7.1 PRSR 12-08-2021
The Elk River Vision
A welcoming community with revolutionary and spirited resourcefulness, exceptional
service, and community engagement that encourages and inspires prosperity
Request for Action
To
Parks and Recreation Commission
Item Number
7.1
Agenda Section
Discussion Item
Meeting Date
December 8, 2021
Prepared by
Michael Hecker, Parks and Recreation Director
Item Description
Buckthorn Removal
Reviewed by
Tim Sevcik, Streets and Parks Superintendent
Reviewed by
Cal Portner, City Administrator
Action Requested
Discuss a dedicated funding source and priorities to conduct buckthorn removal.
Background/Discussion
Commissioner Anderson attended the November 15 City Council meeting in which buckthorn management and
funding was discussed. The Council was informed the Commission was not interested in utilizing the Park
Improvement Fund (PIF) as a funding source. The Commission also discussed at the November meeting to defer
recommendations to staff for to what it would take to maintain and progress buckthorn removal.
Staff met with our Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR) partner who has worked with the city on Natural
Resource Management Plans for both Bailey Point (BPNP) and W.H. Houlton Conservation Area (WHHCA),
which included buckthorn removal. Utilizing $50,000 in matching city funds from the PIF, we have leveraged
$743,625 through the FMR for restoration, $300,000 of which went to buckthorn removal on roughly 200 acres
at WHHCA and BPNP.
If we continue our FMR partnership efforts on BPNP and WHHCA, we will be able to leverage their natural
resources expertise and additional financial resources for continued buckthorn removal. There is potential to
leverage additional funding sources for other city parks in the future with FMR or other partnering initiatives.
City Council referred the management plan and funding discussion back to the Parks and Recreation Commission.
Financial Impact
If the city can provide $6,250 per year for 2022 to 2026, the FMR will be able to secure $150,000 for buckthorn
removal follow-up at WHHCA and BPNP. Staff recommends taking our contribution from the Park
Improvement Fund.
Attachments
Natural Resource WTRP Buckthorn Plan (handed out by Dave Anderson at Council meeting)
Elk River FMR Buckthorn Summary
Elk River / FMR Buckthorn Summary
Funding secured by FMR from the Outdoor Heritage Fund as recommended by the Lessard
Sams Outdoor Heritage Council.
2015: $160,000
NRMP and 100 acres of buckthorn removal and follow-up (2015-2019)
2018: $140,000
An additional 90+ acres of buckthorn removal and follow up (2018-2022)
2022 (pending): $150,000
Follow-up treatments on the original 100 acres of buckthorn removal (2022-2026)
Summary:
FMR has brought roughly $300k to buckthorn control efforts on just under 200 acres at the
William H. Houlton Conservation Area. This equates to roughly $1,500 per acre and includes
initial large-scale removal, multiple years of follow-up herbicide treatments, and native grass
seeding. On the majority of acres, control has been very successful. This cost per acre is actually
quite low for buckthorn control compared to other metro-area projects. However, this work
has not completely exhausted the buckthorn seedbank, nor has it ensured that native plant
cover is diverse or dense enough to resist future invasion. FMR has applied for additional
funding to continue follow-up treatments and native seeding and planting on the initial 100
acres of removal, and may decide to pursue future funding for a second phase. This would push
the overall cost per acre of removal to roughly $3,000 per acre.