Cutting along Lower Afton and in Battle Creek Park

Some residents have asked what has been going on with all the cutting of trees and brush along Lower Afton Road in Battle Creek Park. Here is the statement from Ramsey County Parks:

Ramsey County Parks and Recreation Department is starting a major prairie, savanna and oak woodland restoration project in the park. The project will total 200 acres in three project areas across the entire park.

Part of the project is the removal of invasive tree species, including buckthorn, black locust, and Siberian elm. In past projects, the cut brush and trees have been burned on site. RC Parks is working with Environmental Wood Supply to provide biomass for Ever-green Energy's downtown heating plant. In the past several weeks, Environmental Wood Supply converted the cut trees and brush into 4,800 cubic yards or 1200 tons of wood chips. This quantity of chips will produce 8.6 billion BTUs of heat. If all that energy was put into heating it would be enough to keep the County Courthouse nice and warm for 11 months.

This spring and summer, the work on the restoration sites will include a prescribed burn, seeding and additional invasive species control. The work will continue in 2011 with weed control, selective mowing and additional burns. Natural Resources manager, John Moriarty says, " The early stages of the restoration work may appear like we are doing damage to the environment, but the results will be visible within two to three years."

The restored areas will provide a more diverse mixture of prairie and woodland grasses and wildflowers. The area will also provide increased habitat to native wildlife, including such bird species as boblinks, meadowlarks, and grasshopper sparrows.

Funding for the work comes from a $350,000.00 grant from the Parks and Trails Fund of the Legacy Amendment.