By Gordon Snyder
The project is to restore cattle corrals / hayfields from the 1910s to the ancient wetlands conditions from before civilization…
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| 8/5/2011 after haying. Photo from Google Earth |
You can see historic water flow and wetlands remnants even after all the agricultural years.
Earth moving work on pond restoration was completed on 9/1/2023. After that, last fall we planted over 170,000 nursery grown wetlands plants. Plus, broadcast seeding of grasses and sedges.
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| 9/7/2023 after haying and reconstruction. Photo from Google Earth |
We lucked out when Google Earth satellite photographed the wetlands project just a week after reconstruction. The nursery plantings and seeding had begun when they were flying.
This spring we are seeing the ponds filling and wetlands plants sprouting and beginning to grow… Fantastic changes taking place.
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| Photo by Gordon Snyder |
I am here photo and video documenting the progress and status of this first spring for the No Fence Wetlands.
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| Charlie is having a wonderful time Photo by Gordon Snyder |
Of course, my Buddy Charlie is with me out here. He is delightedly romping and sniffing while I’m doing my wetlands things. (Charlie changes from a “Dude” urban dog to a “Scout” country dog when we’re here.)
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| Photo by Gordon Snyder |
Charlie helps by checking out the newly planted area.
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| Photo by Gordon Snyder |
Charlie is mesmerized by honking from our new resident Canadian Geese on the shoreline of Bigfoot Pond….
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| Photo by Gordon Snyder |
Meanwhile… I’m looking at water levels and success of bank plants and seed germination.
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| Photo by Gordon Snyder |
We had less than 70% normal precipitation, but enough to get wetlands started.
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| Photo by Gordon Snyder |
The plants need daily rain from those clouds to compete with existing hayfield grasses.
Fantastic results!
ReplyDeleteThings are quickly changing from the planning/construction stages to the water/biology phases.
ReplyDeleteWhat an awesome project. Creating habitat and lots of helpful science and quite the playground for Charlie!
ReplyDeleteThis looks like a fantastic project. I'm glad to see restoration of the wetlands.
ReplyDeleteTaking a dog and letting it wander freely is incongruous with the restoration and a habitat for wildlife, though. That baffles and concerns me.