​​Dakota County restored 225 acres of degraded bluff prairie, savanna, oak woodland and former crop fields on the east side of Trout Brook in Miesville Ravine Park Reserve. The project area included about 5 acres of remnant dry bedrock bluff prairie, a globally threatened plant community and potential habitat for dozens of rare, declining or vulnerable wildlife species. The remnant bluff prairie is broken up into small pockets and is disappearing due to lack of fire on the landscape which has allowed trees and shrubs to dominate the bluffs.

Traditional restoration methods were used on moderately sloped segments of this project. On about 76 acres of steep sections within the project area, Dakota County used goat browsing for restoration work.

This restoration projectwas funded by two grants totaling $800,000 from the Conservation Partners Legacy Program.

Restoration was completed ​June 2020. See project map.

The benefits of using goats

• Effective at woody brush control
• Costs are similar to conventional methods
• Reduced usage of chemicals
• Sure-footed on steep slopes
• Less erosion on steep slopes
• Steep slopes restrict use of equipment
• Steep slopes unsafe for crew workers

Impact on park users

Areas to be browsed by goats will be surrounded by electric fence. Park users should avoid coming into contact with fence. Signs are posted warning park users of the potential hazard.

Project schedule

2017: Remove invasive woody brush
2017–2018: Prepare and seed prairie/savanna
2017–2019: Treat exotic herbaceous weeds
2017–2020: Browse steep slopes with goats
Spring and fall 2017–2020: Prescribed burning
2018–2020: Establishment management of newly reconstructed prairie/savanna

Dakota County Parks received some funding for this project through  Minnesota's Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment.

​Contact

Dakota County Parks
952-891-7000
parks@co.dakota.mn.us