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Upland Natural Community Descriptions and Management <br />Recommendations <br />The majority of upland areas in Villa Park are mostly dominated by lowland hardwood forest <br />trees that have colonized upland sites. Prior to the arrival of these lowland trees, the hillsides <br />here appear to have been more open, with a few scattered groves of bur and pin oak. A few <br />savanna and prairie species linger on the south side of the park, along an old fenceline in an open <br />area. These are a reminder of the former openness of the park. Overall, the upland areas in Villa <br />Park have potential to improve with active management, but may require a concerted, long -term <br />effort. <br />Community VL -U1 <br />Floodplain Forest <br />Qualitative Rank: D <br />Nonnative Shrub Rank: 14 <br />This community is at the north end of the park on either side of a ponding area. It appears to be <br />an area that was formerly more open and has been colonized by trees most commonly found in <br />floodplain areas. The current canopy cover varies from about 75 percent to full closure. The <br />most common trees here are cottonwood and boxelder that average about 18 and 10 inches, <br />respectively. Other trees found here less often include American elm, quaking aspen, silver <br />maple, green ash, black walnut, and a small planting of black locust. <br />The shrub layer varies from moderately thick to dense and includes a mix of young canopy trees, <br />native and nonnative shrubs. The most common natives found in the shrub layer include green <br />ash, boxelder, and black cherry saplings, as well as red - berried elder, red osier dogwood, and <br />gooseberry. The nonnatives found here include European and glossy buckthorn, which are the <br />most common shrubs, as well as Tartarian honeysuckle. <br />The ground layer includes an assemblage of natives and nonnatives, with most species being <br />common in disturbed habitats. Natives species in the ground layer include white avens, Canada <br />goldenrod, yellow wood sorrel, white snakeroot, clearweed, Virginia stickseed, and pale tough- <br />City of Roseville 141 <br />Parks Natural Resource Management <br />