • Wind in the Pines Nature Park • Log House Landing • Falls Creek SNA • Crystal Spring SNA The project would be in collaboration with Great River Greening (GRG) and the SNA program of the DNR. FSPT has identified approximately 25 acres at the 4-sites that have invasive woody plants, primarily buckthorn and honeysuckle. See map attached. Issue: The Parks and Recreation Committee supports the FSPT’s request to participate in this project by providing $2,000 in matching funds and a letter of support to include in the grant application. Proposal Details: FSPT has scouted the sites and mapped the invasive plants. GRG has agreed to be the ecological contractor to most of the removal work, which consists of cutting and stump-treating the plants. Most of the brush is fairly small and not dense, so disposing of the brush would mostly be cutting it small and letting it lie. Where it is dense, a few burn piles may be needed. Funding for the project would come from a grant from the Outdoor Heritage Fund. GRG would apply for the grant, as part of a larger application. GRG has an excellent track record of receiving these grants. Grant applications are due at the end of May, with funding beginning in approximately July 2021. Estimated costs for the project is 25K. Approximately $2,500 will be needed in matching funds. FSPT has committed to contribute $500 in addition to in-kind match, working directly on invasive woody removal at portions of the project area. FSPT requests the City of Scandia to commit to providing the remaining $2,000 needed in matching funds and a letter of support to be included in the grant application to benefit the Wind in the Pines Natura Park and Log House Landing. Fiscal Impact: The City of Scandia would provide $2,000 for support of the Invasive Woody Removal Project. Options: 1. Support the Invasive Woody Removal Project Proposal by providing $2,000 and a letter of support to include with the grant application. 2. Do not support the Invasive Woody Removal Project Proposal. Recommendation: Option 1 Invasive Woody Removal Project Proposal Date: March 3, 2020 To: Scandia Parks and Trails Committee From: Karen Schik, Friends of Scandia Parks and Trails Project Scope Friends of Scandia Parks and Trails (FSPT) is proposing a project to remove non- native invasive woody plants from several Scandia Parks and State Scientific and Natural Areas: • Wind in the Pines Nature Park • Log House Landing • Falls Creek SNA • Crystal Spring SNA The project would be in collaboration with Great River Greening and the SNA program of the DNR. We have identified approximately 25 acres at the 4 sites that have invasive woody plants, primarily buckthorn and honeysuckle. See map below. FSPT has scouted the sites and mapped the invasive plants. GRG has agreed to be the ecological contractor to do most of the removal work, which consists of cutting and stump-treating the plants. Most of the brush is fairly small and not dense, so disposing of the brush would mostly be cutting it small and letting it lie. Where it is dense, a few burn piles may be needed. Funding Funding for the project would come from a grant from the Outdoor Heritage Fund. GRG would apply for the grant, as part of a larger application. GRG has an excellent track record of receiving these grants, so there is a good possibility of success. Grant applications are due at the end of May, and funding would not begin until July 2021. Estimated costs for the project are roughly 25K. Approximately 2,500 will be needed in matching funds. FSPT has committed to contribute $500. We seek a commitment from the city for the remaining $2,000. FSPT would also contribute in-kind match, working directly on invasive woody removal at a portion of the project area. Madden Bancroft 7.4 ac 5.9 ac 3.2 ac 2.1 ac .8 ac .6 ac Invasive Woody Rem oval P roposa l - Sca ndia ¯1:13 ,000 Legend LogHouseLanding crystalSpringsNorth Wind in the Pines Park 43 ac Buckthorn crystalSpringSouth FallsCreekSNA 2016 aer ial 0 1,000 2,000500 Feet