Nature center details multi‑phase buckthorn removal at Sunfish Lake Park; DNR grants funded initial work
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Summary
Tony Manzera of the nature center updated the commission on a multi-phase buckthorn removal and restoration project at Sunfish Lake Park: initial Metro grant and follow-up DNR funding cleared hundreds of acres, prescribed burns and targeted spraying are planned, and the group has applied for additional multi-year funding.
Tony Manzera, representing the local nature center volunteer program, told the Parks Commission on Wednesday that a multi-phase effort to remove buckthorn at Sunfish Lake Park has cleared large areas, restored native plants and reduced deadwood fire risk — and that additional funding will be needed for long-term maintenance.
Manzera said an initial Conservation Partners Legacy/Metro grant funded roughly $154,000 of work to clear about 40 acres. After the DNR observed the results, a larger follow-up award — about $453,000 — funded clearing of roughly 140 additional acres for a ‘‘first cut’’ across the park’s buckthorn‑infested areas. An expedited DNR grant of about $50,000 supported additional work. Combined project spending to date is about $661,000, Manzera said.
Why it matters: Buckthorn is an invasive shrub that shades out native plants and creates dense understories; removal followed by prescribed burns and targeted herbicide application is intended to restore native prairie and woodland habitats, reduce fuel for catastrophic wildfires and improve sight lines and wildlife habitat.
Planned next steps: Manzera said crews will perform prescribed burns this coming spring to reduce re‑sprouting before plants set seed and that targeted herbicide treatment will follow to control remaining resprouts. He said the nature center has applied for a larger, multi‑year grant (about $1.8 million under a priority funding program) that — if awarded — would support a five‑year program of continued clearing and maintenance. Manzera also said the expedited grant cap increased to $75,000 and that the DNR contact, David Stein, indicated eligibility for additional smaller grants as the project continues.
Results: Manzera presented before-and-after photos showing cleared areas and native forbs returning after a 2023 burn and spring 2024 work. He said deadwood removal has reduced the park’s fuel load and that volunteers and the county Master Gardeners have supported outreach and planting.
Funding limits and prospects: Manzera noted a DNR program limit that prevents spending more than approximately $1,000,000 on a single project under current guidance; with $661,000 already spent, he said the group is eligible to seek roughly $325,000 more under that cap unless a different multi-year funding award is secured. The group hopes to secure the larger, multi-year grant to cover ongoing maintenance and follow-up work.
Ending: Manzera invited commissioners and the public to the program’s volunteer Buckthorn Removal Festival next Saturday and thanked volunteers and partners for their work to date.
