Natural Resources Restoration Projects
Restoration projects take place throughout Ramsey County. The projects listed below were funded by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources' Conservation Partners Legacy Grant Program through the Outdoor Heritage Fund, with matches provided by Ramsey County and in-kind contributions.
Current restoration projects
Battle Creek Regional Park
Creek Corridor Restoration
Ongoing restoration work will take place in the oak and mesic woodlands surrounding the creek corridor in Battle Creek Regional Park. Work will include prescribed burns in spring 2019 and 2021, buckthorn and other invasive species removal, and native seed sowing.
Northwest Bluffs Wildlife Habitat Project
Located in the northwest section of Battle Creek Regional Park, this 72-acre project will restore an eclectic mix of oak savanna, oak forest, shrub swamp seep wetlands and convert brome field to prairie. The project will improve wildlife habitat by removing invasive plants through cutting and controlled burns, replanting and seeding of native plants, and protecting mature forest trees while restoring the natural forest floor. Work will be completed by summer of 2018.
View project map (PDF)
Battle Creek & Long Lake Regional Parks
Ramsey County Prairie Expansion Project
In an effort to reduce mowing and create habitat, 38 acres of brome and turf grass areas will be converted to prairie in select areas of Battle Creek and Long Lake Regional Parks. This will benefit pollinator insects and birds that inhabit tall grass prairies. Invasive trees will be removed to allow for more sunlight on the sites, herbicide application will be applied to existing grasses, prescribed burns and drill seeding of native grasses and flowers will take place. Work will be completed by summer of 2019.
Fish Creek Open Space
Lower Fish Creek Restoration Expansion Project
The Lower Fish Creek Restoration Expansion Project will restore 88 acres of oak woodlands. The will include, removal of invasive species, mostly buckthorn, a prescribed burn in the spring of 2017 and planting of native seed to promote growth of native flowers and grasses. Stacked tree material will be burned on site during the winter of 2017 and a prescribed burn will occur in the spring of followed by a planting of native seed. All work will be completed by summer of 2018.
View project map (PDF)
Keller Regional Park
Keller Lake Savanna & Woodland Project
An oak forest/savanna located in the southwest corner of Keller Regional Park is a wildlife habitat. The area serves as a habitat corridor along Phalen Creek and Keller Lake. This project will enhance the 20 acres of oak forest and savanna by removing invasive woody species, through managed fire and increasing the native plant diversity by planting native flower and grass seed. Clearing efforts will occur in the winter of 2017 and tree material will be burned on site. A prescribed burn will occur through the restored areas in the spring of 2017 followed by a planting of native seed. Work will be completed by spring of 2019.
View project map (PDF)
Long Lake Regional Park
Long Lake Oak Woodland Restoration Project
This project is a continued restoration effort that started through volunteers and donations on 20 acres of oak savanna and woodlands within Long Lake Regional Park. The restoration will expand to include another 5 acres, for a total of 25 acres restored. The restoration will include the removal of woody exotic and invasive species, and removal of larger trees, such as boxelder, cottonwood and some conifers, to decrease the encroachment on the oak trees and field areas that will be converted to oak savanna. Clearing will continue in the winter of 2017 and tree material will be removed or burned on site. A prescribed burn will take place through the restored areas in the spring of 2017 followed by a planting of native seed and oak tree seedlings.
View project map (PDF)
Rice Creek Regional Trail
Middle Rice Creek Forest Restoration Project
The Rice Creek corridor extends 22 miles through Anoka and Ramsey County and provides habitat for migratory waterfowl and upland birds that nest and travel within the Mississippi flyway. This project will restore 80 acres of creek corridor habitat back into quality oak forest, through removal of woody invasive species, suppression of oak wilt and removal of larger trees. Clearing will occur in the winter of 2017 and tree material will be burned on site. A prescribed burn will occur through the restored areas in the spring of 2017 followed by a planting of native seed and oak tree seedlings. All work will be completed by summer of 2019.
View project map (PDF)
Vadnais-Snail Lakes Regional Park
Snail Lake Woodland Restoration Project
The project is located south of Snail Lake Road and north of Gramsie Road within the city of Shoreview, Minnesota and lies within the Vadnais-Snail Lakes Regional Park system. The site is approximately 63 acres and consists of six land cover class restoration areas. The project will begin winter of 2018/2019 and will go until summer 2021. The Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District and Ramsey County have teamed up to restore the forest and 4,000 linear feet (4 acres) of wetland buffer habitat within. This area supports one of the largest oak forest and associated wetland habitats in the region. However, over the last several years, it has been degraded by invasive vegetation, flooding and erosion. With funding from a DNR Conservation Partners Legacy Grant, this multi-year project is designed to create more healthy and resilient forest and wetland ecosystems. For more information about Snail Lake, please visit Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District's information page.
View project map (PDF)
Kohlman Creek
Kohlman Creek Restoration Project
This project, which is funded by the Ramsey County capital improvement program, will be throughout various locations within the Kohlman Creek Open Space, starting with locations east of White Bear Lake Avenue. Ramsey County Parks & Recreation will be conducting removal of invasive species, mainly buckthorn, through mowing and hand removal. The 86-acre Kohlman Creek Protection Open Space is located in the east-central part of Ramsey County in the city of Maplewood. The site includes an approximate 1-mile segment of the natural drainage corridor known as County Ditch 18. In addition to the ditch, the site includes the adjacent wetlands. For more information about Kohlman Creek please visit Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District’s information page.
View Project map (PDF)