Miesville Ravine Restoration

There have been three phases to the restoration efforts at Miesville Ravine Park Preserve (MRPP). Dakota County’s goal is to restore lost ecosystems such as returning agricultural fields back to native prairie and enhancing degraded ecosystems like bluff prairies and overgrown woodlands. During restoration efforts, habitats are managed with the use of fire and other industry techniques.

RES was awarded Phase 1 (2016) and Phase 3 (2020) of this restoration project. Each phase included site preparation, significant woody removal on steep slopes, native seeding, vegetation management, and follow-up woody control. Phase 1 resulted in the enhancement of ravine woodlands and the restoration of native prairies. These prairie areas showed a great amount of diversity and were well established after only a couple of growing seasons. Woody removal efforts resulted in the re-establishment of rare plant populations, including marble seed and cream gentian.

Phase 3 of the project resulted in a significant reduction in the woody growth of the historical savannas and bluff prairies on site. In addition, there was an extraordinary response from suppressed native prairie plants. The prairies, savannas, open woodlands, and ravines on site are now more representative of the landscape that historically covered the area.