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messy, they support a high number of plants and animals throughout their <br />decomposition cycle, and are therefore important. <br />• The removal of weedy and/or exotic tree specics such as Siberian clm, boxeider, <br />Russian olive, black locust and eastern red cedar is encouraged. Plant higher value <br />native trees and shrubs back into forests followin� problem species removal. <br />• Oak forest communities are adapted to fires and can often be improved through <br />prescribed burns. Prescribed burns will generally increase diversity of grasses and <br />forbs, encourage oak seedlinb gernunation and set back exotic or invasive shrub <br />species. Where oak forest communities occur adjacent to prairie and savanna <br />communities, fires from prescribed burns should be allowed to burn into the oak <br />forest. <br />• Lowland hardwood forest communities should not be burned as fz'equently as oak <br />forest, savan�►a, prairies, or same wetlands. <br />• Oak wilt may be af particular concern in several of the parks due to the dominance of <br />oak. Oak wilt is spread during the growing seasan thz'ough damaged parts of oak <br />trees. Canopy openings created by oak wilt can augrzzent invasion by exotic species if <br />not replanted or managed to restore oak woodiands. Oak trees should not be cut, <br />pruned or in�ured between April 15 and July 1 of each year. Exposed roots injured by <br />construction activities facilitate the spread aak witt infection. If injury occurs, the <br />�vound shauld be treated with a tree wound dressing within 15 minutes or less to <br />reduce the infection potential. A vihratory plo�v can be used to sever roots along the <br />edge of any construction area prior to beainnin� work. This can prevent the transfer <br />of oak wilt fungus betwccn individuals through grafted roots and allow for <br />re�eneration at the point of cutting. If vibratory pIowin� is used, the disturbed grou�d <br />should be restored to pre-plow contours and planted with an appropriate native seed <br />mix to prevent invasion by nonnative shrubs and weeds. Tree protection zoncs <br />should be fenced to prevent entry or compaction by construction equipment. Soil and <br />construction materials should not be stored �vithin the tree protection zone, as this can <br />result in contamination of the tree protectian zone and/or other construction sites. <br />Citv of Rosei�rlle 31 <br />P[rrks Nattrra! Resorrrce Mcntr�genaent <br />