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Habitat Restoration Work to Start Along Western Waterfront Trail

(A St. Louis River Corridor Project)

[Duluth, MN] - The City of Duluth Parks and Recreation division has been planning and discussing habitat restoration work along the Western Waterfront Trail since last year through a public input process. At the last public meeting in January 2016, Parks and Recreation staff informed the public about planned work to remove invasive buckthorn and honeysuckle that has grown over and is impeding access to users of the Western Waterfront trail and stifled the growth of native vegetation.

The City is ready to implement the plan and has enlisted a contractor to remove buckthorn and/or honeysuckle in several areas between Indian Point Campground and Morgan Park as part of necessary habitat restoration to encourage the growth of native vegetation in the St. Louis River Corridor. Workers plan to start mobilizing equipment in the next week for cutting and removing buckthorn from 7 AM till 7 PM, Monday through Friday with the possibility of weekend hours depending on progress and weather. Cut buckthorn will be chipped and brought to two specific burn pile locations, the end of Indian Point Campground and in an isolated area between Morgan Park and Smithville Park. The burn pile locations are not near residential sites or buildings and will be heavily monitored for containment. Wind and weather are other factors that will determine the burning period.

Residents can expect to see 5-8 workers at any time in the Morgan Park and Riverside area between March 7 and mid-April. Due to the propensity for buckthorn to germinate, Garlon 4, a commonly used herbicide, will be used as spot treatment on stumps during the cutting process. Flag markers will be in place informing people of specifically treated areas. To avoid any concerns, the City recommends residents and their pets not come into contact with the herbicide and keep their distance from the treated areas for at least 24 hours following the spot treatment.

Anyone with questions or interested in receiving regular updates on this habitat restoration or future projects can check the Western Waterfront Trail webpage at

http://www.duluthmn.gov/st-louis-river-corridor/western-waterfront-restoration,-renewal-and-access/

or email Jim Shoberg, Project Coordinator, at jshobergh@duluthmn.gov 

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