11-14-23 PTRC - Laserfiche WebLink

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NEW BUISNESS – 5F Proposed Plan Forested sections: ● We (Kerri Seemann & Mark Kelliher) would like to continue working with the city to remove buckthorn (and other invasive trees/shrubs) from these sections of Chatham Trails through hand cutting and goat browsing. A third browsing in late summer of 2024 is advised. ● If cutting during the winter is allowed in the future, I would recommend that the city either allow volunteers with burn crew certification to oversee the burning of brush piles during winter brush cutting OR hire contractors to burn the brush piles during the winter. That would save the Public Works crew the effort of hauling the piles out of the woods in the spring for chipping as well as potentially kill some of the young buckthorn in the areas burned. ● I would like to help with seeding these areas with suitable native plants. I have enough seed for an initial seeding of the areas that are currently cleared. If more buckthorn can be cleared this winter, I would recommend that the city order additional seed. An additional, lighter seeding will likely be needed in future years to fill in gaps; seeding after a fall burn would be ideal. ● When there is sufficient vegetation to carry a fire (fall 2024 or 2025), we recommend hiring a contractor for a controlled burn of the areas. That should kill the buckthorn seedlings and free up nutrients for more vigorous native plant growth. ● For any larger buckthorn (or honeysuckle or Amur maple) that is still a problem in fall of 2024– having re-sprouted from cut stumps – I would advise that the city apply a basal bark treatment of triclopyr to the stumps. Wet Meadow: ● I recommend that the city council consider hiring a contractor to kill the cattails, purple loosestrife, and any invasive grasses between the wet meadow and the woods or trail. ● If the council wishes to keep the cattails, I recommend that the city use herbicide to kill the purple loosestrife and any invasive grasses between the meadow and the woods, so that native species can be planted. ● I would be willing to grow some of the plants for this area if the city purchased the seed and supplies. ○ According to A Healthy Nature Handbook: Illustrated Insights for Ecological Restoration from Volunteer Stewards of Chicago Wilderness, Common Tussock Sedge (Carex stricta) is best grown by planting a plug in a 3-gallon fiber pot and seeding forbs around it. These fiber pots should ideally be kept moist in a special nursery bed for a year or two (while the site is being prepared) before being planted on-site. ● I would be willing to help plant this area after the invasive species are removed (fall 2024/5?) We (the PTRC) might be able to recruit volunteers for this, if planned far enough in advance.