SUMMER 2008
Maplewood Seasons
Photo: Nature Center Green Heron Pond by Marge Either
T he Greening of Maplewood
Engaging Attitudes
Maplewood established the Environmental and Natural Throughout the seasons Resources Commission to help Maplewood and all Minnesota facilitate the city’s environmental residents have the opportunity to initiatives and to promote greater experience the changing natural forces of life. The City of Maplewood use and appreciation of our environmental assets. The city also would like to celebrate the seasons recently created a new with its residents by offering Environmental Planner staff position “Maplewood Seasons”. to carry out the city’s ongoing This is an environmentally focused environmental goal newsletter that Maplewood has long of preserving and will be included protecting our been a leader in in the City remaining natural environmental initiatives News and resources and mailed to residents each new ensuring sustainable practices. season. Maplewood has long been a leader in environmental Sustainability means meeting the initiatives and the city will be needs of the present without continuing, expanding, and compromising the ability of future reporting on those initiatives generations to meet their needs. through this newsletter. The city is striving for sustainability Maplewood’s environmental accomplishments and commitments are many and varied.
in all aspects of its operations and regulatory review including energy efficiency, water conservation,
reducing waste, and recycling. The mission of Maplewood Seasons is to engage Maplewood residents and businesses in developing attitudes and actions that will strengthen our natural and built environment. This mission will be accomplished by sharing insightful environmental and sustainable news, tips, and accomplishments in the Maplewood Seasons newsletter. Maplewood welcomes your comments and ideas on how to improve and enhance our environmental goals and initiatives. Please e-mail or call Shann Finwall, Environmental Planner, with your ideas for future Maplewood Seasons articles or environmental and sustainable initiatives for our city. Together we can accomplish the greening of Maplewood. Shann Finwall, Environmental Planner shann.finwall@ci.maplewood.mn.us 651-249-2304
Environmental Milestones
1978 – Maplewood Nature Center Opens
1993 – Open Space Bonding Referendum Passed (Today Maplewood has over 300 Acres of Neighborhood Preserve Land)
1996 – First Rain Garden Street Project (Birmingham Street)
2004 & 2006– Environmental & Natural Resources Committee Created and Later Approved as a Full Commission
Value Of Trees
With the media focus on climate change, trees have once again taken center stage. More than ever, citizens are looking for the perfect machine to help solve some of our pollution problems, and interestingly enough we need look no further than that big oak or elm right in our yard or street. Technology has allowed us to take some very specific measurements that tell us exactly what trees do for us! Did you know, for example, that one large tree can:
Annual Inspections of Elms & Oaks Begin
Information about Dutch elm and oak wilt are available at www.ci.maplewood.mn.us/nature center (Trees). If you are concerned about a diseased elm or oak call 651-249-2170 and ask for the city tree inspector. • Absorb 30 tons of carbon dioxide in its lifetime • Produce enough oxygen for two to four people • Cause as much as 20 degree cooling difference in air temperature • Remove 60 to 70 times the amount of air pollution as a small tree • Help save up to $45 annually in stormwater costs Thanks to a tree’s intricate plumbing system, these benefits can be ours with just a little bit of care. Take time today to appreciate our old woody friends.
Plant A Tree This Year
Maplewood’s new Tree Rebate Program offers $100 cost-share! In 2008 the City of Maplewood is launching a tree purchase rebate program. The rebate program promotes planting shade trees on landscaped property in Maplewood—both residential and commercial. It will also help property owners replace trees lost to Dutch elm disease or oak wilt. The program is funded by the
Ann Hutchinson, Lead Naturalist
city’s new tree preservation ordinance, which requires developers to pay into a fund if they are unable to replace all
required trees on a property. How does the rebate program work? The purchase price of a
Protect Our Trees
The city’s tree preservation ordinance, which was adopted by the City Council in 2006, is in place to protect, preserve, and enhance the natural environment of Maplewood. Any significant tree removed during development is required to be replaced based on a calculation of number and size of trees removed. This leads to a resourceful approach to development because it encourages tree preservation. The tree ordinance and general guidelines can be found at www.ci.maplewood.mn.us (Trees). Shann Finwall, Environmental Planner
Buckthorn Removal
Buckthorn is an invasive woody plant. Remove buckthorn on your property with a weed wrench available from the Nature Center. $25 Depost 651.249.2178 Call the buckthorn hotline at 651-249-2188 for removal instructions.
shade tree for your yard will be reimbursed by the city at a costshare of 50%--up to $100 per tree. The limit is two trees (up to $200) per household. After buying and installing your tree, submit the Tree Purchase Rebate Form. Rebates will be processed twice a year; forms are due July 15 or October 15. Some restrictions apply. For a list of requirements and for a Tree Purchase Rebate Form, visit www.ci.maplewood.mn.us (Trees) or call the Nature Center at 651-249-2170. Chris Soutter, Naturalist
Maplewood Seasons 2
A New Approach To Maplewood’s Natural Resources
Lending A Hand to the Environment
Photo by Calvin Jones
Maplewood Nature Center is the home base for Maplewood's environmental volunteers program. The Nature Center Bluebird Monitors: Committed would like to volunteers and their bluebird boxes extend a huge have saved bluebirds from near extinction in North America. "thank you!" Volunteers monitor these nesting to the many boxes each week at Maplewood's Neighborhood Preserves, helping volunteers of protect these beautiful and all ages and fascinating creatures. backgrounds who generously contribute their time and talents to keep preservation and teaching projects going in the City of Maplewood. Dedicated volunteers participate in environmental projects each year to make an incredible contribution Learning About Nature: Many volunteers share their love of to their the natural world with students on community. Maplewood Nature Center field trips. Last year, volunteer individuals and groups donated over 3,000 hours of their time helping with environmental programs. Call 651-249-2173 to learn more about volunteering. Current Volunteer Opportunites • Weed of the Month Club June 5, 5:30-7pm at Robinhood Park July 8, 5:30-7pm at Wakefield Park • MNC Trail Guides (ongoing) Oakley Biesanz, Naturalist
Maplewood Seasons 3
In a developed community like Maplewood, every parcel of natural land is treasured. But most urban natural areas are so small and isolated their value as wildlife habitat is limited. In January 2008, Maplewood began a project to understand how small natural areas in the city connect to each other and to regional resources.
For example, if you hike Maplewood's Priory Neighborhood Preserve, you’re on a 46-acre site owned and managed by the city. But the preserve is part of a much larger natural area, well over 500 acres, encompassing public and private lands, and extending into three adjacent cities. This larger system provides habitat for many more wildlife species than the preserve can. The city is mapping Natural Area Greenways - large contiguous blocks of natural lands that cross property boundaries. Four greenways have been identified, two of which connect to the Mississippi River corridor.
Maplewood’s draft Natural Resources Plan (part of the Comprehensive Plan) proposes a new approach to protecting and managing natural resources. It addresses resources on four levels: • Natural Area Greenways - large contiguous areas of habitat that cross public and private ownership boundaries. • Local Habitats individual natural areas (such as the Neighborhood Preserves) and back yard habitat connections. • Active Parks and Trails - parks for sports and recreation, and trails that connect parks and natural Priory Preserve areas. • City-wide Issues - issues addressed city-wide through programs such as storm water management or buckthorn control. This new direction lays a strong foundation for protecting natural resources throughout Maplewood. Ginny Gaynor, Open Space Naturalist
Natural Areas Grant Award
Maplewood has been awarded a $10,000 grant from Embrace Open Space to assist with developing Natural Area Greenways. This award will be used to help defray costs of mapping greenways and to present workshops in Fall 2008 to educate residents about natural lands. Grant partners include City of Maplewood, Applied Ecological Services, Minnesota Land Trust, and RamseyWashington Metro Watershed District.
Nature Center Gears Up For Summer—Go Nature!
Maridee McEvoy
NEW ENERGY BIKE Thanks to Maridee McEvoy, Friends of the Maplewood Nature Center, Barb Kroll, Board President, and the Maplewood City Council for their support of this great new exhibit! Pedal the bike to create energy to power a TV, fluorescent or incandescent lights.
Name “The Kid’s Section”!
We are happy to see summer arrive after such a long winter. It’s a glorious time of year and a great time to be outside. Whether it’s your back yard or a nature preserve, you’ll probably be able to see nature happening. Take a deep breath, and thank the trees and green plants for that. If you want to unleash your curiosity bring the family to a Maplewood Nature Center program. Programs will be featured in the next Parks and Recreation issue of the City News. Visit www.ci.maplewood.mn.us or call 651-249-2170 for more information. The Maplewood Nature Center is located at 2659 East Seventh Street. Ann Hutchinson, Lead Naturalist
Maplewood Nature Center Program Highlights • Concerned about a sick oak? Then consider attending the Diseased Oak Tree workshop on June 25, 7:00-8:15 pm. • Nature In Your Back Yard series for preschoolers and parents starting Saturday, June 28 from 10:00-11:15 am. • Check out Maplewood’s only virgin wet prairie remnant, Jim’s Prairie during peak bloom time on Tuesday, July 15 from 6:30-8:30 pm. Program Registration: 651-249-2170
Hey Kids! Get creative and name the “kids section”. Each issue will feature a new nature topic geared towards kids. The winner gets a FREE BIRTHDAY PARTY ($75 VALUE!) at the Maplewood Nature Center. E-mail your ideas to Shann Finwall at shann.finwall@ci.maplewood.mn.us. The winner will be contacted and announced in the fall Maplewood Seasons (find it in your mailbox this September). Northern Leopard Frog Tan or green with irregular spots and a stripe that runs from their eye to their tail area. Calls March through June.
Gray Tree Frog A Maplewood frog! They have sticky disks on their toes to help them climb. They can change color from green to gray. Calls May through July.
Finally spring has sprung, and with it comes the calls of our local frogs and toads.
The best time to go frogging is when it is dark outside and at least 40°F. Be safe; invite an adult! You’ll need to dress for the weather and bring a good flashlight. If the frogs stop calling when you get close, be still and quiet for a few minutes. They will call again. Shine your flashlight toward the frogs. Their eyes will reflect the light just like a cat’s eyes! There are 14 different kinds, or species, of frogs and toads that live in Minnesota. How many can you count? To hear frogs online visit http://137.227.245.162/NAAMP. Click on Frog Call Quiz then Public Quiz, scroll to Minnesota and click on Submit. Then choose one of the frog calls. You can hear the calls of Carole Gernes, Naturalist all 14 Minnesota species! To sponsor this newsletter contact Heidi Carey, Marketing Coordinator at 651-249-2021 or heidi.carey@ci.maplewood.mn.us.
Maplewood Seasons 4
Printed on 30% post-consumer waste paper.
American Toad is the common toad in the metro area. One female can lay up to 20,000 eggs! Calls May through July.
Hopper Hunt: Frogging For Kids