HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-10-02 - Agendas - Final AGENDA
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL
OCTOBER 2, 2002
A special meeting of the Fayetteville City Council will be held on October 2, 2002 at
6:30 p.m. in Room 219 of the City Administration Building located at 113 West
Mountain Street, Fayetteville, Arkansas.
1 . WILSON SPRINGS TASK FORCE REPORT: Receive the recommendation
04 of the Wilson Springs Task Force and authorize McClelland Engineering and
EGIS t o proceed with the preparations for development of Phase 1 and with the
preparation of the mitigation plan all in keeping with the Task Force
Recommendation.
2. SOCCER CLUB: A proposal from the Arkansas Comet Soccer Club regarding a
soccer complex at the Wilson Springs Park.
City Council October 2, 2002
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AGENDA
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL
OCTOBER 2, 2002
A special meeting of the Fayetteville City Council will be held on October 2, 2002 at
6:30 p.m. in Room 219 of the City Administration Building located at 113 West
Mountain Street, Fayetteville, Arkansas.
WILSON SPRINGS TASK FORCE REPORT: Receive the recommendation
of the Wilson Springs Task Force and authorize McClelland Engineering and
EGIS t o proceed with the preparations for development of Phase I and with the
preparation of the mitigation plan all in keeping with the Task Force
Recommendation.
2. SOCCER CLUB: A proposal from the Arkansas Comet Soccer Club regarding a
soccer complex at the Wilson Springs Park.
O'l5 • �i3 City of Fayetteville 10/ 14/ 2002
10/02/2002 - 10/02 /2002 .aintenance/ inquiry • 10 : 13 : 39
Exp . . : - 1 matches
Cont . : - RES _ Sel - ( B=Browse )
Sel Ref . Date Item Action Brief Description ( P= Print )
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
RES 10/02 /2002 153 WILSON SPRINGS TASK FORCE REPORT
Page 1 of 1
Cmdl- Return Roll Keys Cmd3 - End Press ' ENTER ' to Continue
( c) 1986 - 1992 munimetrix systems Corp .
� • • STAFF REVIEW FORM •
• AGENDA REQUEST
CONTRACT REVIEW
GRANT REVIEW
For the Fayetteville City Council Meeting of : October 2. 2002
FROM :
Gary Dumas General Services Director General Services
Name Division Department
ACTION REQUIRED : Receive the recommendation of the Wilson Springs Task Force and authorize McClelland
Engineering and EGIS to proceed with the preparations for development of Phase 1 and with the preparation of
a mitigation plan all in keeping with the Task Force recommendation.
COST TO CITY :
NA NA NA
Cost of this request Category/ Project Budget Program Category / Project Name
NA NA NA
Account Number Funds used to Date Program / Project Category Name
NA NA NA
Project Number Remaining Balance Fund Name
BUDGET REVIEW : • Budgeted Item Budget Adjustment Attached
Date Administrative Services Director Date
Budget Manager
CONTRACT/GRANT/LEASE REVIEW :
Accounting Manager
Date Internal Auditor Date
City Attorney
Date ADA Coordinator Dale
Purchasing Manager
Date Grant Coordinator Date
STAFF RECOMMENDATION : Staff recommends the Council receive the Task Force recommendation and authorize McClelland and EGIS to
proceed with actions necessary to accomplish Phase 1 as recommended by the Task Force.
Cross Reference
Division Head Date
New Item : Yes No
nt irector ate Previous Ord / Res # :
9_ 26 -- 02 Orig . Contract Date
Admini rative Services Director Date
Orig . Contract Number
A
Z d
Date
Mayor
� taff Review Form - Page 2
Description Meeting Date
Comments : Reference Comments :
Budget Manager
Accounting Manager
City Attorney
Purchasing Manager
ADA Coordinator
Internal Auditor
Grants Coordinator
FAYETTEVILLE
THE CITY OF FAYETTEV/LLF. ARKANSAS
DFPARTN1ENTAL CORRESPONDENCE
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Gary Dumas
Date: September 26, 2002
Subject : Wilson Springs Task Force Report
Attached is the Wilson Springs Task Force recommendation.
The Task Force will make a short presentation to the City Council outlining their process
and conclusions.
Recommendation
The staff recommends that the City Council receive the recommendation and proceed
with the development of Phase 1 as recommended by the Task Force.
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Background and History
Fayetteville Soccer Association
FSA- Recreational Program
Comets- Classic
Woodland Soccer Club- Jr. I Iigh Soccer (Scholastic)
Fayetteville I ligh School Soccer (Scholastic)
The Comets.
Started as a member of FSA in 1993, but was forced to leave in 1995 along with
the Jr. Iligh and High School Program.
The Comets Program is dedicated to player development, preparing Players to
play at the next level. (High School, College)
The Comets Now
o The Comets Field 17 Teams (9 Boys, 7 Girls I Coed) About 350 Kids.
o More than 50% of the Club Budget is made up through fundraising,
sponsorships, and tournaments.
o Full time Director of Coaching / Administrator.
o The Club Supports paid Coaching Staff.
o Ranked in the Top 50 Soccer Clubs In the Country.
o Placed over 50 players in the last 3 years in college soccer programs.
(Estimated scholarship value of over $ 1 .2 million.)
o First Class Web Site loaded with information to help parents and players
to stay informed and connected. arkansascomets com
o The Comets offers Full or partial Scholarship to every kid or Fami/V who
is unable to meet the financial commitment of the club.
o The Comets Host the largest and most prestigious tournament in Arkansas
Average 140 Teams From 8 States.
Over 1500 Hotel Rooms are utilized during the two-day event.
Over 300 Comets families, local and national businesses, donate
time and money to put on a first class event.
(Estimated revenue to the community of $ 1 .0 million)
o The Comets Club is a Non for profit organization with 501C3 designation.
*Other Clubs like the Comes with Regional and National exposure charge in the range
of$800 - X52500 per player.
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RESOLUTION NO.
(Alternative B)
A RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT THE REPORT OF THE WILSON
SPRINGS BUSINESS PARK ASSESSMENT TASK FORCE
WHEREAS, the City of Fayetteville is very appreciative for the concern
and dedication demonstrated by the volunteers of the Wilson Springs Business
Park Assessment Task Force; and
WHEREAS, the City of Fayetteville for itself and all the citizens of
Fayetteville expresses its sincere gratitude and thanks to every member of the
Task Force and especially its Chairman, Jeff Collins, who volunteered countless
hours to forge a consensus that included both the partial development and the
careful preservation of the Wilson Springs acreage.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS:
Section 1 . That the City Council of the City of Fayetteville, Arkansas
hereby gratefully accepts the Report of the Wilson Springs Business Park
Assessment Task Force which is attached as Exhibit A, and adopts its
recommendations for both development and preservation of the Wilson Springs
acreage.
PASSED and APPROVED this the 2nd day of October, 2002.
APPROVED: I�
oRP``
.By :
DAN COODY, Mayor
ATTEST:
By .
Heather Woodruff, City Clerk
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THE WILSON SPRING BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY PARK TASK FORCE
The Wilson Spring Business and Technology Park Task Force (TF) was formed to provide
independent analysis and to make a recommendation to the City Council and Mayor' s office of
the City of Fayetteville as to the "highest and best" use of the approximately 289 acres owned by
the city and located on Interstate 540. In the course of our examination, three subcommittees
focused on the economic/development, biological, and hydrological issues associated with the
site, gathered information and studied important attributes and/or impacts of various uses of the
property. The TF held two pubic forums for to gamer input from citizens, as well as allowing
statements and questions from various representatives of constituent groups during regularly held
meetings, which began June 20th:
The results of this work, found below, accomplish the following purposes:
1 . The formation of a Business and Technology Park sufficient in size to create critical mass
for business development and located to take maximum advantage of potential synergies
with Fayetteville's most unique resource, the University of Arkansas.
2. The increase and enhancement of Fayetteville's tax base and further insurance of the
financial viability of the City of Fayetteville. Developing these lands produces financial
advantages for the City in three ways:
a. It returns acreage to the property tax base critical to the support our schools and
other city and county services.
b. It produces "profit" for the City, with which to fund and support such things as the
development of trails, green space, parks, and parks improvements.
c. It fosters the development of high wage jobs by improving the climate for the
creation of knowledge-based industry.
3. The preservation of at roughly 180 acres of wetlands, floodplain, and floodway, creating a
valuable environmental resource, in perpetuity, for the citizens of Fayetteville.
RECOMMENDA TIONS
Note: These acreages referenced in this recommendation are taken from the Development Area plat, as
drawn by McClelland Engineers, showing a wetland impact of 17 acres.
1 . Recommendation : Immediately apply for and receive the permit from the Corps of
Engineers for the 17-acre wetlands impact, with mitigation, as necessary.
2. Recommendation : Approximately 70 acres at the south end of the property be platted
and planned for the Wilson Spring Business and Technology Park Development
3 . Recommendation : The 38 acres at the southeast comer (and a part of the above
referenced 70 acres) be developed immediately (Phase 1 ).
a. Development of these lands would require some or all mitigation be done on the
front end, since some of the 38 acres is in the wetlands impact area. Monies for
the mitigation would provide initial funding for immediate restoration, etc.
(However, per the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, due to the substantial amount of
land being preserved in the recommendations of the Task Force, possible
mitigation acreages could be significantly reduced.)
4. Recommendation : The City of Fayetteville to construct Covenants and Restrictions for
the Business Park:
a. To insure that the Business Park will not include heavy industrial or be dominated
with retail business and will encourage "knowledge based", technology oriented
businesses.
b. To insure that the resulting development will have a campus style environment
with a maximum amount of area in green space.
c. To insure that the wetlands are "developed" to provide the maximum benefit to the
entire surrounding property
d. To insure that all storm water collection systems from development be constructed
to protect the sensitive wetlands
5 . Recommendation : Commence as soon as possible a formal inventory assessment and
evaluation of the lands lying north of Clabber Creek, currently not designated as wetlands
or mitigation areas for wetlands impact, for development potential. These lands to include
the approximately I 1 acres lying west of Deane Soloman Road. Such evaluation should
include a thorough needs assessment, potential environmental impact of development,
biological assessment, further wetlands delineation assessment, dispersed recreational
study, storm water runoff assessment and economic impact of development. If such an
evaluation of such lands yields the possibility of development of some kind, the
TF recommends the inclusion of a significant buffer of "not-to-be-disturbed lands" of at
least 600' wide lying north of and parallel to Clabber Creek.
6. Recommendation : That all of the lands lying south of Clabber Creek and north of the
aforementioned 70 acres of commercial development be preserved, in perpetuity, as
delineated wetlands and/or an extension of said delineated wetlands.
WILSON SPRINGS TASK FORCE BIOLOGY REPORT-
JON JOHNSON , PETE HEINZELMANN, AND TOM MCKINNEY
The Wilson Springs property, located north of Shilo Road and 1-540 in Fayetteville, is a
mixture of wetland hardwood forest, remnant wet tall grass prairie and planted fescue
pasture that is gradually being inundated by the return of native grasses and trees. The
290 acres included within the boundaries of the site are underlain by a series of soils that
play a large part in determining the biology of the area. The entire northwest, central and
south central portion of the property is underlain by Toloka Complex mounded soils
which consist of layers of silt loam underlain by a layer of clay. The soil stays wet for
extended periods of time after heavy rains and runoff is slow. Extended wetness is
classified as an extreme hazard.
The north central portion of the property is underlain by Summit Complex mounded soils
consisting of sticky silty clays underlain by a layer of plastic or silty clay. The soil stays
wet for long periods of time after moderate to heavy rainfall. Runoff is very slow, or
ponded, with wetness being classified as an extreme hazard.
The southern portion of the property is underlain by Baxter cherty silt loam soils which
are found on small ridges and hillsides. Runoff is medium with some erosion hazard.
We mention the soil topography because that is what determines and drives the biology
and the wildlife on this property. The Toloka and Summit soils trap water near the
surface allowing for wetland species to establish themselves and survive. The better-
drained Baxter soils do not maintain such saturation levels and are, thus, not as rich
biologically as the Taloka and Summit soils.
As part of the task of making a recommendation on the use of the Wilson Springs
property the biology subcommittee has collected information from numerous sources,
including professional biologists who have considerable on-site experience. Committee
members have also visited the property in the company of experts, including biologists,
herpetologists and landscape architects from the University of Arkansas. While no
formal studies of the ecosystems on the property have been conducted, sufficient
information does exist to draw preliminary conclusions about the impact of the
development of significant portions. Many questions remain, however, about the nature
of specific elements of the ecosystem, and about the environmental consequences of
developing several tracts of the property.
There is little uncertainty regarding the southern 40-50 acres of the site adjoining Moore
Lane (area A on the map), which contains a sloped area and Cherty soils that does not
possess unique biological value for the city or the region. This includes a wooded section
in the southeast comer of the property that may be amenable to development if done in an
environmentally sensitive way. However, before this could be done we would
recommend that a woody plant survey be conducted not only of this portion of the
property but of entire site, to document significant trees or biological communities.
Special attention should be given to protecting the lower wetlands on the property.
There is little uncertainty about the biological value of the east-central sections of the site
(B on the map underlain by the Taloka and Summit Complex soils), which is very high.
This area, which is a designated wetland, is covered with vegetation typical of wetland
prairie and lowland hardwood vegetation, and is capable of supporting fully functional
wetland ecosystems. A representative list of wetlands plants is included in the supporting
documents. Wilson Springs, also located in this section, is the habitat of the Arkansas
Darter (Etheostoma cragini), a candidate species for listing under the Endangered Species
Act, and care should be taken to protect the drainage surrounding the spring. (A related
issue is the highway drainage pipe near the source of the spring on the eastern border of
the property. Runoff from the highway during periods of heavy rain could prove a
potential hazard to the spring, though such runoff has not to date caused any serious
problems. The threat of a chemical spill could, however, pose a serious danger to the
spring.) The designated wetlands also contain a substantial population of Ozark
Burrowing Crawfish or crawdads (Procambarus liberonun), a species that exists in only
nine counties of northern Arkansas. The area also contains nesting populations of
numerous birds.
In fact, the whole of the Wilson Springs property is a valuable resource for resident and
migrating birds; 125 species of birds have been documented on the property by
volunteers, a much larger number of species than is usually found within the city limits of
a medium sized community. (A list of birds seen on the property is included in the
supporting documents.) The Wilson Springs property is also the only known nesting site
in Arkansas for the Henslow's Sparrow (Ammodramus henslowii) which has been
designated as a species of concern by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service because its
population is declining throughout its range. It should be noted that these and other
sensitive species of flora and fauna have been documented in inventories created by
volunteers. A formal, systematic study may very well identify additional species
deserving of protection.
The subcommittee is very concerned with the segments of land adjoining the designated
wetlands to the west and south of Clabber Creek (C on the map also underlain by
Taloca and Summit Complex soils). The primary vegetation there is different, or
atypical, from that found on the designated wetlands areas only because it has been
planted in Fescue and cut over on a regular basis. This area also contains lands that
might be classified as seasonal wetlands that are wet only part of the year and are
associated with low "prairie mounds" that cover the area. Though delineated wetlands
have legal protections, seasonal wetlands do not and they constitute the single most
endangered habitat type in northwest Arkansas. These wetlands are deceptively dry
during periods of low rainfall but, because of the high water table in the area, it takes
only modest amounts of rainfall to nurture shallow, seasonally wet habitats, with their
associated plants and animals.
Seasonal wetlands can be identified in a number of ways, some being:
0 Numerous and widespread mud chimneys of the Ozark Burrowing
Crayfish.
0 Hydrophilic plants such as Prairie Cord grass are present as well as
Buttonbush and Swamp Dogwood.
0 Stands of various semi-aquatic plants are common, especially sedges, that
require water and dryness during part of their life cycle.
0 Wet prairie species such as Sawtooth Sunflower are present and form
extensive stands.
0 Marshland birds such as the small rail, Sora and larger species like
American bittem.
In seasonal wetlands there is a strong positive correlation between biodiversity and the
presence of water. The Wilson Springs property supports a high biodiversity as a result
of the high water table and presence of water on the surface for much of the year.
Typical seasonal and delineated wetland vegetation has naturally begun to recolonize
much of this area, and the soil and hydrology of the section is nearly identical to that of
the designated wetlands. Ozark Burrowing Crayfish chimneys are located throughout the
area, as well as nesting sites for Henslow Sparrows.
There is every reason to expect that, if left unmolested, this area would develop into a
sustained tall grass prairie, delineated wetland and seasonal wetland ecosystem.
Development of this section would destroy this habitat, and the subcommittee members
are concerned that it would disrupt the adjoining designated wetlands as well.
The greatest uncertainty involves the lowland property to the north of Clabber Creek (D
on the map also underlain by Taloca and Summit Complex soils). As with other lowland
areas of the property, these sections are characterized by soils and hydrological features
typical of delineated and seasonal wetlands, and the same characteristic plants (e.g.,
Prairie Cord grass, Buttonbush, Swamp Dogwood) and animals (e.g., Ozark Burrowing
Crayfish, nesting Henslow Sparrows) are found in these areas.
Development of these tracts will have obvious implications for the less mobile species of
animals located there, but it is unclear what impact development of the perimeter of the
property will have on bird populations.
Contiguous tracts of unmolested land are necessary for many nesting birds to inhabit a
site, and we cannot say with any degree of certainty what impact development of the
northern sections will have on the bird populations for the whole of the property. This
uncertainty is exacerbated by our ignorance of the actual species that exist on the site,
insofar as no comprehensive survey of species has been conducted. When habitat shrinks
those species associated with it can be forced out and their survival is not assured. These
species need not just good quality habitat, in this case delineated and seasonal wetlands
and prairie, but they also need a certain quantity to assure survival.
•
In light of these findings, the biology subcommittee does not feel that it would be
appropriate to develop the northern sections of the property without first commissioning a
formal inventory and environmental assessment of the development of this area.
BIOLOGY SUB- GROUP
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION
Pictures from Wilson Springs Narrative
If you are a PC user, an easy way to view these pictures is to save the CD contents
to a file in "My Pictures" on your hard drive (you can just delete them when you want),
then use the "slide show" feature to click through them. If you don't want to go to this
trouble, just double click each individual picture on the CD.
These photographs were the volunteer effort of Fayetteville resident, Joseph C.
Neal, on the 289 acres of publicly owned land, between late March and early September
2002. The only exception is the picture of the Arkansas Darter that dates to 1990, but was
also taken at Wilson Springs.
If you have questions about these pictures, call Joe at 521 - 1858, or
a oecnealt�uno.com. Thanks for your interest in the future of this property.
1 . Passion Flower is a native vine that occurs widely at Wilson Springs.
2. Ironweed is a common native plant of prairies and other open areas. They
have adapted to the fescue monoculture and are found in all the fields.
3. Sawtooth Sunflowers are tall, robust plants that grow in large stands in damp
prairie soils. They are especially common in the big field south of Clabber
Creek.
4. The big Tallgrass Prairie fields have been converted to a fescue monoculture.
This has reduced many native plants, which still can be found along edges and
in areas (such as fields just N of the springs) with less fescue.
5. Prairie mounds can be seen as low conical rises. They have been plowed down
in many places, but are quite visible in the big NW field.
6. Prairie mounds with forest in background. Fayetteville's original name was
Prairie Township, for habitats a lot like these fields.
7. Botanist Ed Dale, retired from the U of A, produced a large map of the state
showing natural habitats, including prairies. This is a section of that reap, with
prairies shown in brown. Marked on the map are 2 places where Henslow's
Sparrow has been found during summer. Wilson Springs is the only site in
NW Arkansas where Henstow's occurs in summer and the only current one
known.
8. Prairie mounds are a historic feature in this area.
9. A typical landscape of prairie mounds and shadows formed by the low,
conical rises.
10. Ashy Sunflowers occur at several places on the 289 acres. These are prairie
flowers.
11 . Bobwhite quail are declining through much of their range, but can be found in
good numbers on the 289 acres. This male was photographed at the "dogleg"
on Dean Solomon
12. Savannah Sparrows are birds of native grasslands that spend the winter in the
Fayetteville area, including big fields at Wilson Springs.
13. This photo of an Arkansas Darter was a specimen netted from the spring run
around 1990, during one of the early studies.
14. Clabber Creek was widened, straightened, and deepened in an attempt to drain
the surrounding fields. A new, perennial marsh habitat was one result of this
activity, shown here from Dean Solomon, looking east.
15. This male Damselfly was trying to mate with females along the Wilson Spring
run near where it joins Clabber Creek.
16. Many bird species use the perennial wetlands at Wilson Springs. Shown here
are a juvenile Little Blue Heron, a Great Egret, and a Great Blue Heron.
17. This Great Egret was hunting in Clabber Creek.
18. Great Blue Herons can ahnost always be seen along Clabber Creek.
19. This perennial marsh is on the south side of Clabber. It's probably an old
oxbow of Clabber itself. The marsh has willow trees on the fringes and
numerous aquatic plants grading into the fields.
20. Marsh Wrens use the cattails that are developing along Clabber Creek.
21 . Green Herons are common along Clabber Creek and in the perennial marshes
outside the creek.
22. The big fields on the 289 acres are dominated by seasonal wetlands; that is,
low, water-retaining ground that holds rainwater long enough to develop
various aquatic plants and support animal species that require marsh
conditions during part of their life cycle. This seasonal wetland north of
Clabber Creek is very wet during much of the year, and "bone dry" at other
times.
23. The "king" of the seasonal wetland is the Ozark Burrowing Crawfish, which
survives in the fields because the water table is so high. Burrows that lead to
this water table are visible all over the seasonal wetlands in the fields.
24. This is a close up of a crawfish burrow in an apparently dry field.
25. Yellow Nut Grass is actually a wetland plant, or sedge, that requires wet
conditions during part of its life cycle, and dry conditions at other times.
Sometimes there are so many of them that they form "sedge meadows" in
apparently "dry" ground.
26. Sawtooth Sunflowers stand tall above the big fields. It is an indicator of
seasonally wet prairie in this area.
27. Prairie Cordgrass occurs in very wet conditions. These plants are along the
north side of the property.
28. Big Bluestein grass is a classic species of the Tallgrass Prairie. It occurs
widely on the 289 acres. You don't see much of it where conversion to fescue
has been thorough, but it's still along the edges and there is a great deal of it in
fields south of the springs. The introduced fescue monoculture could be
reduced and much of the Tallgrass Prairie restored.
29. Buttonbush is a water-loving species that can be found out in the low, wet
areas in the fields, along the edges, along Clabber, etc.
30. Henslow's Sparrow is a rare song bird that was first found in 2001 and was
present in 2002 in all three of the large fields on the west side of the property.
31 . Sedge Wrens are a declining species that occurs in habitats that are damp,
grassy, and open. This bird was part of a small flock in fields on the south side
of Clabber.
32. Bell's Vireo was once common in the Fayetteville area It is declining
throughout its range in North America. It is a bird of moist fencerows in open
areas like those at Wilson Springs. They occur in the fencerows on the west
side of Solomon and along the north boundary.
33. American Goldfinches are common in the Fayetteville area and can always be
found in the fields.
34. Another picture of Henslow' s Sparrow; this one was in the NE field off
Trucker's Lane.
35. Red-tailed Hawks nested in 2002 in the pine trees on the City property on the
west side of Dean Solomon, where this picture was made.
36. Eastern Kingbirds patrol the open fields. This bird nested along the north side
of the property near Dean Solomon.
37. LeConte's Sparrow winters on the property in large, open damp fields like this
one south of Clabber Creek. This is a good place to look for them during the
annual Fayetteville Christmas Bird Count.
38. The song of Eastern Meadowlarks is common on the edge of Fayetteville and
the birds nested in all the big fields. This nest was in the big field off
Trucker's Lane in the same area with Henslow's Sparrows.
39. Male Painted Buntings could be seen all during spring and summer of 2002
along Dean Solomon Road and on the east side of the property along
Trucker's Lane. This male was photographed in the City-owned field west of
Solomon
40. Dickcissels nest in the big fields. This is a declining bird in its North
American range. This female was carrying food to young in the NE field off
Trucker's Lane.
41 . Scissor-tailed Flycatchers are birds of the wide open spaces. This nest was in a
pine tree at the "dogleg" on Solomon Road.
42. A male Painted Bunting was too close to a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher nest near
the Dean Solomon "dogleg"—and got chased away.
43. This fabulous native Common Sunflower grows in the old prairie fields north
of the Wilson Spring run
44. Indian Grass is a species famous on the Tallgrass Prairie. It is especially
common in the old fields south of the Wilson Spring run (near the long dozer
line), where it forms dense stands with Big Bluestein Grass, June Grass, and
other native species. Fescue conversion was not entirely successful in these
fields. They give us a good sense of the potential for restoring the whole City
property to its original, beautiful status as Tallgrass Prairie watered by fine
springs. This would be a fitting tribute to our town's pioneers.
45. There are quiet times in this landscape, even if it is along I-540.
46. June Grass and Ticksced Sunflowers are common native species widespread
in the open areas of the City property.
47. This is Wilson Spring with a common native aquatic plant, arrowhead, shown
here in bloom along the spring, near where it flows into Clabber Creek.
48. Common wood-nymph is a butterfly of grassy fields that was flying in August
2002 in big fields on the City property.
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