Restoration and Conservation Projects Sites

The City of Mendota Heights is dedicated to restoring its natural areas to native vegetation and ecosystems. The City is fortunate in having numerous natural areas and open spaces that encompass a variety of vegetative communities, including but not limited to: floodplain forest, upland forest, mesic prairie, oak savanna, and wetland communities. 

The City strives to protect these native vegetative communities, as well as manage and restore our public open spaces whenever feasible. It does this through preservation, management, prevention, and education.

Several other native plantings and restoration projects have taken place within City parks. Contact the Natural Resources Coordinator, to inquire about natural resources restoration projects in your neighborhood.

Projects and sites listed below have, or are currently undergoing native restoration.

  1. Krista Spreiter

    Natural Resources Coordinator, CWD

  1. City Hall
  2. Copperfield Ponds
  3. Oheyawahe/Pilot Knob Historic Area
  4. Par 3 Community Golf Course
  5. Rogers Lake
  6. Valley Park
  7. Victoria Road
  8. Lawns to Legumes

CITY HALL NATIVE PLANT DEMONSTRATION GARDEN AND RAIN GARDEN

The University of Minnesota Master Gardeners of Dakota County partnered with the City to construct a rain garden and pollinator-friendly landscape garden at the front of the City Hall Building. The landscape was designed by Diane Hilscher, Ecologist and Landscape Architect, and constructed by Master Gardeners, residents, and City Staff. The landscape consists of several varieties of native and pollinator-friendly perennials that provide interest and enjoyment for visitors, as well as treating stormwater runoff from the building. An interpretive sign as well plant identification tags are planned to be added in the future.

CITY HALL SOLAR GARDEN AND NATIVE PRAIRIE

The City has begun the process of restoring the turf grass area within and around the Solar Garden at City Hall. The project entails removing the existing grass with an herbicide treatment, which was done in the fall of 2018. The area will then be tilled, and seeded with a native, mixed-height native prairie mix. The process of establishing the prairie plot is expected to take 2-3 years before it reaches maturity. This restoration project provides pollinator and other wildlife habitat, as well as reduction in stormwater runoff, and reduction in traditional maintenance needed for the area, including mowing.