Inside Priorities

While my phone's camera didn't capture it completely, last Friday afternoon's snow squalls
caused near white-outs over the marsh 

As quickly as the snow came, it's just about gone. I pulled into the bunkhouse drive this morning and nearly forgot that it had been blanketed in white just last Friday (the last time I was there). We only had maybe four inches on the ground at most, but with the last several days in the forties -- approaching 50 a couple times -- there isn't much evidence left.

I did get to sit through some heavy, albeit brief, snow last Friday evening (photo above). It wasn't even forecast, or if it was, it was to be a "snow shower." But it came fast and furious for about 45 minutes while I sat in the tree stand. I probably had an inch on my shoulders before I moved for the first time.

[Still no deer for 2017, by the way. Limited time out, some poor timing, and a little bit of bad luck have all contributed. Plus, in talking with neighbors, we all agree that general deer numbers have been down this year locally as compared to recent years. We speculate that it may have to do with high water flooding out what has been "high" ground, relatively speaking. These dry spots serve as critical secluded refuge in and around the marshes, but if the water comes up just inches, we can loose them.]

An portion of the water conveyance structure design
slated for installation in the West Marsh in 2018
(click to enlarge)

At any rate, most of our time this past week has been spent on indoor priorities. We feel that we are making good headway on what will be a major management priority for 2018 -- namely, the replacement of our main water conveyance structure on the West Marsh.

This is the project that we are working on in cooperation with local partners (ODNR Office of Coastal Management and Erie County Soil & Water), but it is being funded by federal  GLRI (Great Lakes Restoration Initiative) dollars. It will be a game changer for our western management units.

We had good meetings this week relating to permitting, design, and implementation. Standing Rush is serving as the project manager, so we will be busy with administrative and construction management activities. We hope to have permitting and design in place such that we can choose a contractor and have the new structure functional by mid-summer 2018. If all goes smoothly, we hope this specific project could allow us to make two related improvements on the site -- if not next year, than by 2019 for sure. Exciting stuff.

Here Comes the Melt

A view looking back on Roy's tracks late last week (Thursday); moving toward "walking ice"
. . . at least if you weigh <165 lbs. (which I most certainly don't)

As cocky as I was in my last post about winter setting in "to stay for a while," the last couple days and the forecast for the next few doesn't bode well for staying white (or maybe even frozen). Such is winter in Ohio, I guess. Forecasts called for temps in the upper 30s for highs yesterday and today, but I bet we were closer to mid-40s yesterday and at least lower 40s today with a fair amount of sunshine. Things are getting sloppy. (Sigh)

Marsh or Swamp Rose Mallow (Hibiscus moscheutos L.)
in winter display
(note Phrag seeds draping stem/remnant flower parts)

Roy did capture some really neat images in the brilliant sunshine -- while the temps were still polar. I particularly like the one to the left, not only because of the visual interest of the remnant seed head, but also because of the contrast between this perspective and what you'd see of the bloom in mid-July.

Marsh Mallow, beyond being a great name, can be a remarkably beautiful plant. I've seen blooms in our marsh easily 6" across, and the colors can range from pale white to vibrant pink, with all of the color and complexity of internal flower "parts" that are a hallmark of the hibiscus family.

The good news is that these plants are native and can be really cool to look at -- singly and en masse. The bad news is, they tend to error on the "en masse" side, often growing aggressively (almost invasively) when conditions are right (or wrong). And the shrub-like growth form can definitely grow taller than me (6'5"), so they can be a force to be reckoned with from a management perspective. Based on what we were seeing toward the tail end of this past growing season, I have a feeling we'll be talking -- and tackling -- my good friend marsh mallow more next year.

A splash of summer color amidst winter blacks, browns, grays, and whites (when we can stay cold enough!)