Invasive trees cleared in lagoons

Habitat restoration next priority for city administration

A major tree removal project is complete at Mentor Lagoons Nature Preserve, and plans are in the works for restoring native species.

The city’s natural resource staff recently worked with The Nature Conservancy on removing about 300 invasive European black alders from along the lakeshore.

The project, including fighting phragmites at Mentor Marsh State Nature Preserve and beyond, was funded by a $650,000 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Great Lakes Restoration Initiative grant.

“They completed the work (Nov. 28) and now we’re looking at what we can do — what the city can do — for the future to make a habitat out there,” said Amy Brennan, The Nature Conservancy’s Lake Erie conservation director.

Although it was a joint effort, the tree culling raised questions for some city officials. City Council members temporarily halted the work until they could meet with Brennan to get more information.

“Further we would recommend planting a native seed mix to promote pollinator and bird habitat.” — Amy Brennan, The Nature Conservancy’s Lake Erie conservation director.

The Mentor charter limits what changes can be made to the property, purchased by the city in 1997 for $14 million. Council adopted a policy for the preserve portion in 2015 after city Parks and Recreation Department staff began tree removal as part of routine maintenance.

The policy prohibits “guests” from disturbing plants or animals in the preserve, among other things. In addition, council passed a resolution “expressing approval of property management” at the lagoons, including clearing of invasive alder trees at two beach access points, with “the least amount of disturbance of the natural habitat as possible.” Maintenance may include stump removal and installation of native trees, grasses and mulch.

Council’s Lagoons Committee met Nov. 21 with Brennan to find out what type of restoration is planned. After learning the benefits of the project, city leaders gave their blessing.

“The Nature Conservancy came out here and they had done about 60 percent (of) getting rid of European black alder,” Ward 4 Councilman John Krueger said. “We decided they should finish the job at no cost to the city.”

City staff will plant native species in the spring using an Ohio Environmental Education Fund grant.

“We are working with The Nature Conservancy and utilizing their expertise as it relates to exactly what the city would plant,” Parks and Recreation Director Kenn Kaminski said.

Recommendations include dogwood, elderberry, maples (sugar and red), box elder, and oaks (red, pin and white).

“Further we would recommend planting a native seed mix to promote pollinator and bird habitat,” Brennan said.

The Nature Conservancy was founded in 1951 with the mission of conserving land and water resources around the globe. The recent project involved managing invasive plant populations on more than 1,000 acres along the Lake Erie shoreline, from the Cleveland Lakefront Nature Preserve to Walnut Beach Park in Ashtabula.

“As a part of this project, Conservancy staff also completed non-native tree and shrub removal at Lake Erie Bluffs, Arcola Creek Park, Geneva State Park and Walnut Beach Park,” Brennan said. “Invasive plants have devastating impacts to the Lake Erie coastal habitats and ecosystems. Restoration and protection of Lake Erie’s coastal areas is essential for maintaining healthy wildlife populations, viable natural communities and sustainable ecological processes.”