Fall 2021 Seasons in the Park

Fall 2021 Volume 4, Issue 4

FALL / AUTUMN: au·tumn (‘ôdem) noun; the third season of the year, when crops and fruits are gathered and leaves fall. "The countryside is ablaze with color in autumn."

Fall Colors in Stearns County Parks

To celebrate the Fall Colors, Park Visitors were asked to vote and take a quick survey on "Which Stearns County Park is your favorite place to view the fall colors?" After completing a quick survey, they had a chance to win an Annual Quarry Park Parking Permit.

Vote tally:

Kraemer Lake - Wildwood 44%
Quarry Park 32%
Lake Wobegon Trail 6%
Mississippi River 6%
Warner Lake 6%
Lake Koronis Regional Park 3%
Rockville 3%

Comments about Kraemer Lake - Wildwood:  There are so many different vistas to see... woods, creek, meadows, lakes, marsh. And it's often quiet so you can get lost in the peace of the place. Calming and lovely colors. Red leaves on the ground and on the trees. And sunlight makes the woods golden, especially where there are trees with yellow leaves. Walking along the path into the beautiful trees lined with fall colors. It’s serene and inviting. So many maples!

Fall Events 

Parks and Trails were busy with all types of activities:

• Archery groups at Mississippi River and Oak Township
• Scout Troop Camping at Warner Lake and Mississippi River
• Hikehoppers Events at Various Parks
• Biking, Walking, and Running Events along the Lake Wobegon Trail
• School Field Trips at Quarry Park
• Mountain Bike Trail Volunteers at Quarry Park
• Many Private Rentals at the Various Shelters

Thanks for using Stearns County Parks and Trails for your Event!

Buckthorn Removal Volunteers

75 Volunteers worked 262 hours in Stearns County Parks

• Quarry Park: 56 Volunteers worked 170 hours
• Kraemer Lake - Wildwood: 10 Volunteers worked 56 hours
• Miller Landing: 1 Volunteer worked 16 hours
• Mississippi River: 2 Volunteers worked 8 hours
• Rockville: 6 Volunteers worked 12 hours

Buckthorn is a real threat to our forest.
Common buckthorn and glossy buckthorn were first brought here from Europe as a popular hedging material. They became a nuisance plant, forming dense thickets in forests, yards, parks and roadsides. They crowd out native plants and displace the native shrubs and small trees in the mid-layer of the forest where many species of birds nest. Common buckthorn is easily found in late fall when many native shrubs and trees have lost their leaves. Common buckthorn will often have green leaves through November.

Why is buckthorn such a problem?

• Out-competes native plants for nutrients, light, and moisture
• Degrades wildlife habitat
• Threatens the future of forests, wetlands, prairies, and other natural habitats
• Contributes to erosion by shading out other plants that grow on the forest floor
• Serves as host to other pests, such as crown rust fungus and soybean aphid
• Forms an impenetrable layer of vegetation
• Lacks “natural controls” like insects or disease that would curb its growth

How to identify buckthorn?
Appearance: Tall understory shrub or small tree up to 20’ high with a spreading loosely branched crown, often multiple stems at the base. The bark is rough, gray to brown in color, with prominent, often elongated, light-colored lenticels. (Caution: native plums or cherries have a similar bark).

Branches: Buds and leaves are sub-opposite, opposite, or alternate. Cut branch exposes yellow sapwood and orange heartwood. Twigs often end in small, sharp, stout thorns.

Leaves: Alternate, sometimes opposite; broadly elliptic pointed at the tip, smooth, dark glossy and small toothed. Leaves stay green late into fall.

Flowers: Inconspicuous, appears in May or June, clustered in the axils of leaves.

Fruit: Clusters of black ¼ inch fruit ripen on female plants in August and September. Seeds are viable for 2-3 years in the soil. Each berry has three to four seeds.

Roots: Extensive fibrous root system

Follow-up is critical. Follow-up control of seedlings that emerge after initial control efforts is important on all sites. With no follow-up control, buckthorn will comeback.

Read more about Buckthorn from the Minnesota DNR

Siberian Elm Removal Siberian Elm is native to Eastern Asian and was introduced to the United States in the 1860’s.  It was used as commercial shelterbelts and windbreak trees due to its hardiness, fast growth, and ability to grow in various moisture conditions.  It often grows in open, sunny areas such as roadsides, grasslands, and along waterways. Siberian Elm was removed from the Rockville Prairie this fall by six volunteers totaling 12 volunteer hours. Read more about Siberian Elm from the Minnesota DNR

Lake Wobegon Trail Maintenance

Approximately 700 feet of the Lake Wobegon Trail was reclaimed. This section is located at Milepost 137.5 which is between Albany and Holdingford.

The pavement was ground up, removed, and then repaved.

Tree Trimming and Brush Control  Tree trimming and brush control maintenance was completed along the Lake Wobegon Trail north of Holdingford.

Lake Koronis Regional Park

After the camping season, demolition began on the old shower house at Lake Koronis Regional Park in Paynesville. A new shower house is being constructed in the campground. The project is scheduled to be complete by April 2022. 

Lake Koronis Regional Park is a 62-acre site and is jointly owned by Meeker and Stearns Counties. The park is located five miles southwest of Paynesville, on the south shore of Lake Koronis. Meeker County manages both the park and the campground.

Lake Sylvia Storm Damage

Heavy rainfall caused significant washouts throughout the parking area at Lake Sylvia. Unfortunately, most of the sediment ended up depositing into the lake, near the fishing pier. The Parks Department worked with the local MN DNR Hydrologist and the Stearns County Environmental Services Department to obtain the appropriate permits to remove the deposited sediment from the lake and make temporary repairs to the lake shore. This winter park staff will work with the Stearns County Soil and Water Conservation District to identify a better way to disperse the water across a larger area and create a native vegetation planting plan to avoid this from happening again.

Report a Problem / Leave a Compliment

We appreciate knowing about a tree down on the trail and we also like to know what we're doing right. We love to hear from you! Go to: Report a Problem / Leave a Compliment

Here are a few compliments we've received:

• Restrooms were well maintained. 
• Beautiful parks, well-maintained grounds, and park staff has been very helpful.  
• Always clean and well taken care of!
• Clean, well maintained and lots of variety.
• Beautiful Park, awesome facilities.

Park Maintenance Staff gets the credit

Kudos to the Park Maintenance Staff for keeping our parks and trails well maintained! Things don't slow down when summer is over; here's a few examples of how the staff spent their time this fall.

General Park Maintenance

• Park Rounds includes inspecting park grounds, parking lots, restrooms, garbage, etc.
• Mowing parks and trails; fire breaks in prairies
• Blowing off leaves and twigs from Dairyland and Lake Wobegon Trails
• Hauling granite to Quarry Park trails
• Hauling beach sand for swimming areas
• Grading Park roads
• Installing and repairing signs
• Installing a bench along Lake Wobegon Trail
• Replacing walking bridge at Mississippi River
• Replacing Warner Lake picnic tables
• Replacing Upper Spunk grill and picnic table
• Removing steps at Quarry 11
• Repairing fishing pier at Two Rivers Lake

Cleaning up Storm Damaged Trees

Equipment Maintenance

• Chainsaws
• Gators
• Groomers
• Skid Loader
• Grapple Bucket
• Trailers
• Chipper
• Vehicle Inspections

Preparing for Winter

• Removed swimming buoys
• Collected caretaker supplies
• Collected and recycled aluminum cans
• Installed and repaired Ski Lights
• Installed and updated Signs

Safety Inspections and Trainings

• Fire Extinguisher Inspection
• AED Inspection
• Quarry Water Level Inspection
• Chainsaw Training
• Hearing Tests

What's coming up for the next season?  Grooming? Think Snow

Stearns County Ski Patrol Registration began October 20 What is Ski Patrol?

Ski Patrol is a group of volunteers that patrol the cross-country ski trails from December through February and report on the conditions.

The outstanding quality of our cross-country ski trails wouldn't be possible without the help of our dedicated Ski Patrol Volunteers!

Cross-country ski trails are in: Quarry Park and Nature Preserve, Warner Lake County Park,  Mississippi River County Park, and Kraemer Lake - Wildwood County Park.

Quarry Park Vehicle Parking Fees Increase Effective January 1, 2022 At the County Board meeting on Tuesday, September 7, 2021, the County Board of Commissioners approved these fee changes:

Daily Vehicle Parking Fees:

• Labor Day to Memorial Day: $5.00 per vehicle per day
• Memorial Day to Labor Day: $10.00 per vehicle per day

Annual Vehicle Parking Fees: $25.00

Failure to Purchase Parking Permit:

• Labor Day to Memorial Day: $10.00
• Memorial Day to Labor Day: $15.00

The revenues generated from the fees are used to maintain park facilities.