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"Guidelines for Managing and Restoring Natural Plant Communities Along Trails <br /> and Waterways" will be used as part of the long term management plan for this <br /> park. <br /> Considering that ecosystems are dynamic and continually changing overtime and space,an <br /> adaptive management approach and framework fits very well with the County's practice of <br /> ecological restoration and stewardship. In the context of ecological restoration, the <br /> following adaptive management principles will guide the stewardship plan for Mississippi <br /> West Regional Park; <br /> 1. Problem Assessment: <br /> Define the scope of degradation to the site, synthesize the existing knowledge <br /> about it, and explore the potential outcomes of alternative restoration actions. <br /> 2. Design: <br /> Design a restoration plan and monitoring program that will provide reliable <br /> feedback and information about the effectiveness of restoration methods. <br /> 3. Implementation: <br /> Effective restoration is usually a multi-step process, requiring not only installation, <br /> but many years of maintenance and monitoring. Anoka County's Natural Resources <br /> Unit has begun restoring natural plant communities within Mississippi West <br /> Regional Park. At the time of acquisition, 121 acres of the property consisted of <br /> agricultural fields and pasture land. Since acquisition, Anoka County's Natural <br /> Resources Unit has restored 49.9 acres to native prairie with another 23.3 acres <br /> scheduled for restoration in 2011. The objective of the Natural Resources Unit is to <br /> restore the remaining acreage as funding becomes available. <br /> 4. Monitoring: <br /> Biological indicators are monitored to determine how effective the restoration <br /> methods are in meeting the project objectives. <br /> 5. Evaluation: <br /> The actual outcomes are compared to the anticipated outcomes. In addition, the <br /> reasons for the underlying differences are interpreted. <br /> 6. Adjustment: <br /> Practices, objectives, and models used during the restoration process may lead to <br /> reassessment of the problem, new questions,and new options to try in a continual <br /> cycle of improvement for a given project. <br /> Management and stewardship practices for maintenance in the park will include periodic <br /> mowing, prescribed fire management, invasive species surveys, hazard tree assessments, <br /> seed collection and propagation, invasive species removal, turf management, brush and <br /> tree maintenance, erosion control, forest health assessments and maintenance, wildlife <br /> surveys and management as needed, and interpretive signage. Maintenance and <br /> stewardship practices also include regular trimming of trees and vegetation along <br /> roadways, trail corridors, park facilities and structures. <br /> Page 22 of 22 <br />