Assessing Tall-Grass Prairie Quality for Restoration Management Planning at Lake Elmo Park Reserve

Abstract

Washington County is characterized by a distinct set of landscapes and natural resources, including rivers and streams, bluffs and ravines, lakes and wetlands, forests and grasslands, and prime farmland. The County has acquired nearly 4,500 acres of land to preserve these landscapes and resources for the public to enjoy. Developing goals and methods for responsibly managing and stewarding this public land is crucial. Currently, land management approaches fall along a spectrum that ranges from “active” management focused on eradication of undesirable non-native vegetation and restoration to historical land covers to “passive” management focused on managing the natural succession of the land and adapting the land to prepare for new environmental and climate conditions. Washington County staff desired a tool that could be used to assess the appropriate management approach for a given landscape to guide their management practices. A graduate student pursuing a Master of Professional Studies in Horticulture Degree worked with Washington County project leads Connor Schaeffer and Dan MacSwain as her capstone project to create a management guide for use with tall-grass prairie landscapes. The student’s final report and project poster are available.