Laserfiche WebLink
Community VL-U2 <br />Old Field <br />Qualitative Rank: NA <br />Nonnative Shrub Rank: 7 <br />This area is c�assified as an old field, althou�h it appears that its formcr use �vas as a gasture <br />rather than as a crop field. It has apprflximately 15-25 perccnt brush and small tree caver. Some <br />of which is r�ative and some of which were planted. The most common native small trees and <br />shrubs here include quaking aspen, red osier dogwood, New Jersey tea, bur and pin oak, and <br />smooth sumac. The nonnatives planted around the site inclt�de caragana, Russian ofive, various <br />spruce and pine trees, and Amur maple. Other nonnatives that arrived at the site on their own <br />include Siberian elm and European buckthorn. <br />The most common ground layer species are nonnative pasture grasses, including Kentucky <br />bluearass and srnooth brome. Other nonnative grasses and forbs found in this community <br />include yellow and white sweet clover, goatsbeard, red ciover, birdfoot trefoil, and Canada <br />thistle. The native grasses and flowers on the site include tt�ose that tend to be tolerant of <br />disturbance. These include stiff �oldcnrod, yarcow, side-flowening aster, wild lettuce, Canada <br />goldenroci, common malkweed, Virginia crceper, and hedge bindweed_ Although this <br />community contains sorxie species normally found in prairies and savannas, past overuse for <br />a�riculture caused a dramatic shift away from any recognized native plant community type. <br />The manajement recommendations listed below assuzne tha� this area will be managed toward a <br />native forest with an emphasis in planting appropriate native species. If a decision is made to <br />manage this area for its open character (grassland), clearing of nonnative irees, grass, and shrubs <br />should be conducted with prescribed burnin� and supplemental secding of appropriate grasses <br />and flowers. 1Vlaintaining the area as a grassland would be a more costly and inaintenance- <br />intensive path to choose for this area Chan glantina native trees and shrubs. This path tivas chosen <br />because the area has few native prairie anc� savanna species remaining. <br />Cits�� of Roserille 1�3 <br />Parks Nntrrrrrl Resoairce Nlcaringeraxent <br />