Sherburne County contracted with Prairie Restorations, Inc. that utilized Sentencing to Service crews for the hand-cutting and stump treatment, and Tree Top Services for mechanized cutting and skidding. The treatment began in fall 2008 and was finished in January 2009.
Biomass volume: 23 loads, 1,840 cy; 460 tons.
October 2009: Buckthorn education night at Bridgeview, educating residents about the project, the ecological threat that buckthorn poses and keys to successful removal and control.
Fall 2009: Prescribed burn.
Summer 2010: Mechanical removal (pulling) of common mullein, which was not affected by the burn, and cutting of buckthorn resprouts.
Late spring 2011: Prescribed burn.
Late summer 2011: Cutting of buckthorn resprouts.
Fall 2011: Dormant wick application of herbicide applied to foliage of buckthorn resprouts cut in late summer 2011.
January-February 2012: Untreated buckthorn, some as high as 6', were cut.
Summer 2012: All buckthorn was cut over the entire 15 acre treatment area.
May 2013: Prescribed burn. Achieved good control of existing buckthorn stems.
October 2013: Dormant overspray application.
No further work was needed following 2013, but invasive species began to surface including common tansy, Canada thistle, and garlic mustard. Spot treatments have been conducted annually on tansy and thistle to the present day, while garlic mustard has been pulled at bolting/blooming and appears to be under control. Critical period cutting of buckthorn has continued to keep it from producing seed and vulnerable to either dormant wick application with bark penetrant or fire.
In 2016-2017 buckthorn was removed on the other half of the park which was not part of the original treatment. In addition to the buckthorn, a thin was carried out which targeted all red cedar and some trees crowding open-grown bur oaks. This action took place on frozen ground with some snow cover.
Fall 2017: Dormant foliar overspray of entire 30 acre area.
Spring 2019: Prescribed burn.
July 2019: Critical period cutting of dense shrub areas, targeting the following species: raspberries, blackberries, honeysuckle, buckthorn, American hazel, chokecherry, prickly ash, and quaking aspen. Some species are native but interfere with prescribed burning.