ECOLOGIAL RESTORATION
ER
AT CEDAR LAKE POINT BEACH (AND BEYOND)
Thanks to this past week's snow, the MPRB Natural Resources team was able to get out today to conduct controlled burns of piles of invasive cuttings. The path around the peninsula of Cedar Lake Point Beach was virtually lined with cuttings collected since last June. Thanks to the snow cover, the staff has probably just about four day window to conduct burning of this type throughout the city. That's why they brought in contract help from the Conservation Corps. Have to admit, I got pretty fired up to see so many resources concentrated on today's work. It was great to be able to chat with two of our three Natural Resources department staff about our collective efforts and visions for the area. we have great opportunities to observe what kinds of plants will spring up in the next few weeks now that many areas have been cleared and replanted. We talked about where we can plan some more shrubs and the thoughts of some larger tree plantings such as Swamp White Oak and Burr Oak high canopy trees mostly at the higher grounds. And how Serviceberriy, Nannyberry and Hackberry shrubs will continue to serve to offer mid-tier level growth. We discussed how we will continue to plant Dogwoods along the shoreline. And to address the density of Mulberry that we still want to deal with over the long-term, we will watch the extent of routing of them, which will encourage or discourage us from believing they may be eradicated and replaced with native trees and shrubs. Cedar's north shore and woodsWe looked over northward over the lake to the north side ion Cedar Lake to review the cutting that was accomplished over there past few months. Both Natural Resources mentioned to me independently that there are explicit plans to use the light rail easement funds to initiate clearing of Buckthorn in the wooded area north and east of the lake. I had not heard anything official on that, but out sounds like the wheels are turning to imitate that work. That really brightened my outlook that Cedar Lake is getting its overdue attention for restorative care.
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Oh, the treasured morning walk around Cedar Lake on this beautiful early spring morning. The sunshine, the birds singing from the trees, the geese squawking from there shoreline, and the silhouetted shadows of trees cast upon the wilderness walk. To be present in the moment is one of nature's gifts. That's one part of the experience. As like many weekend mornings, to be among the first human tracks through this "unmanaged natural area" as the Minneapolis Park Board designates it, is also to experience part of last night's past. Three nodes of activity seemed to be really happening last night. "Sunset Bench" seemed most popular, followed by Memorial Grove, and then the mound. I'm trying to envision the fun it must have been roast almost two packages of hotdogs over a campfire. Half of package were left untouched and left behind. And those more than a dozen cans pf Hamm's beer must have tasted so good that it seemed like fun to toss all the cans into the marsh. At Memorial Grove and the mound, campfires must have been more about creating ambiance. Chipotle and beers and vodka were feast favorites. At the mound, it was like last week, toss down the throat and then down the hillside a half dozen Modellas. What do we expect? The thing I can't seem to understand is, how can we expect anything other than this kind of behavior when we have done so little to say what this area should be? Of course it would be nice if those who were using the park were not abusing it. But wouldn't it also be nice if we had posted hours of when the park is open and closed? Wouldn't it be nice if we could have the area patrolled to provide a sense that this kind of behavior will not go unchecked? In reading and re-reading the history of establishing this area, it's always been community led. In 1986, the community created the Cedar Lake Park Association to purchase the land keeping it from being developed, "to establish a nature park in the heart of the city." Since they donated the land to the Park Board, most formal expressions of the park's experience with nature have been urged by the local community. East Cedar Beach wasn't even named until a few years ago. The wooded area to the south of 21st Street was incredibly accomplished by two women and their legions of community volunteers. The wooded area to the north created Memorial Grove, planting a spiral tree design was created by volunteers. The prairie along the Cedar Lake Regional Trail wouldn't be there if it were not envisioned and driven by community volunteers. We're at a time where we could use a little help from the MPRB. This area needs to be elevated beyond "wilded" as it was referred to in the Cedar Isles Plan before the community pushed back saying this was just placing a positive spin on the reality of the area actually being neglected. It is formally called an "unmanaged natural area" meaning it faces special challengers even getting on the radar and attracting funds to support its needs. Welcoming more to the nature park in the heart of the city More visitors, brought on by there warmer months and the oncoming light rail with two adjacent stops, will mean it's never more important to clarify and establish the identity and nature of this natural area. If we don't reinforce and remind and communicate the original intent of why this area was created, it remains vulnerable to being defined by those who can unknowingly and unintentionally destroy this nature park in the heart of the city.
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March 2024
AuthorI'm Steve Kotvis, volunteer Park Steward for the Minneapolis Cedar Lake Point Beach peninsula who has a newfound love of restoring this natural area and more. I'm learning as I go, and enjoy sharing that with those who have an interest. I'm also a photographer, so the photos in this blog are mine unless otherwise labeled. |