Minutes

Management and Restoration Committee

Minutes of January 23, 1998 Meeting

Present: Tom Kroll, Ron Weinholt, and Peter Olin, and Paul Schwietz, O.S.B.

The committee met in the Dunstan Tucker Room from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Resources

1. A series of infra-red aerial photos taken in October, 1996. They give a

grand overview of the land, a majority of which is covered by hardwoods.

2.    A timber inventory of the property done by Peter Bundy in 1996-97.

3. A survey of the understory vegetation and integrity of the habitats was begun by the DNR, special habitat division last year. They will hopefully finish in 1998.

4. A total species inventory is being developed by Dr. Nick Zackowski. His work has primarily been to list species present on the property.

Management categories or zones.

We need to develop an overall management plan for our property. Management areas should be delineated according to an inventory of the natural features and plant communities.  At this point we do not have definite boundaries of areas or activities.  The timber inventory will help in developing a forest management plan.

Over the past ten years we have developed four management activities:

Botanic Garden—Inner campus, approximately 80 acres.

Restoration—Habitat Restoration Project,--update acreage, make connections.

Preservation—Lake shore, another area?

Sustainable management---most of the hardwoods and conifers, and across the highway.

Committee members suggested another way of organizing the plan would be a gradation of management activities, from lesser to greater degrees of management. The plan would range from the intensively managed inner campus to the preserved areas where very little is done. How do we use machines, chemicals, labor? What do we do regarding invasive species or pests such as: Honeysuckle, buckthorn, reed canary grass, quack grass?

Preservation would be highlighted most in the forgotten forty,

less so in the quiet corner—which is set aside for the monks. This could be a minimal disturbance area, where preservation is highlighted and emergencies are dealt with as necessary. Then there is the teaching triangle, which includes the HRP. And finally there is the product block.

Logging activities should demonstrate how to be "light" on the land. Of course, logging is to be sustainable.

Unique areas / areas to highlight:

The best example of Big Woods is near the ski-hill, however, woodland wildflowers are almost non-existent in this area. Is this due to the high deer population and or it being too shady?

Sphagnum -acid-bog in the south east corner of the property.

Habitat Restoration Project: prairie, wetlands, oak savanna.

Sugarbush

Sustainable management

Conifer plantations

Lakes/watershed

What criteria do we use for preservation?

It isn’t possible to set aside a pristine area or reserve as it doesn’t exist anymore. From the outset, we need to acknowledge that our property is too small and has been "worked over" through the years.   All the property has been managed in some way over the years.

Preservation: Why do we want to set areas aside? Beauty? Scientific example,

educational opportunity—research? For the distribution and gaining of knowledge.

We are wondering what the biology department means by pristine area. What do they mean by an area set aside? Or preserved? What are they looking for? What activities do they find acceptable or unacceptable? What happens when there is an epidemic, or a fire, or too many deer?

Goals  to increase diversity or to maintain diversity

Inner campus.  ie New plant materials around new buildings on inner campus. Display a variety of plants.

Spirituality.  Biodiversity has a spiritual dimension. Mature trees, quiet areas, non-intrusive education, all enhance a reflective character. This should also be exemplified in the character of the kiosk

Concerns: If we are to do even a modest amount of this, we need a larger labor force and more money. Practicality to the trails. Easy access to habitats.

Specific trails can show certain practices as well as living and dynamic ecosystems.

Respectfully submitted:

Paul Schwietz