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3 NATURAL COMMUNITY TYPES OF THE <br />STUDY AREA <br />The following is a brief description of the major natural community types that are currently <br />found in, or would have historically occurred in the parks inventoried for this project. The <br />descriptions draw from field surveys in Roseville, the region, and from Minnesota's St. Croix <br />River Valley and Anoka Sandplain: A Guide to Native Habitats (1995). Following the <br />descriptions, the sections discuss management recommendations for each of the community <br />types. These recommendations have the potential to be used to enhance the natural community <br />areas that remain in the five parks that are part of this project. <br />PRAIRIE AND SAVANNA COMMUNITIES <br />Sand - Gravel Prairies - These prairies were once common on sandy, well drained, glacial and <br />periglacial soils in the area of Roseville. These communities are open grasslands with patches of <br />forbs, and exposed soil that are often created by a combination of wind erosion, and animal <br />burrowing and digging activities. These communities are also strongly influenced by periodic <br />fires and drought and tend to favor plant species dependent on fire for regeneration and those <br />able to withstand droughty conditions. <br />Typical woody plants include smooth sumac, prairie rose, and leadplant. Characteristic <br />graminoids and forbs include hairy grama, side oats grama, prairie dropseed, and plains muhly <br />grass. Characteristic forbs include rough blazingstar, grey goldenrod, stiff goldenrod, dotted <br />blazingstar, hoary puccoon, butterfly milkweed, and large - leafed pussy -toes. Rare plants found <br />on this type of prairie include kitten -tails and Hill's thistle. <br />Common animal species include mourning dove, field sparrow, western meadowlark, pocket <br />gophers, red fox, American toad, and garter snakes. Threats include invasion by nonnative <br />grasses, such as Kentucky bluegrass and smooth brome, and invasion by woody plants. <br />Sand - Gravel Oak Savanna - These are relatively open communities of scattered, short, open - <br />grown bur and pin oaks above a layer of grasses and forbs. Trees may be widely scattered, and <br />City of Roseville 13 <br />Parks Natural Resource Management <br />