Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 04/08/2021

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Species Surveillance Create an ongoing species inventory of the area through regular species surveys every three years to identify any pressing concerns of future infiltration by invasive species as well as monitor biodiversity progress and presence of SGCN. Not only will this allow us to measure how successful management of the park has been by assessing the ecological quality and health of the area, it will produce valuable data for organizations trying to study anything from population counts and species distribution to migration patterns.2 Habitat Maintenance Bluebird Houses To encourage the use of the bluebird trail through the area, move any houses enveloped by vegetation to the edge of shrubland or understory they currently occupy to provide unobstructed access. Bat House Maintain a 10-foot clear zone around the bat house to the south, southeast, and southwest to prevent any vegetative obstruction of solar heating of the house. Move some logs into the worn footpath between the house and the paved path to discourage human traffic. These measures will ideally allow for a higher likelihood of use by and increased benefit for native bats. Erosion Control Address erosion in front of the swing outlook through addition of more rock. Use a boat with some rigging to level the dock affected by erosion and add any rock or sand as needed to maintain stability. Ensure the onramp to the dock is not a tripping hazard through grading and addition of soil or gravel. Border Maintenance Drawing on the same pool of volunteers assisting with removal of woody invasives, maintain the spruce screen through the removal of infringing deciduous trees. In the area just southwest of the parking lot on site, push back the tree line 15 feet by removing any deciduous trees (mostly quaking aspen) that occur between the line of spruces and the paved path. The same cut stump treatment that was used to address the woody invasives is recommended. The site should be monitored to determine any future need for further removal. Didactic Signage In addition to the volunteering opportunities mentioned above, developing interpretive signage that highlights the park's ecological significance would allow visitors to further engage with their local natural history and increase their awareness of the importance of environmental stewardship. Hiring a graphic designer or enlisting one as a volunteer to help develop signage is recommended. Topics to feature include: benefits of an intact prairie ecosystem, invasive species, native species, SGCN, habitat corridors and connectivity, ecological importance of the riparian area and oxbow lake, bluebird houses, bat house, biodiversity, and lifecycle habitat. 16