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Big Island Nature Park Management Plan November 2011 <br />____________________________________________________________________________ <br />16 <br /> <br /> <br />2. Maintenance techniques and strategies. The City is responsible for routine <br />maintenance of the natural and recreation areas. <br /> No alteration of vegetation is allowed in natural areas except as described herein <br />for restoration, plant establishment or maintenance. <br /> Herbicide must be applied by certified pesticide applicators, and all applications <br />must be made according to the herbicide label. <br /> Management of common buckthorn and other woody invasive species is a high <br />priority, given possible erosion impacts due to shading and suppression of <br />ground layer vegetation and forest regeneration. Plants larger than pencil-size <br />in diameter shall be cut and the stumps treated with herbicide to prevent <br />resprouts. Cut plants with mature berries shall be removed from the site. Any <br />chipped buckthorn shall not be spread on site. Seedlings and any resprouts shall <br />be treated with foliar herbicide in autumn after desirable plants have senesced. <br /> Dead trees shall be removed only if diseased or causing a safety hazard. <br /> The recommended management for leafy spurge on the site is biological <br />control. Flea beetle (Aphthona spp) larvae feed on the roots of leafy spurge, and <br />are available from Hennepin County Environmental Services. The beetles <br />mature and can be released in early summer. <br /> Mowing of recreation areas should be conducted in spring before the leafy <br />spurge goes to seed, to a 4-6‖ mow height. Prescribed fire may be appropriate <br />for management of non-native cool season grasses in the recreation area. No <br />burning shall take place between May 15th and Sept 1st in order to protect <br />nesting animals and beetles released for biological control of leafy spurge. <br />Shoreline Protection <br /> As part of the 2008/2009 District capital project, 2,725 feet of shoreline and <br />bluff were stabilized with riprap shoreline protection, live stakes, brush <br />mattresses, and fascines. <br /> Planting of shrubs and/or vines is recommended for camouflage of riprap near <br />the dock envelope. Recommended species include: <br /> <br />Common Name Species Name <br />Riverbank Grape Vitis riparia <br />Virginia Creeper Parthenocissus quinquefolia <br />Red Twig Dogwood Cornus stolonifera <br /> <br />Monitoring <br />An annual report prepared by a qualified restoration ecologist, shall be submitted to the City <br />and the District. The report shall include: <br /> Description of any management or restoration work performed with date and location <br /> Invasive species present with location and abundance <br /> Location and description of erosion on shorelines, bluffs, and other areas <br /> Non-compliance and other issues <br />In the first year of monitoring, photo points shall be established and located with GPS, so the <br />same points can be reassessed in future monitoring reports. If problems needing corrective