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Draft NRMP Section 5.g Mary Hills Mary Hills Nature Area Location: 2190 Bonnie Lane Size: 15.87 Acres Description Mary Hills Nature Area is located within a residential neighborhood in the northeast corner of the city and adjacent to railroad tracks. The nature area provides a great example of a mixed hardwood forest, with inclusions of wooded and emergent wetlands. Bassett Creek cross through the nature area, and although not publicly visible from the trails, is a significant resource. A single trail winds through the park, and passes through the wooded upland areas with a connection to the City of Robbinsdale Sochacki Park. Many of the smaller habitats are not visible from the trail. The nature area is identified by an entry sign, has cable and wood fencing that adds to the aesthetics of the nature area. It also has picnic and seating areas along the trail. Forest and Woodlands Forest and woodland communities include upland woodland. Disturbed deciduous forests and woodland with mixed species canopy of cottonwood, green ash, and box elder are also widespread. Overall, the forested portions are very mixed in species, ages, and quality, and reflect a moderate level of disturbance. Wetlands Wetland and aquatic communities are embedded within the forest and woodland communities including a floodplain forest with a mixed species canopy, a wetland complex that includes a small cattail marsh surrounded by wet meadow habitat, a mixed shrub dominated wetland and a willow swamp. Mary Hills contains one of the larger shrub swamps in the City. Wetlands Wetland is present within the Mary Hills Nature Area, including large areas of reed canary grass-dominated wet meadow, cattail marsh, and shrub swamps dominated by willow. Areas of hardwood swamp and floodplain forest are also present. In general, the wetlands are not accessible by from the trail system, and tend to blend in and not be noticed. The wetland is composed of common species, but is unique in the connectivity to Bassett Creek, the dominance of shrubs, and the relative diversity within a relatively small space. GVRM Plan 2015 MARY HILLS NATURE AREA page 1 Aquatic Resources Bassett Creek flows through the park, although it is not visible from the trails within the park. Bassett Creek is visible from along Bassett Creek Drive, where it also connects to the adjacent Rice Lake Nature Area. Bassett Creek is an important resource, as are the multiple wetlands and floodplain areas associated with it. Prairie and Grassland No areas of prairie or grassland are present within the na -a. Open areas dominated by reed canary grass are considered to be wetland. • Invasive Species As Mary Hills Nature Area is dominated by w• -d habitat, buckthorn ! imary concern. Indeed, the majority of the nature area has buckt with • ities rangin. relatively sparse, to impenetrable. Wetland a •ntain buckt • ding the less co on glossy buckthorn, which is present within th amp habi Reed canary grass is also present with Mary Hills, but is shade li • • • ly dom is the wet meadow habitats present within opening -e canop 41111111., Table 5.13 Invasive Species Cover Percent Change 2003-2013 D '- '•n " ` "' 003 ' % Cover 2013 % Change Commo 70 +20 Site 'mmenda � `� s Mary Hills hrt re Area is -at e . •le of a mixed hardwood forest, with inclusions of wooded and •ent wetl- The •eficiencies within the Mary Hills Nature Area are primarily relate. -getatio Natural Resources Manage buckthorn (high priority) Buckthorn is prevalent throughout the park, and all areas could be managed to control this species. Amenities GVRM Plan 2015 MARY HILLS NATURE AREA page 2 A concept plan (provide future weblink or insert plan into Appendix) has been developed as part of the Sochacki Park/Mary Hills/Rice Lake Nature Area, which includes collaboration between Three Rivers Park District, the City of Robbinsdale and the City of Golden Valley. This plan should support the efforts of that collaboration. One recommendation would be to ensure that pet waste is addressed, and that opportunities are provided to view Bassett Creek. Table 5.14 Mary Hills Nature Area Improvement Priorities Priority Management Description Action Qty Unit Unit Cost H, M, L T .e Cost Os inion Wooded Mixed hardwoods, Buckthorn H uplands, 12 Acre $3,500 $25,000 shrub swam. shrub swamp eradication/control Upland Remove undesirable M woods and Improve forest health, trees, replant with 6 Acre $3,500 $20,000 hardwood diversity native species swam. GVRM Plan 2015 MARY HILLS NATURE AREA page 3 �A�b rt 1 5A Mtrc '� G ,�`Y { aSr a p. 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' q 1 • t • 1 1 us... 1 I 1,..1. 1 `N.; •1 „ + y a Legend A °° 11 Nature Area Boundary Land Cover11 '+„ °, Trail Material Turf '41 l Asphalt Bassett Creek "mottoes'' Boardwalk Wet Meadow '',..' _,....... . ,,- -,,, •-,,...--zr .::.m."-z. - - Concrete Shrub Carr , Limestone Mixed Hardwoods 2" "°F.. Paved .. ` `' MaryHills Nature Area-ExistingAmenities FIGURE 5.46 alk vee Golden Valley Natural Resources Management Plan W Q Mary Hilts Nature Area - Photographs j r ; '} •• • 1 - [ .,. l f~ —• • •-- . _ 4 st -:,. . ' 1y • 3 �•'�'' ti 'L,t - pr —t' mT ♦ -...,,,,c4,. .."' f'•l �.. " J.AY i '.� u. der ► ~ ... �.. ill +.* 4. 114'T r . - General Mills Nature Preserve- Photographs 'r ° « '4 ti. f I _ �'Y 4 n a ' a `op. ....c.,,, .�, lo zo •10 .. a "#m^om� { v ,r arv. 4Ks . U elf ... 4.., , •N, ve • ileV ,„$.01 ".1.0.t*IIIr.,. - * i 4 .dp I - ''`< •