Thank You…You help us to deliver
Great River Greening 2009 Accomplishment Highlights
February 10, 2010
Dear Partners and Friends:
Volunteer Involvement
- Million Acorn Challenge - engaged almost 1,000 area youth who collected over 901,350 acorns.
- Volunteer Events – engaged 2,185 volunteers in planting and restoration events including 1362 youth (62%) resulting in:
- removal of 406 acres of invasive species
- planting of 1287 trees and shrubs
- installation of 19,023 forbs and grasses
- assisted in the restoration of 472 acres
- Teen Supervisor Program - trained 16 teen volunteer supervisors to lead community events and neighborhood projects.
- 23,519 Volunteers - have planted 59,448 trees and shrubs since Greening began in 1995
Partnerships, Conservation Focal Areas, and Initiatives
- Million Acorn Campaign - During 2009 the number of projects underway reached seventy-two including:
- Grey Cloud Island oak savanna and oak woodland restoration
- Oak savanna restoration Pilot Knob Phase II
- Healthy Waters Initiative – Design and installation of award-winning Best Management Practices to safeguard the waters of the St. Croix River in Washington and Chisago counties, including:
- Forest Lake Dead End Street shoreline restoration
- Lakeside Elementary School rain garden planting
- Lily Lake Boat Launch Sites shoreline restoration and stabilization
- St. Croix Blufflands – Restoration and management of floodplain forests and blufflands along the Lower St. Croix River including:
- Franconia-Scandia Corridor Landowner Incentive Program – working with 6 private landowners to restore 200 acres of habitat.
- Metro Conservation Corridors (MeCC) – Restoration and management of metro area natural areas and parks including:
- Removal of 30 acres of buckthorn and other invasive species at Spring Lake Regional Park
- Middle Minnesota River – Development of an overarching conservation plan for the Minnesota River Valley in Redwood and Renville counties that is now guiding conservation action in the region.
- Natural Areas Teen Network – Development and implementation of combined classroom sessions and field tours program matching community mentors with underserved youth to protect endangered green spaces while focusing on conservation careers.
Management Plans and Publications
- Belle Prairie Management Plan
- Prairie Stewardship Plans (12)
- Pleasant Lake Shoreline Evaluation
- Lever Street Management Plan
- St. Croix Corridor Private Lands Management Plans (8)
Ecological Designs
- Forest Lake Shoreline Restoration
- Lakeside Elementary School, Rain Garden plan
Research and Workshops
- How To Write a Management Plan - Presentation, Minnesota Conservation Summit
- Boat Launch Evaluation - Poster Board Session
- Native Landscaping for your Yard - Presentation, Wild Ones Conference
- Sustainable Landscape Alternatives for Commercial Properties - Presentation, BOMA