2002 Natural Resources Management

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small trees. The majority of the brush and trees are concentrated in the lower portions of the prairie where the soils hold more moisture. The most common trees and shrubs include quaking aspen, blackberry, black raspberry, smooth sumac, black cherry, buckthorn, gray dogwood, and green ash. Despite the large amount of tree and shrub cover, many of the grasses and a few flower species characteristic of dry -mesic prairie are still present here. The most common native grasses include big bluestem, little bluestem, Indian grass, purple lovegrass, Leiberg's panic grass, porcupine grass, and prairie cordgrass. Some of the more common forbs include narrow -leaf pussytoes, bergamot, hoary vervain, prairie mugwort, tall anemone, wild strawberry, stiff and showy goldenrods, sky blue aster, and Virginia mountain mint. The driest soils of the prairie also include rough blazingstar, round - headed bushclover, golden aster, gray goldenrod, and wild four o'clock. This prairie is exceptional, considering that it occurs within a fully developed suburb of a major metropolitan area, and is only four miles from downtown St. Paul. Due to the rarity of intact natural areas, and especially prairies in first ring suburbs of the Twin Cities, it is worthy of active management. Community Activity Priority Estimated Cost Comments RW -U2 Remove small High $2,000 per acre Cut and treat all stumps with 25 -50% trees, Buckthorn or 100 -200 solution of Roundup or Garlon. Stack and other volunteer hours and burn brush in winter. Cut before nonnative shrubs per acre burning in any particular burn unit. Re -plant with natives where bare soil exists. RW -U2 Reintroduce High $1,000 - 200 Critical for maintaining prairie and Prescribed Fire per event savanna communities. Burning should not be conducted until brush clearing is completed in any given area. (Table continues) City of Roseville 123 Parks Natural Resource Management