Issues of Concern Eagle Point Park is a cultural, historic, and ecological treasure However it s dramatic topography and long term environmental pressures have led to a number of issues of concern in the park. These issues were documented in the Park s 2017 Environmental Restoration Management Plan. The City of Dubuque hopes to begin addressing these concerns in 2019: Maintenance Safety & Cost Turf grass on steep slopes throughout the park is costly to maintain and potentially hazardous Ravine Erosion Multiple ravines throughout the park are in very and declining forest health Soil Compaction & Erosion Heavily compacted turf areas do not support healthy plant growth and lead to excessive Invasive Species Some forested areas of the park have become overrun with invasive plant species such as Buckthorn (shown)
Soil Quality Restoration Soil Quality Restoration is a stormwater improvement best Management Manual. This practice could be used to improve soil less stormwater runoff healthier turf grass fewer weeds 1 SOIL QUALITY RESTORATION HOW-TO 2 3 1. Aerate Turf small plugs of soil out of the ground. Plugs are 4 long. 2. Apply Compost Composted leaf matter provides the organic material necessary to improve soil health and supply nutrients to turf grass. 3. Spread Compost Spread the compost using a machine or a hand rake to create a uniform 1/2 layer across the surface of the grass.
Native Vegetation Restoration decreased cost of long term maintenance and increased habitat for native plants, animals, and birds. Any conversion of turf to native vegetation would be done in the least disruptive manner possible in order to protect the cultural and archaeological resources within the park. 1. Remove existing turf. 2. Prepare the soil by raking away dead grass. 3. Plant a cover crop of oats in late summer. 4. Hand broadcast native seed into the oats in October. 5. 3 year establishment period before native 1. Interseed into existing turf grass. Use tractor-pulled drill seeder or hand rake to expose just enough soil to broadcast the seeds upon. 2. 5 years of active establishment maintenance continuous slope erosion control no use of herbicides Long Term Maintenance 1. Inspect the site regularly. 2. Remove invasive weeds by hand pulling, mowing, or with limited herbicide use. 4. Mow or burn entire area in late fall or early spring each year.
Infiltration Best Management Practices through sub- surface material. Bioretention (Rain Gardens) Bioretention Basins, sometimes called Rain Gardens, are depressions in the ground that hold water and grasses. They may or may not feature an underdrain system. Permeable Paving Permeable Pavers are specially designed concrete pavers with gaps in between each paver to soil below. Permeable Pavers can be installed in currently paved parking areas and roadways.
CROSBY Mississippi River LIME LOCK & DAM FRONT VOLUNTEER EAGLE POINT PARK Ravine Stabilization to ravine area EAGLE POINT MEMORIAL SOUTHERN GATE LUCREITIA ravine with concrete reinforcement COURTLAND SHIRAS MCKINLEY KRAMER CIRCLE JANSEN LINCOLN SUMNER RHOMBERG HAWTHORNE Eagle Point Park %%Ravine head Cut I Eagle Point Park Ravines Feet 0 300 Increasing storm volume and compacted surfaces in the upper portion of the park continually degrade the multiple ravines that traverse the hillsides of Eagle Point Park. Most of these ravines are located in wooded areas, out of the site of visitors, however the condition of the ravines creates extra for visitors due to washouts downstream. Ravine plant growth, and the placement of rock checks along the length of the ravine to slow the water as it moves from the top of the ravine to the bottom. a restored ravine