Lilydale Floodplain Forest Enhancement

This program will enhance and manage approximately 54 acres of disturbed floodplain forest in the City of Saint Paul through invasive species removal and control, and reforestation efforts. The project will improve tree canopy diversity, increase connectedness of high-quality forests, increase the probability of a self-sustaining forest community, reduce sedimentation of impaired waterbodies, and improve habitat for fish and wildlife. This program will focus on a significant land parcel in the Mississippi River Critical Area, within the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (MNRRA) and the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge Important Bird Area. Work will be guided by the Lilydale Regional Park Natural Resources Management Plan (Lilydale NRMP) (Bonestroo, 2009) and modeled off of recommendations for floodplain forest enhancement as suggested in the Crosby Farm Regional Park Ecological Inventory and Restoration Management Plan (Great River Greening, 2005).