Settlers Park - Prairie and Wetland Restoration Project
Background
Settlers Park was founded in 2001, when the land was dedicated to the City as part of a residential development. The western half of the park, designated as the “Green Meadow” or “Zelena Louka” was intended to become a native prairie but lacked funds to execute the project at that time. In 2023, the City of New Prague was awarded grant funding through the MN DNR Expedited Conservation Partners Legacy Grant to convert the western section of the park into native prairie. The purpose of the project is to eliminate the existing and noxious and invasive plants/trees that degrade the native plant community and hinder the water quality of the wetland. Some existing invasive species include buckthorn, reed canary grass, brome grass, etc.
Board of Water & Soil Resources (BWSR) state mixes of mesic and riparian native prairie grasses (35-241 and 34-262) will be used. These mixes will include multiple species of grasses, forbs, sedges, and rushes such as big bluestem, purple prairie clover, rough blazing star, switch grass, nodding wild rye, Virginia mountain mint, fox sedge, and American slough grass. These plant species all range in various heights and blooming seasons. This means that there will be constant flowering/blooming in the park for most of the year, which will provide ample food for pollinators and contribute to the natural beauty of the park.
Timeline
Project work began in the Fall of 2023. The grant requires that the project must be completed by the end of June 2026.
Below is the rough timeline of the project:
|
Contracted Task |
Equipment |
Tentative Schedule |
|
Site Prep Herbicide |
UTV with broadcast sprayer Herbicide backpacks |
May 2024 June 2024 May 2025 |
|
Site Prep Mow |
Zero turn ride-on mower Hand tools as necessary |
June 2024 |
|
Native Seeding: Wet Prairie |
Dew Drop No-Till Drill, UTV, Harrow Rake |
October 2024 |
|
Native Seeding: Mesic Prairie |
Dew Drop No-Till Drill, UTV, Harrow Rake |
October 2024 |
|
Management Mow |
Zero turn ride-on mower Hand tools as necessary |
May 2024 July 2025 September 2025 May 2026 |
|
Management Spot Herbicide |
Herbicide Backpacks |
June 2025 September 2025 May 2026 |
These dates are subject to change due to weather conditons.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who will be doing the work?
A: Rock Leaf Water Environmental.
Q: Where is the work taking place?
A: The whole western half of Settlers Park (6 acres), specifically the “Green Meadow” portion of the park will be converted into a native prairie. Work will occur from 10th Ave SE to the trail entrance sign near the parking lot. Herbicide spraying and native seeding will be applied up to the property line. Rock Leaf Water Environmental is aware of the property markers and was given surveys to prevent any encroach into neighboring properties.
Q: Why were several trees removed?
A: Several trees in the park were ash trees that showed potential or were infested with Emerald Ash Borer. Other tree species were invasive, internally rotting, or structurally compromised. All the remaining trees are not anticipated to be removed.
Q: What herbicide is being used?
A: Aquaneat (active ingredient glyphosate) mixed to manufacturer’s instructions. When herbicide applications are done on the site, signs will be posted at the entrances, notifying pedestrians of the work and to keep off the vegetation.
Q: What is the procedure for managing invasives in the wetland/stormwater pond?
A: Rock Leaf Water Environmental plans to manage the reed canary grass in the wetland areas with herbicide. Per the Aquaneat Safety Data Sheet, “Aquatic applications registered for certain formulations may also result in glyphosate entering surface waters. Complete degradation is slow, but dissipation in water is rapid because glyphosate is bound in sediments and has low biological availability to aquatic organisms. These characteristics suggest a low potential for bioconcentration in aquatic organisms and this has been verified by laboratory investigations of glyphosate bioconcentration in numerous marine and freshwater organisms with and without soil…. In addition, any residues accumulated in organisms were rapidly eliminated.”
Q: Why is the healthy grass being sprayed with herbicide?
A: The whole western section of Settlers Park will be converted into prairie grass. It is easier for the new prairie seed to establish and grow without the grass, especially since this is a no-till project.
Q: What will the site look like when it is complete?
A: Staff does not have pictures of the outcome of the project, but BWRS riparian and mesic prairie seed mixes (35-241 and 34-262) will be used. The attached documents to this website are a list of all the seeds that will be planted as well as their scientific name, and % of mix. More information can be found online regarding each species’ mature height, appearance, etc. Also attached is a project diagram of where the seeding will take place.
Q: What are the benefits of this project?
A: There are multiple benefits to the project. For instance, the project will consist of the removal of noxious and invasive species, which will strengthen the existing ecosystem. The project will also reduce the need to mow acres of grass, saving costs, time, labor, and fossil fuels. The seed mixes that were chosen will bloom throughout the year, providing a constant source of nutrients/food for pollinators. Furthermore, it will help delineate properties that abut the park.
For questions about the project, contact Kyra Chapman, Planner at kchapman@ci.new-prague.mn.us or 952-758-4401.