Riley Creek Conservation Area
STATUS: COMPROMISED
Map to Riley Creek Conservation Area
Less than one percent of the oak, maple, and basswood Big Woods that covered most of Hennepin County in the 1850s has survived into the 21st century. A pristine, 50-acre Big Woods remnant lies within Eden Prairie's Riley Creek Conservation Area (RCCA).
STATUS: COMPROMISED
The ecological sustainability and scenic integrity of the big woods section of the Riley Creek Conservation Area are threatened by residential development along its northern boundaries and future development of a 30-acre farm to the west and properties along its southern border.
HOW TO GET THERE
Riley Creek Conservation Area is most easily approached from the Pioneer Trail/Dell Road intersection in southwestern Eden Prairie. From the intersection, head south on Dell Road 0.5 mile to Jonathan Lane. Turn left and go 0.2 mile to La Foret Drive. Turn right and go a half block to the Canopy Drive intersection and the conservation area's parking lot.
WHAT YOU CAN DO THERE
The RCCA is ideal for nature study and photography, but until nature trails are installed, permission from Eden Prairie's Manager of Natural Resources and Parks must be acquired before entering. See below for contact information.
Riley Creek. photo: Jeff Strate
DESCRIPTION
A city bonding referendum in 1994 approved funds for the purchase of what was the Big Woods core of the future conservation area. This core was one of the most visually striking old-growth hardwood tracts in Minnesota. A comparatively flat swath of it, south of the parking lot, falls off into steep Riley Creek valley, which serpentines through ravine-bifurcated blufflands. Some of the trees predate the American Revolution. Woodland shrubs, herbaceous plants, and spring flowers still have a claim on the thin forest floor over which sugar maples, red oaks, and basswoods form a cathedral-like canopy. Pileated woodpeckers, barred owls, wild turkeys, fox, and other animals find a home in these woods and along its edges.
A housing development has been built within
a few feet of Riley Creek, Eden Prairie
THREAT AND RESPONSE
The chief threats to the environmental and scenic integrity of the RCCA's ecosystem are posed by residential development along its boundaries, and by those residents who are unaware of the fragile nature of this remarkable resource. From 2002 through 2003, closely packed houses were constructed along the northern boundary of RCCA as part of the Oake Park development. When the 30-acre farm to the west and properties to the south are developed, the threat will increase.
A number of once-inspirational viewsheds within the conservation area have been spoiled as these new homes are out of scale and at odds with the old-growth forest behind them. Dark irony characterizes a situation in which, sadly, a portion of the Big Woods that had been "protected" with public funds was degraded for public use to provide developers and home owners added value. The harm is apparent from the Acorn Ridge (street) perspective.
The small buffer made up of a patchwork of berming, plantings, fencing, and city conservation easements protects all but the north side of Riley Creek Woods. Without effective educational programs and enforcement of ordinances, these signs and fences will not protect the Big Woods ecosystem from the harmful effects of sprawl. Increasing numbers of bird feeders and exotic shrubs attract species not normally found in the Big Woods. These new birds could spread buckthorn seeds into the conservation area and its buffer strips. If uncontrolled, this invasive weed tree would choke out the native plants causing a decline in Big Woods-dependent insects and birds.
Riley Creek is characterized
by deep ravines
photo: Jeff Strate
CURRENT SITUATION
In 2000, 160 acres of land were bulldozed to make way for 433 homes that caused increasing stress for the remaining Big Woods parkland. A wider, more effective buffering was strongly recommended by the DNR and University of Minnesota forest authorities and citizen responses when plans for the housing project were being considered. As additional development proposals come forth on the northern and western sides, the City of Eden Prairie intends to use density transfers and park fees to fund the expansion of the RCCA.
The city hopes to enlarge the conservation area from 62 to 125 acres to complete a green corridor along Riley Creek to the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge to the southeast and Riley Lake to the northwest. More education and statute enforcement is needed to protect the Riley Creek Big Woods.
IF YOU WANT TO GET INVOLVED
Eden Prairie Parks and Natural Resources Department
The department welcomes hearing from organized groups and individuals
wanting to develop or participate in stewardship projects in its
parklands including Riley Creek Conservation Area.
Stuart Fox, Eden Prairie Parks Manager
952-949-8445
Eden Prairie website:
www.edenprairie.org
Friends of Birch Island Woods
This organization can be contacted about
conservation and advocacy issues related to
Riley Creek, Prairie Bluff, and Birch Island
Woods conservation areas.
Jeff Strate, FBIW co-leader
952-949-8980
Friends of Birch Island Woods website: www.birchislandwoods.org
The Embrace Open Space campaign has more information on Riley Creek Conservation Area on its other treasures page, as well as other open space treasures around the Twin Cities.