Managed and Disturbed Areas
The industrial past of the Urban Reserve has left its footprint on the landscape of the Urban Reserve. Concrete pads are still in place near the deep water port and in the area once known as Texaco Beach. A fenced dog park is kept free of trees or bushes and an impromptu wetland has developed where the city of Burlington dumps snow each winter.
The disturbance on the land also extends upwards into the tree line. The maintenance of power line and railway corridors requires routine brush-hogging that either gives a trim to the honeysuckle and sumac near the bike path or clears more mature maples near the tunnel under North Street.
Is periodic brush hogging necessarily bad for the local ecosystems? Some may argue no - in fact, several rare species of grass present on the Urban Reserve thrive in the disturbed areas adjacent to the bike path. Local visitors make use of the mowed fields, dog park, and bike path and those further afield benefit from the power and transportation routes supplied through the Urban Reserve.
These managed areas of the site make up approximately 40% of the total area of the Urban Reserve. If the City of Burlington chooses to make wildlife habitat, connectivity and viewing priorities in the future of the site, the impact of the managed lines will need to be carefully considered.
Plant species observed in the Managed / Disturbed Areas
Staghorn sumac, poison ivy, pin cherry, milkweed, vetch, buckthorn, bittersweet, rare species including prairie root.
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| A pair of mallards landed in the wetland in the snow dump, April 25, 2013. |
Is periodic brush hogging necessarily bad for the local ecosystems? Some may argue no - in fact, several rare species of grass present on the Urban Reserve thrive in the disturbed areas adjacent to the bike path. Local visitors make use of the mowed fields, dog park, and bike path and those further afield benefit from the power and transportation routes supplied through the Urban Reserve.
These managed areas of the site make up approximately 40% of the total area of the Urban Reserve. If the City of Burlington chooses to make wildlife habitat, connectivity and viewing priorities in the future of the site, the impact of the managed lines will need to be carefully considered.
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Clockwise from top left: Concrete pads at Texaco Beach, the rail tunnel under North St. viewedfrom the Urban Reserve, the bike path and power lines, the dog park, sumac growing towards the power lines. Tree removal at the south end of the snow storage area |
Staghorn sumac, poison ivy, pin cherry, milkweed, vetch, buckthorn, bittersweet, rare species including prairie root.
