Gorge Stewards Quarterly — Summer 2006

In this issue

• Oak Savanna Workdays
• Bird song in the Gorge
• A monstrously good time

---

Oak Savanna Workdays

Yellow sweet clover, white sweet clover, wild asparagus, reed canary grass — these plants may have pretty names but they are out of place in a restoration project like the one at 36th Street and West River Parkway in Minneapolis.

Owned by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, this area of the gorge in the Longfellow neighborhood is part of the 72-mile stretch of the river that is designated national park. During the past ten years, thanks to the collaboration of many partner organizations and countless hours of volunteer service, the area that was once a buckthorn thicket is now showing signs of renewed life.

Initial neighborhood funding from the Neighborhood Revitalization Program was leveraged by additional funds from Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the National Park Service, and the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization to total more than $400,000 used to complete hardscape projects such as repair to a sewer outfall at 36th Street and a new staircase near 33rd Street. In addition to these new park structures, funds were used to create a plan for the ecological restoration of gorge plant communities. Communities are assemblages of plants found together in certain soil, moisture and sun conditions, and according to a 1998 county biological survey the river gorge near 36th Street contains relatively high quality areas of oak forest, oak woodland, floodplain forest, and a remnant mesic prairie. Volunteers have embraced these restoration areas in the past five years by participating in invasive species removal, litter clean up, seed collection, planting, and through strengthening their ties to the gorge at interpretive events.

This summer Carolyn Carr of Ecological Strategies will lead volunteers in continued removal of exotic species like sweet clover and reed canary grass. Volunteers will also help with maintenance of existing plantings and the collection of desirable native seed at this site designated as oak brushland that is being restored to oak savanna. Oak Savanna Workdays are also an opportunity to learn more about this site, a special place for residents of gorge neighborhoods and thousands of annual visitors. Since May, more than fifty volunteers have participated.please join us!

• Wednesday, July 12, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, August 2, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, August 23, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

---

Bird song in the Gorge

Birders rise early, especially in spring. At seven in the morning on a crisp Saturday in May, expert birders Dave Zumeta and Lee Pfannmuller led Gorge Stewards on a hike to glimpse some of the 160 bird species that have been documented in the Mississippi River Gorge. Both Zumeta and Pfannmuller call the Longfellow neighborhood in the gorge home, so it was a short walk to the Oak Savanna Restoration site near West River Parkway to meet nearly 30 enthusiastic participants.

Involved in forest management in their professional lives, Zumeta holds a PhD in forest policy and leads the Minnesota Forest Resources Council, while Pfannmuller directs ecological services for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Their real love is birds, and Gorge Stewards are privileged to be led each spring by two of the states most experienced birders.

The morning started out with only a few sightings, although the experienced in the crowd were able to identify birds with their ears as much as their eyes. During the three-hour hike, twenty-seven species were spotted, including a ruby-crowned Kinglet, an orange-crowned warbler, four species of woodpecker, and a broad-winged hawk flying away from a freshly killed squirrel — we had interrupted his breakfast.

For information about other interpretive programs from Friends of the Mississippi River, check our Calendar of Events.

---

A monstrously good time

It was a typical day on West River Parkway in the Seward Neighborhood: bikers, maple trees, joggers, and giant reptiles.

For the third year running, the Robinson Family, their elementary school friends, and several neighbors presented a play with the gorge as a backdrop. Donations are accepted each year and proceeds presented to a chosen organization or project. This year Mississippi River Gorge Stewards was the proud beneficiary of more than $1,600 raised to support the stewardship programs that engage neighbors in protecting the gorge.

The players past performances include the Wizard of Oz and Star Wars, but this year an original script was developed involving Godzilla coming to the Twin Cities to rescue the Mississippi River from the evil Global-Con Corporation. Complete with three sets, a soundboard, and elaborate costuming, Godzilla: The Play was a treat for more than 400 theater-goers during its four-day run. Special thanks to Louise Robinson, her family and neighbors, and most of all to the players who invited Gorge Stewards to be part of the excitement!