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15 3. Natural Resources Management Recommendations Great River Greening staff conducted plant surveys in September 2024and July 2025to evaluate the 3- parks’current conditionsand determine potential next steps for management as well as long-term stewardship. Maps and tables in this sectiondisplay recommended habitat types to use as guides for targe plant communities in each park, with tasks and price estimates for initial and currently planned work followed by continued maintenance over a 5-year timeframe. Seed lists can be found in Appendix A, and planting lists in Appendix B. A guide for managing specific invasive plant species follows in Appendix E. The following guidelines here were used in the decision-making process for writing the outline of the proposed restoration actions described in the rest of section 3. 1.Reduction/mitigation of non-native and invasive species. Due to vectors being likely to persist on the sites due to their urban setting and relatively small size, non-native species will likely persist on the site to some degree. To account for that external impact, many management units include an initial removal of the most dominant invasive species, followed by a revegetation plan that can provide competition against re-colonization by invasives. 2.Base restoration targets on current vegetation structure. Habitat enhancements are more likely to succeed, and be cost-effective, if they are to some degree accepting of the current structural condition of the vegetation. To the extent feasible, areas with mature tree canopy should be maintained as forested despite any potential inconsistencies of the forest composition with the pre- settlement vegetation of the area. Likewise, areas currently identified as managed turf or grasslands present the best opportunities for enhancement such as prairie, savanna, wet meadow, or other grassland habitats. 3.Consider impacts to park users during and after restoration activities. Restoration activities can be disruptive to these well-used, public spaces and may have short-term, negative impacts on public access and on the public’s experiences of the park. To the degree possible, high-disturbance activities (tree removal, forestry mowing, herbicide application, turf removal), should be undertaken within a condensed period. Likewise, higher consideration should be given to end-result goals that will provide aesthetic benefits for park users as well as native habitat enhancement. More intensive pocket plantings of native species, priority placement of planted trees and shrubs, and consideration of bloom times and establishment trajectories are recommended to accomplishing those goals. 4.Promote native vegetation establishment wherever possible. While existing planted non-native specimen trees provide a function and should not necessarily be replaced, any future plantings should be comprised of native species of local origin that provide the maximum habitat value for wildlife. Turf areas that do not receive high utilization for recreation are good candidates for conversion to high diversity grassland plantings to enhance resources for pollinators and other species, as well as creating a more robust and diverse landscape experience for park users with varying interest throughout the seasons. 5.Adapt to observed changes and conditions.Adaptive and responsive management is a key element for long-term success. After the initial restoration phase is complete, site monitoring and consultation with ecologists will keep the project on track to achieve the natural resource goals. The tables below show the Restoration Evaluation Scores for each park prior to the initiation of habitat restoration and after the first winter of contracted buckthorn removal.