ECOLOGIAL RESTORATION
ER
AT CEDAR LAKE POINT BEACH (AND BEYOND)
How many times have we heard in a song, read in a book, or seen in a photo, the idea that wintertime is a time of quiet, rest, or solitude? There's a sense that wintertime is when we're supposed to hunker down, become less mobile, conserve ourselves for survival. But I've learned that sowing seeds in the winter doesn't mean that they are hibernating like a grizzly bear whose heart beat drops to about 8 to 10 beats per minute. Seeds in the winter are actually active, preparing themselves for spring germination.
It's like that with ecological restoration too. There are things happening during these coldest days and nights of winter that will bear fruits at harvest time. There are two areas of work being done now that will affect Cedar Lake Park and beyond. Outside, we've got scheduled a licensed, official burn of Buckthorn brush in the ready. Working with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) Natural Resources team, we've coordinated the burning of stacks and stacks of brush, tree tops, branches, and root masses. I sure love a good fire, and what joy it will be to see Buckthorn as the fuel for the flames, transforming these noxious invasives to a pile of dust. For safety reasons, I can't be specific or public about when the burn will happen, but will be happy to post some photos after that takes place. It will be great to clear several junky looking piles from our site. The second area of work on these cold days is happening in the warm indoors, most often at my desk but with a window facing a great southwestern exposure where I get so absorbed that it feels like the sun passes across the sky as fast as a bird. That work is reviewing and preparing response to the MPRB Cedar-Isles Plan (formerly known as "Cedar Isles Master Plan"). It's a general plan that scopes out "how the parkland within the project area is operated, maintained, and improved for the next 20 to 30 years. It includes plans for all facilities, including the roadway along the lakes." We are within the 45-day final public review period. If you are interested, here is a where you can submit your thoughts which also includes a link to the draft Plan. It was an extensive two-plus year process, of which I attended several public meetings in the second year. I kept reading and reading the details of the plan. There's really a lot in the plan. But something kept tugging at me. An uneasiness. I knew so much time and effort had gone into this, but as one of many volunteers who puts a lot of practice time into ecological restoration, I couldn't help but step back and prepare some overall thoughts and concerns about what the final draft of the Plan said, and just importantly what it did not say. These are mostly more high level strategic thoughts about frameworks and constructs that may be helpful for tactical decisions today and beyond. I'm still working on feedback on some of the plan's detailed designs. But frankly, some of those detail design issues are lacking adequate context and strategy. I'll share those thoughts in posts on this blog in short order. But I'm still fleshing things out. So this is just a head's up. Additionally, I received a notice from the MPRB about my need to submit next year's application to become Park Steward. So that will give me some more time to think through activities to plan to continue restoring Cedar Lake Point Beach's ecology. I'm trying to be more community building and inviting for others to join in. But honestly, part of the joy of this volunteer work is just in the doing. Not the planning. Not the scheduling. Not the coordinating. Just the doing; when the weather is right, when my time is free, and when I'm drawn to the joy of being in the woods interacting with nature. That is not to say I wouldn't enjoy others company, or that other are not welcome to do some of that too. So please reach out to me specifically if you want to get your hands dirty too! Thanks for reading. Comments welcome. Thanks, Steve
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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. |