A few months ago, we briefed you on the habitat restoration we’re working on at the East River Flats Park in Dinkytown. Today I’ve got pictures from our first event where we removed many pounds of garlic mustard – an invasive species threatening the biodiversity of the park!
Feast on these!
Here’s our habitat restoration crew, round 1! Heading to the East River Flats Park for a day of invasive species removal.
Led by National Park Rangers the coops removed many pounds of garlic mustard, an invasive species that threatens the biodiversity of the park. In doing so, we gave native plants a chance at survival, which in turn gives essential bugs a chance at survival, which means native birds will have food, which means that for many decades the Mississippi River will remain a vibrant corridor for bird migration!!
Gearing up to kick some garlic mustard butt!! Cooperation will save the river!!Jingru and Amy annihilating the foes of biodiversity in the name of cooperation!The team terrifies tyrannical trespassers – garlic mustard plants!!Water Break. Gotta stay hydrated.
Earlier this week I met with Anna Waugh, the volunteer coordinator at the Mississippi River Fund. We discussed ways that Riverton coops’ could get involved with protecting the Mississippi River. She informed me that there is an incredible opportunity to adopt the East River Flats Park (Highlighted in blue on the map below – just a 5 minute walk from the Chateau!)
The Chateau, in conjunction with the National Park Service and the Mississippi River Fund will be working to restore the natural habitat of the East River Flats Park (The blue polygon at the bottom of the map.)
To tell you a little about what this project will look like: This sight has been managed by the Minneapolis Parks and Rec. Department for a long time and has served as the dock/launching station for the U of M. At first glance the park looks healthy because there is a lot of vegetation, but biologically speaking it is not very healthy! The plant life has been overrun by invasive species, which makes for an unhealthy ecosystem and therefore requires human intervention to restore a healthy habitat.
Invasive species of plants are harmful to ecological health because over many centuries of evolution species of plants, animals, insects, birds, etc. have all evolved based on their relationship to one another, which allows for biodiversity, or a diverse variety of species, because plants learn to protect themselves from predators while herbivores have adjusted and figured out ways to continue to live off the same plants. Over time balance is struck resulting in biodiversity. (Biodiversity is good because the more types of life, the more likely life – plants, insects, mammals, birds, humankind, etc. – will survive the test of time, because while one species might fail if there are 30 species it is likely that some will persevere.)
Kudzu (Pictured above) is an invasive species that has rapidly decimated many acres of American habitats. In the photo above kudzu has simply overgrown and killed an entire forest.
When an invasive species is introduced to an area it has an advantage over the local competition because the creatures that have evolved with local plants have either not developed the appetite or ability to consume the invasive plant – as a result it has no predators and therefore out competes the local plants. This means the local plants begin to die off. As the local plants die off the animals, insects, etc. that depend on local plants either leave the area in search of food or die.
This means biodiversity goes out the window and millions of years of evolution go with it!
All of this said – the East River Flats Park is dominated by invasive species, the two primary culprits are Buckthorn and Garlic Mustard.
This brings us to the beginning of our mission for the summer. We shall remove these species from the park, and replace them with native plants to begin the process of restoring the native habitat.
In late May a team of coopers, led by Rangers of the National Park Service, will weed out as much garlic mustard as possible as it “goes to seed.”
Garlic mustard, pretty as it is, is an invasive species that has killed off native species in the East River Flats Park. In May the Chateau will be removing garlic mustard to make room for native plants in the future.
Throughout the summer we will provide support as needed, then we will have a second large event in September where we will tackle the challenge of chopping down as much buckthorn as we can manage.
Buckthorn, an invasive species, is most effectively removed in the fall months.
These two days of clearing will create enough space for us to plant native trees, flowers and other vegetation. Each year we will repeat this process until eventually the native plants have been successfully reestablished in the park.
Eventually the East River Flats will be home to an Oak Savanna again!
Specific dates will be announced ASAP! Look out for advertisements and emails. Drop by the Chateau Office for more details!
Riverton, Community and Cooperation 