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grapevines and honeysuckle could choke the woodlots, causing trees to decline in health. Other native plant communities, wildlife, water quality and the public in general will all be adversely affected if the degradation is allowed to persist.

• The more drastic manmade disturbances are the further back in the successional stage woodlots become and the more resources will be required to create specific habitats.

• The closer developed areas are to woodlots, the greater the chances that trees might become a hazard to property and people.

Strategies

• Develop a woodlot management action plan overseen by experienced, knowledgeable professionals. This plan would begin with goal setting, then performance of an inventory of tree species and invasive species and calculation of regeneration rates using a timber assessment survey.

• Perform woodland assessments to determine stage of succession and develop an effective management plan.

• Thin out overstocked woodlots to allow younger, stronger trees to thrive and regenerate.

• Leave trunks and other natural materials that provide shelter and food for animals.

• Increase biodiversity by manipulating successional stages to achieve a specialized habitat for each woodlot.

• Leave varying tree “snag” diameters and heights for perching birds and other wildlife. If just stubs are left, mainly woodpeckers will roost and benefit.

Policy 7: Develop prairies and meadows while protecting

endangered, threatened, potentially threatened and vulnerable species

Issue

• There are very few prairies and meadows within the City limits.

Strategies

• Develop a policy encouraging the planting of prairies and letting turf areas revert to meadows.

• Educate the public about the benefits of no-mow areas and prairies.

• Perform floristic assessments every 5 to 7 years in pre-identified areas (woodlots, grasslands, prairies, meadows, ecotones) to help identify species richness and determine

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