By Robin Johnson, Land Management Specialist

The latest addition to the City of Traverse City’s Brown Bridge Quiet Area, Grasshopper Creek, got some attention as volunteers worked to pull the invasive spotted knapweed from a native little bluestem field. The 70 acres of Grasshopper Creek was purchased in 1992 with a Michigan Department of Natural Resources Trust Fund grant. Over the last few years the District and the City have been working to install bridges and boardwalks to form a one-mile loop trail that traverses a variety of habitats along the Boardman River. With the trail system complete, now begins the even more daunting task of monitoring and improving wildlife habitat in the area. Despite the large size of the field, 10 volunteers showed up to pull the spotted knapweed in an area of the field were an endangered species in known to nest. The District hopes to eventually get a grant to restore this native grassland. On a supposedly restful hike of the trails after the work bee, the group also found an area of invasive Canada and bull thistle that that were able to remove. Thanks to the volunteers for all their hard work and dedication!