05 May 2024 Arden Hills Notes - Laserfiche WebLink

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cityofardenhills.org • May 2024 • 1 The Official City Newsletter for Arden Hills Residents May 2024 Goats Returning to Chatham Trails The most charismatic form of Buckthorn management will return to the Chatham Trails open space in early June. This will be their second visit to the area as they continue to graze Buckthorn to help with its removal. We can expect roughly 20- 30 goats, similar to their first visit last September. Residents are invited to walk the trails during this time to see the goats at work. Two fences will be put up to keep the goats from wandering: one low-voltage electric fence on the side closest to the goats and one regular fence to keep people away from the energized fence. The fences will be installed 1-2 weeks before the June start date, and signs on and near the fences will notify visitors about the project. Some of the trails may be temporarily closed due to the way the fencing may be laid out, so it will be important for visitors to refer to the posted signage. Buckthorn has been on the state’s Noxious Weed List since 1999, and both Common and Glossy Buckthorn can be found at Chatham Trail, among others. Until recently, there wasn’t enough knowledge about management strategies. New research has made buckthorn management more feasible, though still challenging and time-consuming. Learn more at mda.state.mn.us/plants-insects/ minnesota-noxious-weed-list. While the goats are not a complete solution to our City’s buckthorn problem, they are a valuable tool in managing these woody, noxious weeds. By eating all the leaves they can reach (up to about 6’), they weaken the shorter plants by forcing them to use more energy from their roots to resprout. If done frequently enough, the saplings will eventually die, bringing us one step closer to a healthier trail area. The goats are also valuable for opening up the understory so that volunteers can have better access to cutting and removing the buckthorn from seedlings to mature trees. The City’s Parks, Trails, and Recreation Committee is always looking for more volunteers to help with Buckthorn removal. If you are interested in volunteering, please call the Public Works Department at 651-792-7850. Buckthorn Pickup and Tool Rental for Residents The Public Works Department is once again offering a pickup service for buckthorn branches and leaves (no root waste). They will pick up buckthorn on Fridays, beginning May 17 and continuing through October 25. To utilize this service, you must submit the buckthorn pickup request form on the City’s website. This form must be submitted by noon on Thursday for pick up in the same week. Residents must place the buckthorn in neat, manageable piles along the street curb, with the cut ends facing the street. As a reminder, only buckthorn will be accepted. There is a helpful buckthorn pickup procedures document on the City’s website. Residents can also dispose of their buckthorn at Ramsey County’s collection site located at 1881 Hudson Road, St. Paul. For help with buckthorn removal, residents can reserve a buckthorn removal tool (weed wrench) for one week at a time. Reservation requests may be completed online, through the City’s website, or in person at the Public Works office. Once the completed reservation form has been submitted, City staff will confirm the reservation and tool availability. There is no fee for using this tool. To learn more, sign up for buckthorn removal, or rent the tool, please visit cityofardenhills.org/1172/Buckthorn.