Upland Vegetation Management Plan

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PURPOSE A letter drafted by Bonestroo & Associates, Inc., dated July 26, 2007, was forwarded by the City of Orono to Britt and Richard Gage, stating that the wetlands existing on their property were categorized as Preserve Wetlands. The letter further states that, a 50-foot buffer adjacent to all existing wetland would be required according to current city ordinance for Preserve Wetlands within which a11 invasive plant species would need to be eradicated completely. The invasive plant species specified within the letter are common buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) and garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata). This vegetation management plan describes effective methods to remove these undesirable plant species coupled with methods to re-establish native vegetation within bare areas where these undesirable species were once dominant. Pursuant to Orono Municipal Code, Chapter 78, Article XI, Section 1601, last paragraph, "only the wetland that is potentially adversely impacted shall be subject to the buffer requirement." The "potentially impacted area" exists within the wetland (Wetland 2) on the southern portion of the subject property. This southern portion of the subject property is the area where the applicants, Britt and Richard Gage, will be installing a pool and cabana. The applicants will initiate the vegetation management (i.e. removal of the buckthorn) immediately after the construction permit for the pool and cabana is approved by the City of Orono. The vegetation management will initially begin within the area of construction and then be applied concurrently with the construction to the remainder of the buffer area existing adjacent to Wetland 2 on the southern side of the subject parcel. The vegetation management will continue annually until the invasive vegetation is eradicated. See the Schedule of Activities section below for a description of the timeline involved with the vegetation management activities. METHODS The protected upland buffer area will require aggressive management to be preserved in a natural condition with predominantly native, non-invasive plant species. Management will include the control of existing non-native and invasive vegetation, the encouragement of native species, and future monitoring of the site to discover any newly established invasive plants. Presently, areas within the 50-foot buffer are dominated by the non-native and invasive plants common buckthorn and garlic mustard. Native species that are dominant fall into the Southern Mesic Maple-Basswood Forest classification according to the Minnesota DNR Ecological Classification System (Dunevitz and Lane, 2004). Common buckthom and garlic mustard (see below) occur at this site and are considered invasive within this community type. We have provided control recommendations for common buckthorn and garlic mustard. A list of desirable native species that are lrnown to occur within this community according to Dunevitz and Lane (2004) and Restoring and Managing Native Wetland and Upland Vegetation(R. Jacobson, 2006)is also provided. Svoboda Ecological Resources 2180 Abingdon Way Project No.:07-056-48 1 Richard&Britt Gage