Jensen Lake Enhancement Phase II

Dakota County will begin Phase II of a 112 acre woodland enhancement (FDs37) at Lebanon Hills Regional Park. Phase I of this project (CPL15 ? ?Buck Pond Prairie and Woodland Restoration?) removed large quantities of buckthorn and Siberian elm, and began control of herbaceous invasives in the ground layer.
This project will return open and large gap habitats typical of early succession FDs37 communities to Lebanon Hills Regional Park. Similar to savannas, these open habitats can support a highly diverse ground layer, due to the variation in light availability. FDs37 is a frequently occurring plant community within the local area, however a legacy of fire suppression and exotic species invasion have erased the once-common woodland-savanna ecotones.
To restore these ecotones, Phase II will involve a modest amount of additional canopy thinning and seeding within high quality woodlands, but will also take full advantage of disturbed inclusions (historic homesteads, formerly cultivated land, etc) to create larger gaps and openings. Volunteers will control invasive species where appropriate, conduct plant and native bee surveys, collect and sow white oak group acorns and other native seed, and plant and tend targeted ?propagation pods? containing select native species. Dakota County will engage a contractor to initiate the reintroduction of fire to the project area, to cover approximately one third to one half of the project area.
Surprisingly large numbers of both purple and Loesel?s twayblade (Liparis liliifolia and Liparis loeselii) have been found throughout Lebanon Hills, particularly in savanna areas immediately adjacent to this project area. The openings and large gaps that this project will create are ideal habitat for this species. It is possible that some twayblade has persisted within the project area where buckthorn invasion and associated shading were light. With appropriate management of this project area, staff anticipates the successful recolonization of this area.