Minneapolis oak restoration

"The Mississippi River Gorge, in the heart of the Twin Cities in Minnesota, is one of the most significant features of the entire 2,350-mile long Mississippi River. Oak savanna was once a common ecosystem in Minnesota, covering about 10% of the state, but it is now rare habitat because of fire suppression activities, farming, and development. Oak savannas are highly diverse because they are transition zones from woodland to prairie. An oak savanna restoration project has been implemented and continues to be maintained by local volunteers along a 5-acre stretch of the Mississippi River Gorge in the Minneapolis neighborhood called Longfellow. The project seeks to eliminate the threat of exotic species, reintroduce the appropriate gorge plant community, and address erosion concerns with the collaborative effort of national and local agencies, and the advocacy of the local community."