Page 44 - Park and Open Space Plan

Natural Management Overview:
The wooded area is one of the largest uninterrupted
pieces of non-state-owned forest in the County with

the capability to support interior forest animals. The
property lies on an interlobate moraine, with the
glacial till that comes with such a location. The woods
is at the northern border of the county, just past the
frequent, fire-dependent zone that dominates the
southern and western townships. The importance to
protect the intact forest here has been identified.

The Core Zone for Monches is larger than most parks,
covering 224 acres of mostly-wooded land.
Invasive species that challenge the management of
the Core Zone include Garlic mustard and the
potential for Emerald Ash Borer and Clearwing Moth
due to the large number of Ash trees located here.
The goal for management is to maintain and improve
the ecological quality, encouraging succession of
native species and aiming to close the canopy of the
forest areas. Monitoring and controlling the area for
invasive species and new populations of existing
invasives is critical to the health of the Core Zones.
The size of this block makes it an important zone in the
County for management

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