Rapids Lake Education and Visitor Center Phone: 952-854-5900 |
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| A main effort of the Refuge is to effectively restore the oak savanna. |
Oak Savanna, one of the rarest and most threatened habitats in the Midwest, is
being restored on the Refuge. Restoration techniques include selective cutting and prescribed burning. To measure the effectiveness of these restoration techniques, the Refuge Biologist monitors vegetative changes over time.
The Refuge is currently restoring a 50 acre tract of Oak Savanna on the Louisville Swamp Unit. It is located approximately 1/2 mile west of the north parking lot. Trees, other than oaks, are removed by a hydroaxe or a chainsaw. After the trees are removed, the area is burned for several years to stimulate the growth of native grasses and forbs. It may take at least 20 years for the full complement of native species to recover. Years of fire suppression and grazing have allowed many invasive and successional species to take over the savanna.
As part of our Oak Savanna restoration on the Rapids Lake Unit, cedar trees are being removed. After tree removal, the areas will be burned to stimulate growth of native grasses and forbs.
