West Marsh Water Conveyance: Project Update #12 (Eagles & the Channel Crossing)

At first blush, I just missed the perfect image here; but the more I look at it, the more I think that this might be one of my favorites taken on the property thus far (be sure to click to enlarge to check out the detail in the talons and wings)

The weather held for us late last week and for much of the weekend, with afternoon lows staying above freezing -- which in this particular case, was a good thing. The crew still put heat around the newly poured crossing over our new structure, and the curing concrete was wrapped in plastic ahead of Saturday's rain.

Construction oversight

Roy and I thought we were overseeing the day's progress, but as we left for the afternoon, it became clear who the real "pour supervisors" (Roy's term) were that day. This pair of mature bald eagles stood at attention for a good minute on the sturdy limb of a nearby cottonwood, basking in the near 50-degree weather and penetrating late afternoon sunshine. Conditions -- and a successful day's work -- seemed to put everyone in a good mood.

It was fitting that eagles presented themselves on the other end of my camera lens. I don't think I'd be exaggerating to say that I saw 50 individual birds over a 5-6 hour period. Many were sunning themselves or riding warm southerly breezes on my drive to and from the property. But I'd say an equal number were cruising over or past the West Marsh. Lots of mature birds, but lots of juveniles, too. They really love patrolling our bayfront dikes, especially when dead fish are washed or frozen near shore.

The photo series below captures what ended up being an uneventfully smooth (pun intended) concrete pour. Again, this is a milestone for the project, because this is what we (and our contractor) promised we'd have finished by the end of the calendar year. Now, it's a push to see if we can wrap up the project before the New Year. As is so often the case, it will ultimately come down to weather.

By the time we got ourselves in position with a camera, most of the mixer truck's contents were more-or-less where
they were going to be; the rest of the work was finishing and babysitting

Floating and troweling took less than an hour; these guys have done this before!

Finishing touches before the smooth surface was "broomed" to add an anti-slip texture (we didn't stick around for that);
then it was just left to cure for a long weekend

These two, who remind me of the old guys from The Muppets, ultimately seemed content that their work was done
and they took off for the day just about the time we did

Introducing the Marsh Shop!

With the countdown to Christmas now truly upon us,
Standing Rush presents it’s own 12 Days of Christmas.
In the spirit of giving, please visit our brand-new online shop.

1st Day of Christmas: Stand for Clean Water Clear Decal

Today, I am thrilled to announce the unveiling of a new Standing Rush website -- standingrushshop.org! While it is built as a stand-alone, it will also be accessible through this blog (see the "SHOP" tab above) and will be housed under our new parent URL, www.standingrush.org.

Today's launch marks the culmination of months of design work and collaboration with my brother, Joe. His passion, creativity, generosity, and pure talent (not to mention sense of humor) have made this journey an absolute blast. As is so often the case, ideas far exceed dollars, but we are using part of the gift recently received from the BSBO Conservation Fund to make this dream a reality.

The primary goals of our online product offering are two-fold: (1) to help improve the impact and reach of our brand; and (2) to build a broader base of supporters, not only financial but ideological, so that we can magnify the impact of our work.

So each of our products has been carefully crafted and meticulously designed not only to help spread the word about our restoration and conservation efforts, but also to increase awareness and pride for our incredible natural resources (which technically aren't really "ours") -- maybe most notably, the incredible resource that is Lake Erie.

This is going to be fun. Happy holidays, twelve days early -- and happy shopping!

Pretty hard not to call this the true "Swamp Shop," but I think our beloved Mudhens

would have a few things to say about that!

West Marsh Water Conveyance: Project Update #11 (Establishing Grade & Channel Crossing)

Somebody forgot to tell the snake that this red-tailed hawk is gnawing on that it is mid-December in northern Ohio!

Another busy week both at the marsh and at the desk this last week. In addition to the ongoing efforts at what will be the new West Pump site, we are readying two more permit applications with the US Army Corps of Engineers (more on those later), making headway with the USDA on the conservation easement on our East Marsh, and are prepping for some significant developments with how we present ourselves online (again, more on this to come soon, but for all our faithful followers of this journal, the blog isn't going anywhere). These are the highlights among a whole smattering of other day-to-day priorities. Suffice it to say December is FLYING BY!

On the project front, Jason and crew have been concentrating on (1) bringing the surrounding soils up to grade, and (2) prepping the channel crossing for a concrete pour -- a milestone that is supposed to begin in just a few short hours! Photos do better than my words, so here are some recent pics:

Moving dirt (and finally some clean rock!) while Jason preps the wooden form that will receive the concrete
that will ultimately make up the channel crossing

The end of a day's work; the form is more or less complete

Wiring a complex grid of rebar that will serve as reinforcement for the crossing concrete; this bugger isn't going anywhere

Finishing touches last evening; final prep is going on now and the mixer truck is supposed to arrive a little before noon today

Today's efforts are significant in that the completion of this crossing signifies "substantial completion" (a contractual term) for the project. Our contractor committed to reaching this milestone by the end of the calendar year with the contingency that they could use early next year, if needed, to finish everything up. With 2+ (albeit crazy) weeks before the New Year, they "show no sign of stopping" . . . to borrow from one of my favorite Christmas carols. So I say, press on! Once we get this work completed, we can "let it snow, let it snow, let it snow" . . . at least until we are permitted to start our next improvement project -- which we hope could happen as early as January of February!

In the meantime, I gotta get myself on the road so I can go watch for a mixer truck.

West Marsh Water Conveyance: Project Update #10 (Gates & More Welding)

With much of the heaviest lifting behind us, it is now time to start assembly;
a delivery from Lakecraft just after the Thanksgiving weekend has kept the crew very busy
(Above: Jason installing the steel outer stoplog channels that will receive the aluminum logs
that ultimately allow us to set and change the marsh's water elevation)

Between a Thanksgiving holiday weekend and some seasonably sloppy weather (both rain and dustings of snow), it would be easy for our contractors to get bogged down at this stage in the project. But progress has most certainly continued over this last week and a half. Despite heavy boots and raw cold, morale seems to continue to ride high as the project clips along. There's still plenty to do, but it now feels like we all see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Since the floor was poured, the crew has been concentrating on receiving and installing various components of the actual water management infrastructure. The series of photos below depicts several of these components in various stages of installation.

A 36" "screw gate" being bolted to a steel mounting plate that will then be bolted to the precast concrete

A debris and carp screen mounted on the marsh side of the precast with the 36" screw gate mounted
to the interior of the "pump pit"

That same 36" screw gate as seen from within the pump pit
(carp/debris screen frame visible at top of image on other side of precast concrete)

A second series of carp/debris screen, precast, and then screw gate photographed from the bay side shows one side
of the precast pump pit nearly completed; work has continued on the 24" side (to the left of the 36" above)

A current view from the pump pit looking back toward the bay; all of the cap welding that creates the top
of each wall is now complete

The snow-covered area with the vertical pins (above) depicts the 12'-wide, 12" deep area that will receive a final concrete pour . . . if all goes well, later this week. This area will serve as our dike crossing and will be another milestone for the project.

I left the site yesterday with the crew working on two excavators. One was moving clay while the other was compacting it up against the sheet pile walls. They are working toward a finished grade, and we are seeing what was just a drawing on paper three months ago come to life at the site. The real fun will come when we can reconnect the waterways and let the life from each intermingle. Won't be long now!

Plenty To Be Thankful For

A large family of Trumpeter Swans preparing for -- or perhaps in the midst of -- a migration (photo by Art Weber);
the photo was taken on the two-track that leads to one of my favorite tree stands -- the one I hunted in tonight

I spend a good amount of my time on this online journal trying to describe just a fraction of the amazing diversity of subjects that we are blessed to witness at Standing Rush -- both in our work and in our play. The marsh is a visual spectacle that unfolds before one's eyes in a different way with each passing day . . . in fact, with each passing "MOMENT" (hence the name of the blog).

Despite our collective efforts with a camera, we could never capture, much less share, anywhere close to what we are fortunate enough to see in person. We do our best. But tonight, as I reminisce on the day that I just had and on the day that lies immediately ahead, I feel compelled to express my gratitude for another of my God-given senses -- the gift of hearing.

This afternoon marked my first sit in a tree stand. This season thus far, my deer hunting pursuits have been much like my time (or lack thereof) in a duck blind: filled with great intentions, but filled even further with personal and professional responsibilities that most often supersede a hunt. I have explained in past posts that I tend to get philosophical when I'm perched in a tree. This evening, my mind consistently wandered to my dad. It is fitting, because I consider my deer hunting outings to be sacred time -- opportunities not only to observe wildlife and the natural world, but also to observe all the blessings in my life. Dad, who passed in June, was certainly one of my greatest blessings. He was also one that, on the eve of a holiday specifically built to "give thanks," was a master at being humbly grateful. Our family is working hard to carry on one particularly special aspect of his legacy, his favorite "prayer," which was either an internal or audible "thank you, thank you, thank you!"

So tonight, on the eve of Thanksgiving, I am thankful not only for Dad but for the gift of hearing. Here's my attempt at a comprehensive list of what I heard tonight from the stand:

Red-winged Blackbird
(Photo by J. Flanagan, used with permission);
Click Here for a library of wildlife calls 

• A typical mix of "tweety" birds -- cardinals, blue jays, juncos, and marsh sparrows -- either flitting close enough to hear wing beats or chirping in the understory beneath my feet, particularly as the light faded. A brown creeper and white-breasted nuthatch, scooting along rough willow bark just a few feet from my head, periodically chastising each other for invading each other's invisible territory. A covey of mourning doves, spontaneously flushing from dangers I certainly couldn't detect. Periodic flocks of chatty blackbirds, able to be heard way longer than they could be seen.
• Cattail and Phragmites rustling more-or-less constantly in the unrelenting (and less than ideal) wind. A clump of remnant grape leaves doing their best to hold on for one more day. A broken cottonwood bough creaking in the crotch of a mulberry tree behind me.
• Man-made sounds: the familiar and distant drone of highway traffic as the wind swung from west to northwest; periodic jets overhead; the lonely but somehow soothing wale of train whistles; random volleys from shotguns on adjacent marshes and farm fields; solitary shots as deer hunters prepped for next week's main "gun season;" a dog barking either because he has been chained too long or because he is just ready to come inside.
• Whistling wigeon rocketing overhead toward the marsh; wings and the telltale subtle quacks of several flocks of mallards on the wing; solitary and unmistakable quacks from within the marsh, sometime followed by a "high-ball" chorus of enthusiastic clucks and quacks that always makes me feel like I missed out on a joke told by a mallard comedian. Small (and sometimes not so small) pods of Canada geese noisily announcing their need to find a restful landing zone to spend the night. A bevy of trumpeter swans, who I could tell just by the range in their strained and curious calls, where looking around -- per usual -- as they surveyed where they might land in the marsh.
• Several bald eagles, a single red-tailed hawk, and plenty of gulls (probably of several different makes and models) and great blue herons (whose calls seem to bend like their long necks as they spook and change course in the air).
• A noisy 'possum (so easily mistaken for a big buck), rambling from the base of one willow snag to another beneath me; a fox squirrel squeaking through the tough outer shell of an imported walnut; a nearly inaudible cottontail (who I may have heard due to a quick rustle of leaves but more likely because I saw its reaction to a silent northern harrier, gliding silently through my main shooting lane).
• One pair of great horned owls, echoing to each other as I climbed down my ladder.

All of this was in about two hours; all before nightfall fully set in. And all was "observed" with my ears rather than my eyes (although I must admit, I would sneak a peak whenever possible and a nearly full moon would have made for some more fun observation, if I wouldn't have been under-dressed). Unfortunately, I never did hear what is often the almost incomprehensibly subtle approach of a whitetail underfoot, or the nearly equally thrilling sound of the arrow being released from my bow. Next time. Obviously, still plenty to be thankful for.

West Marsh Water Conveyance: Project Update #9 (Concrete Floor Installed)

Jason's crew included four on the ground, two working the crane and bucket, a mixer driver, and a QAQC technician;
Roy and I took pictures, smiled at the progress, and just tried to stay warm

In spite of periodic sleet, steely skies, and a stiff wind off the bay, last Friday proved to be just good enough to allow the crew to get the channel floor installed. Our "big pour" has been weeks in the making, but all the prep culminated in just 2-3 hours of actual concrete work. It was quite a transformation. The crew was very efficient, and as the photos below depict, very effective in achieving a beautiful finished product -- despite less than ideal working conditions.

13.5 cubic yards of concrete were systematically lowered into the channel
one hopper bucket at a time

The finished product ended up looking better than my garage floor

A good perspective of progress, taken from atop the precast concrete boxes
(facing the bay with my back to the marsh)

A floor-level perspective looking the other direction
(facing the marsh with my back to the bay)

The marsh-side concrete apron, just after the pour was completed

I'm not sure which was more exciting: the view of the first full mixer truck creeping down the muddy path to the project site,
or the second (empty) mixer truck pulling away -- access is always dicey this time of year, so it was great nobody got stuck

Last week marked the first measurable snow falls (several "dustings") and the first time the marsh froze over completely. Skim ice extended to full coverage only briefly though. Temps have remained well below average (highs in the 30s and lows in the 20s), but sustained wind makes any accumulation of ice difficult.

I always say when duck hunters are happy with the weather, everyone else seems to be miserable. That's certainly been the case for much of these last few weeks; plenty of cold, wind, and cloud cover. Unfortunately, there just haven't been too many ducks in the area (not just in the marsh, but more regionally -- on "our side" of Sandusky Bay). Deer activity, by contrast, seems to be on the increase with lots of sign around the property and the rut likely in full swing. We'll see what this holiday week brings. In addition to some of my favorite time of the year with family, I'm hopeful to find some time in the blind and/or in the tree stand.

Duck Season: Act 2 & Project Update #8 (Still Welding)

The original of Haus and Home, a 12x20" oil on canvas, is one of my favorite paintings by Jim Rataczak;
appropriately, it resides on my parents' fireplace mantle (in the "Kraus Haus" where I was raised)

Tomorrow marks the opening of the main duck season on Lake Erie. While weather was unseasonably cool for the first "half" of this season (which closed on October 28th) -- a good thing for waterfowlers -- this is the stretch that all camo-laden comrades of the duck blind eagerly await.

Wood duck still life;
8x14" oil on canvas
by Jim Rataczak

Appropriately, the mercury dropped to near freezing by the time I walked the dog last night. The first big leaf round-up was behind me. It was calm and clear as the dog crunched over newly frosting grass, and the forecast came through with the season's first snowflakes overnight. Not much stuck to the ground, but I drove through near white-out conditions as I returned from dropping the kids to school. The wind was blowing; scores of leaves were plummeting toward the ground, laden with snow mixed with rain. It just felt like duck season.

Once again, life will keep me out of the marsh for opening day -- and more likely for all of opening weekend. I've yet to sit in a deer stand. I'm just at a very busy point in life right now.

But I do have the vision of a solitary pair of wood ducks, much like those pictured above, swooping in front of our "#15 blind," just as my brother and I were loading our guns to start a morning hunt. It was a full two weeks ago now already, and it was one of only two chances I've had thus far to get in a blind this season. But my first shot connected with the lead duck (not a bad way to start a season). Duck activity the rest of that morning was pretty quiet (I only took one more shot, and Phil never connected with a bird). But we had a great time sitting back and catching up. After all, that's really what all of this camouflage is about.

ASIDE: The artist featured here is a dear friend. Jim Rataczak (www.jimrataczak.com) is married to my first cousin, Joan, and they served as an integral part of my "Minnesota family" while I attended college -- all the sudden lots of years ago now. I will forever cherish our shared time around their table and in the field. Whether it was chasing grouse, sneaking after northern pike by canoe, or just exploring recent and in-process projects in Jim's home studio, I always felt -- and feel -- welcome.

Jim is a purist who paints with the utmost integrity. His subjects -- almost exclusively birds -- are true because he witnesses and sketches all of them in the field, only to be fully captured in the studio. He is a keen observer. He is biologically trained, formally with a Masters in ornithology, and his God-given talents are meticulously communicated to anyone lucky enough to see his award-winning work. His land ethic and understanding of natural processes is only matched by his deep appreciation for the natural world. While he resides more than 600 miles away, I'm trying to twist his arm (not too much twisting required) to get him to Standing Rush. I'm keenly interested in making prints of a commissioned piece -- WHICH HE HAS AGREED TO! --  and perhaps one or two of his incredible field watercolors, available as prints. (Check out his website for examples.) They will help us carry out our mission, and help put me back in the blind . . . even when I can't be there in person.

PROJECT UPDATE:

Here are several project photos since my Halloween update. As anticipated, we lost a handful of days due to weather. Reports from as little as a mile away suggested up to 5" of rain in 24 hours late last week. We might of gotten more like 2" in the marsh, but it was plenty enough to cause delays and make for a muddy mess.

The structure from the marsh side after nearly a week of drying time after last week's rain
(Mike welding away in the background, middle)

This photo depicts both the sheet pile cap installation (foreground) and the preparation for
the dike crossing bridge pour (step-down in the steel in the background)

Another perspective of what will soon be a poured concrete deck across the newly installed steel sheet pile channel

The structure from the bay side -- no photo can capture the amount of work it has taken to trudge through
all this mud to get ready for what we hope will be next week's concrete pour

West Marsh Water Conveyance: Project Update #7 (Welding & Concrete Prep)

Mike underway on the first support strut that will help maintain the top width of our newly formed sheet pile channel

Much of the last week or so at the project site has focused on preparing for the highly anticipated concrete trucks that -- weather permitting -- will be delivering the material that will serve both as the base (or floor) of our newly installed sheet pile channel and as the 12'-wide dike crossing (or bridge) for what should be decades to come.

Scott, lining things up just right

Weather has by-and-large been very cooperative thus far with this project. We've definitely had hot days (although not in the last few weeks), some windy days, some chill, and some rains, but the guys have only had to miss a couple days due to weather since we started back at the very end of August. I've learned not to take weather for granted in this work. (More on that subject below.)

I've also learned that even a little rain on a job like this makes for a lot of mud and mess -- especially when working in our environment. Much of last week was spent fine-tune adjusting the sidewalls of the steel channel. The sides could be subtly pushed or pulled using an excavator or payloader positioned on either side, but the guys still do their fair share of walking. So with excessively heavy mud the consistency of peanut butter, it gets taxing. I have been pleased to see them backfilling on the back sides of the sheet pile, and I was even more excited to see some fresh (clean), crushed limestone delivered yesterday. Not only did it serve to make the bottom of the channel somewhat navigable, it also allowed for somewhat easier walking around certain areas of the project site.

Several inches of crushed limestone beneath newly fabricated and installed rebar mats 

A close-up of the two-tiered rebar mats, spaced 6" on center
(click to enlarge)

Work was progressing both on the floor and at the top of the ever-evolving structure. Just fabricating the rebar mats (that will ultimately reinforce 8" of concrete throughout the channel and 12" of concrete directly beneath the dike crossing) takes a lot of time, effort, and craftsmanship. They were put in place yesterday.

As I left the project site late in the afternoon, the crew was busy wrapping up the third upper support strut that was installed for the day. I believe they have a couple more to put in place before turning their attention to the structural steel components of the dike crossing. If we can get the weather to cooperate -- which is a BIG if, considering the current forecast -- we should be ready for those rolling concrete trucks to work their magic. Fingers crossed.

So much fun seeing conceptual plans evolve to engineering drawings
and then witness the vision taking shape on the ground

Fall Migrants and More Good News

A small flock of juvenile Yellow-rumped (or Myrtle) Warblers kept me entertained/constantly moving with the camera;
they were just doing what they do: flitting out for groggy bugs between bites of dogwood berries

Appropriately, northwest Ohio in general and the southwestern shoreline of Lake Erie more specifically receive a great deal of attention from birders (bird and bird watching enthusiasts) during the spring. As soon as the snow melts -- and in truth, even before -- a steady and diverse stream of colorful visitors on-the-wing and equally colorful people behind their binoculars begin their annual right of passage.

A rare opportunity to catch a still Yellow-rumped,
enjoying some morning sunshine

For those with feathers, spring "migrants" are making a move from south to north, in preparation for breading wherever they call home for the summer months. For everyone else, it is an opportunity to observe a natural phenomenon that is both unique to our region and significant to a much broader geography (like from the southern tip of South America to the northern reaches of the Arctic Circle).

This particular pulse of life northward is amplified by our Great Lake and its proximity to the others. Huge expanses of huge water become "pinch points," funneling millions of birds that are often weighed in single digit grams over specific land masses. We are one of the biggest beneficiaries -- witnessing hundreds of bird species as they temporarily stop over to rest, and now (as the word continues to get out) witnessing hundreds of thousands of bird lovers who visit our area to participate in this annual spectacle.

One of the main reasons this news has expanded to an ever-increasing number of people ties back to the tireless efforts of a tremendous grassroots organization that has been very good not only to the birds, but to conservation in general and Standing Rush in particular -- the Black Swamp Bird Observatory.

The acrobatic -- and often difficult to photograph --
Ruby-crowned Kinglet

I've certainly written about the great work of BSBO and our recent and ongoing efforts to collaborate. The Biggest Week in American Birding (or "Biggest Week" as it is affectionately abbreviated) has become the culmination of bird loving fun in NW Ohio in the spring. But it's important to realize: (1) that the spring migrants north come back south -- with nice pulses of new visitors visiting the marsh right now; and, (2) BSBO's work is year-round.

If you want to keep up on daily activities at the Observatory, their Facebook page is a treat. Not only do they update on coming events and tours (again, year round), they also include tons of awesome photos with reliable identification -- especially when they are mist netting and banding birds as they are right now. This is an activity that I hope to bring to Standing Rush soon. Not only does it have significant research implications, but banding also provides an incredible educational opportunity for people to gain up-close and personal experiences with these magical little critters.

The tiny Golden-crowned Kinglet;
one of my absolute favorites
(click to enlarge)

My impromptu bird walk yesterday turned out to be very timely for several reasons. First off, I was able to check in on the construction project a couple times while trucks brought clay back to the project site -- a good sign that we are definitely starting to put things back together!

Also, I received two phone calls from BSBO members while I was walking the dikes with binocs in hand. As it turns out, I am thrilled to report that for the second consecutive year, Standing Rush has been unanimously chosen by the Observatory to be the sole recipient of their Biggest Week Conservation Fund -- an unrestricted monetary gift that will go directly to our restoration and preservation initiatives. We are once again humbled, honored, and just so appreciative of this incredible generosity. Once again, all those involved should rest well knowing their resources will be put to very good use! You can read more through BSBO's beautiful quarterly newsletter here.

Finally, my walk was well-timed because not only was I able to count ~30 species in ~90 minutes of walking, as you see here, I was also able to capture a few of them reasonably well on camera. I won't be winning any photography contests any time soon, but it's always tons of fun to have some visual account of some of what I was able to see. (Other highlights included: Northern Waterthrush, Fox Sparrow, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, and Great Horned Owl).

Got lucky with how this one turned out -- love how the striking White-throated Sparrow is still identifiable
behind the well-focused cherry limb

I love how this image of blackbirds -- a hallmark of the transition that is autumn -- almost appears black and white
rather than full color

A slightly more colorful rendition of blackbirds -- obviously this time on the wing
(at some point, I need to write a post on "blackbirds" because there are at least a handful of species that qualify in our area)

Another sure sign that we are in the midst of transition; this image also serves as a good reminder of how
intertwined marsh management (and in fact, the very existence of coastal wetlands) is with row-crop agriculture

West Marsh Water Conveyance: Project Update #6 (Sheet Pile Almost All Installed)

A view from the bay as the sheet pile channel finally takes shape

It's been nearly two weeks since I've updated on progress at the West Pump -- or where the West Pump will ultimately reside . . . sooner than too much later, the way things are now progressing. Except for a couple curve balls, things have gone pretty smoothly (easy for me to say, as I'm not the guy on the equipment or lifting the cables). But as of the start of work this morning, 53 of 56 sheets have been driven.

If all goes well today, the rental hammer (the "Vibro" equipment that gets suspended from the crane to drive each steel pile section) will be returned, and we'll be moving on to pouring the concrete floor, beginning the cap that will serve as the top of the steel wall, installing the bracing struts that will maintain the top width of the channel, and backfilling on the outside of the sheet pile walls. All of this is in preparation for the installation of a 12'-wide channel crossing (which, when complete, will be another key milestone for this project). That makes for an ambitious week, but we're optimistic. Weather conditions continue to look ideal -- both for construction and for duck hunting (highs in the 50s and lows in the mid to upper 30s and generally dry) . . . more on the duck side of the equation soon.

We ultimately decided to "buy local" and work with Lakecraft -- this 15HP system will move a lot of water when it needs to,
and having the manufacturer 10 minutes away certainly has its advantages

Speaking of milestones, last week Roy and I also got the opportunity to check in with Lakecraft Corp, a longstanding pump and fabrication company out of Port Clinton that is handling most of the key water management components of our new system.

Debris/carp grates

The pump and motor have been tested (we got to see video of it in action). Now, it just awaits installation day. The shiny paint and stainless (rust-free) pump impeller jumped out right away. But what caught our eyes first was probably the relative size of the motor -- miniature by comparison to the hulking dinosaur we've been relying on (especially when you take away the fish box that we needed for weatherproofing our old system!)

It was really exciting to see the pump itself, but it was equally fun to see the other pieces and parts in various stages of completion. The debris/carp grates (at left) are just about complete. They are extremely heavy duty and are beautifully fabricated. The structural steel that will bear the weight of the pump (below, top) is finished all the way to paint-to-match green.  The aluminum floor grating (below, middle) has arrived and is ready to be custom cut to serve as the surround for the pump. A good number of the aluminum stoplogs (below, bottom) have been fabricated and will soon be installed into a custom-built framework that will reside upstream of the gate structures (which are currently en route from California). It has been a long time in coming, but it is all starting to come together!

Steel pump base and discharge pipe

Aluminum floor grating

Aluminum stoplogs