We are removing forty years’ growth of invasive buckthorn from Sunfish Lake Park. It is a difficult process, but someone has to do it, and that someone is George Johnson! In three funded phases so far, 180 acres of Sunfish Lake Park are being cleared of buckthorn and restored to their native ecosystems. The maps of the work areas are shown below.

This work is supported by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources under the Minnesota Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council Conservation Partners Legacy Grant Program. Please scroll down to see the details of this program. The Partners in this project, “Restoration of Sunfish Lake Park”, are the DNR for major funding, the City of Lake Elmo for a cash contribution and the efforts of the Department of Public Works, and the Friends of Lake Elmo’s Sunfish Lake Park who contribute volunteer hours (over a thousand so far) and administrative support.

Volunteer Buckthorn Removal work parties take place from 9:30 to Noon on most second Saturdays. We have the gloves, loppers, and daubers. Visit our website page https://sminc-lake-elmo.org/workshops/ for upcoming dates, or   Contact George at 651-757-5610 for details.