2002 Natural Resources Management

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Reservoir Woods Reservoir Woods is approximately 115 acres between Victoria Street and Dale Street. The site, which includes some of the highest ground in Roseville, is home to a 30- million gallon, underground water reservoir that for years had been operated by the City of St. Paul. When the reservoir became outdated, St. Paul sold the land to the City of Roseville in 1997. That land was added to 34 acres of land that the City leases from Roselawn Cemetery to create the park. Neighborhood task forces and park and recreation planners expressed the wish that this new park remain pristine and forest like. Outside of adding a pathway, the only development the City has done is to restore eroding soft trails and eradicate invasive plants such as buckthorn and purple oosestri e. Wetlands within the park include a number of small depressions of good quality, with a few wetlands on the southeast side of the park that have been impacted. The uplands contain an interesting mix of oak forest /woodland, dry prairie, and planted pine forest. The pine forest, although planted, is beginning to take on characteristics of a remnant pine- hardwood community. These pines are said to have been planted in the earliest years of the 1900's. The upland communities are in good to very good condition with excellent potential for improved quality with active management. As the Roseville City Parks website notes - "You can walk for miles in this 120 -acre Roseville park and see little sign of development... just hilly terrain with lots of pine trees, wetlands, prairie grass, and savanna. It is a place to enjoy natural, untamed beauty ". It is a very unique place in such an urbanized setting. Recreation at Reservoir Woods is largely passive, there is no playground equipment, ball fields, or skating rinks. The following pages includes community descriptions and management recommendations for both uplands and wetlands within the park. City of Roseville 119 Parks Natural Resource Management