Fillmore Soil and Water
Conservation District
507-765-3878
900 Washington St. NW
Preston, MN 55965
Other Special Projects -Lost Creek Hiking Trail
Click here to view photos of the Forestry Field Day at Lost Creek Hiking Trail on July 31, 2012.
Click here to view the brochure of Forestry Practices and Features Along the Lost Creek Hiking Trail.
For futher information on each of the practices and features highlighted in the brochure, click on the topics listed below.
Hardwood Reforestation in a Creek Valley Dominated by Reed Canary Grass
by Tim and Susan Gossman
A creek valley reforestation experiment is being conducted by Tim and Susan Gossman on their family farm in Jordan Township, Fillmore County, near Chatfield, Minnesota. A grant was received from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture through their Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Grant Program to assist in this research. They have received support from the Fillmore Soil and Water Conservation District and the Department of Natural Resources Forestry Office in Preston, Minnesota.
Creek valley dominated by Reed Canary Grass (RCG) A mowed path through the Reed Canary Grass shows how tall and thick it can be if not controlled. Mowed paths provide access to all areas of the farm. Walnut trees in creek valley with natural understory of native shrubs, grasses and forbs. Click here for project details.
Resources and Links
Contact your local DNR Forester and county Soil and Water Conservation District for information on aerial farm maps, prescribed burning, direct tree seeding, purchasing tree seedlings, and weed control in your tree planting.
In addition you may find the information on these websites useful.
State of Minnesota Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Grant Program
http://www.mda.state.mn.us/grants/grants/demogrant.htm
Direct Seeding Hardwood Trees http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/treecare/maintenance/collectingseed.html
http://dnr.wi.gov/forestry/Publications/articles/HardwoodDirectSeeding-2004.pdf
Seed Collecting – www.nutwizard.com
Reed Canary Grass Control –
http://www.lrrb.org/pdf/200436.pdf The recommended best management practices are summarized on pages 92, 93 and 94.
Cottonwood and Willow Pole Planting - http://www.nm.nrcs.usda.gov/news/publications/pole-cutting-solution.pdf Though not local, this website provides basic information about pole planting in riparian areas. Although I am aware of local work being done with planting willow poles, I was unable to find any literature on this and I am not aware of any local research on cottonwood pole planting.
