West Marsh Structure 2: Update #6 -- On-line and Flowing Clear

Check out a new video just posted to our YouTube channel -- Roy narrates as water is finally free to move through our newly constructed Structure 2

Another milestone was reached in the last week when Standing Rush's "Structure 2" was officially brought online. A functional second major water conveyance structure on the West Marsh means surface and subsurface water run-off (largely from agricultural land uses upstream) can now be directed into nearly 200-acres of coastal wetland (our West Marsh) rather than all being discharged directly into Sandusky Bay -- and ultimately into Lake Erie.

This functionality culminates four years of planning and active restoration on the site; it provides a mechanism for tremendous improvement in water quality on a landscape scale and also serves as a blueprint for future restoration activities, ideally both on Standing Rush's East Marsh and beyond.

The dark blue arrow in the schematic above represents water conveyance
from Structure 1; the light blue arrow represents the newly established
water conveyance through Structure 2

Some version of the visual depiction to the left has been floating in my mind for days . . . or if I'm honest, for weeks, months, or even years. The green shaded area to the left of SR 269 is our West Marsh. The green to the right of the north/south highway is our East Marsh. The yellow shading depicts wetland areas owned by four neighbors.

The green arrows represent the "surface and sub-surface run-off" water alluded to above. The small green arrows are new (very intentional) inputs into the marsh; large green arrows depict run-off from surrounding lands. Water generally runs south to north generally in our area. Much of the surrounding landscape is farmed, either for row crops or animals/ livestock. Most of the ground is tiled and ditched.

Understandably, a farmer's goal is typically to remove surface water from a field as quickly and efficiently and possible. This means water is engineered to follow straight lines wherever possible until it terminates at the lowest elevation -- in this case, the bay (or lake).

Prior to Standing Rush's restoration activities, much of the run-off water west of SR 269 and south of the West Marsh ended up in a terminal ditch that flows directly into Sandusky Bay -- depicted by the black, dashed arrow above. This is great for efficiency of water transport, but it is not very good for water quality. [To build on the "wetlands as kidneys" analogy, this is analogous to letting harmful byproducts bypass the kidneys without enabling the crucial organs do what they are designed to do. When they are located in the right place and have the capacity to function as designed, such a bypass just doesn't make much sense.]

Stone placement and rough grading took place
just yesterday to wrap up our 2019 construction
year; finish grading and final touch-up at the
structure will wait till spring/early summer

Keep in mind, we're not just talking about Standing Rush's ~550 acres either. The total area shaded (green and yellow) represents 1,200-1,300 acres or ~5% of all the coastal wetland remaining on all of the Western Basin of Lake Erie.

So with the holidays coming, maybe it's time to lift a glass . . . but we have a lot more work to do. Our efforts on the West Marsh can be replicated -- in many ways, almost identically -- on our East Marsh. And we have opportunity to continue to collaborate with our neighbors to further magnify not just meaningful water quality improvements, but also other shared priorities like long-term conservation, enriched wildlife diversity and usage, increased recreational opportunities, and educational outreach.

Wrap all this up together and bear in mind that there finally seems to be political support -- both federally and at the state level -- to make these types of crucial projects happen and we feel that we have the recipe for meaningful progress. Bottom line: we have a working model to meaningfully help address a very timely issue -- namely, how nutrients can be utilized within a coastal wetland setting before they are liberated into the open lake where they are demonstrated to wreak havoc in the form of harmful algal blooms.

Structure 2 (facing north) as of this morning; Roy had to push himself out in a punt boat over an inch of ice to capture
this shot -- easy for me to say, but worth it considering all the work we went through to get to this point

West Marsh Structure 2: Update #5 -- Almost Operational!

Structure 2, looking essentially "downstream" (north);
note the aluminum stoplogs (center/bottom) topped with
a carp/debris screen -- the gate (painted orange), guardrail,
and newly poured concrete crossing in the background

Steely-gray late autumn days have made for some tough conditions for photography -- not to mention for earthwork -- in the marsh as of late. But progress has most certainly continued at Structure 2 in spite of the unseasonably cool (sometimes downright cold) weather and a Thanksgiving holiday.

We're into those muddy months, it feels like a bit earlier than usual. We have had a decent number of mornings with solid ground frost, and at one point even went four consecutive days without getting above freezing.

So there have been some decent days for the contractor . .. . at least from an access perspective. But if you are not cold from the damp chill blowing off the bay, you are carrying two pounds of heavy mud on each boot from the periodic rains we have been getting. Everyone is getting antsy to officially put the 2019 construction/management season in the books. It's getting to be that time.

But we have a few to-dos left on the list before we can wrap up our second major GLRI-funded project, at for this calendar year. The "guts" of the new structure have now been installed. Steel and concrete are all in place.

We just have to oversee the removal of the earthen cofferdams so that we can let water pass through the new connection for the first time. Some grading and stonework should put us in good shape to address finishing touches (e.g., final grading, seeding, collateral damage repairs, etc.) next spring/early summer.

The "guts" of Structure 2 from above; flows will typically be from right to left
(over stoplogs and through a 36" screw gate); horizontal grating is to facilitate access for maintenance

The third week of November brought a much needed window of dry cold that allowed us to pour the crossing;
image above taken one day before the arrival of the concrete truck

The pour in action

Finished pour (facing south) just prior to installation of screw gate and stoplogs

West Marsh Structure 2: Update #4 -- Concrete Floor in Place

Structure 2, featuring a completed cap (and dry ground -- a rare occurrence over the last month) 

While progress has been steady on Structure 2, our new connection between the two major management units on our West Marsh, much of the last month hasn't been terribly photogenic. That's partly due to where we are in the construction process (several tedious steps that do not translate to big visual advances), and partly due to more than our fair share of cold, wet weather -- at least for early to mid-November.

Rebar in place on the bottom of the new structure
just prior to the arrival of concrete

The fabrication and placement of the rebar reinforcement structure that will serve as the backbone to the floor of the flume is case and point. Layout, wire wrapping, and welding are each methodical and inherently slow. But the devil's in these details in terms of long-term durability and structure longevity.

The guys were really got a workout slopping through the shin-high muck as they welded all the metal sheer studs and rebar lattice underlayment into place. Rainy days during the last week of October coupled with sensitivity for the start of the latter half of duck season (which officially opened on November 9th) presented an anticipated challenge in terms of finding the right window for the next major step in this process: the concrete pour for the structure's floor.

We really wanted to "rest" the marsh the last couple days before hunting resumed (meaning keep the construction crew -- and everyone else -- out of the marsh to allow the birds to acclimate and find regular refuge). We fortunately got the right weather window, and the pour went off without a hitch last Tuesday.

Slow and steady proved to be the name of the game when it came to prepping for the first of two concrete pours;
the structure's floor was poured last week and the bridge crossing is set for next week

Mixer truck in position to feed the concrete hopper

The concrete hopper being loaded prior to positioning within the structure's flume

Positioning of the concrete hopper once loaded

Field testing of wet concrete prior to placement

Once the wet concrete was roughly placed in the flume via the concrete hopper, it was floated and continuously shot
to confirm the targeted finish elevation

A finished view down the ~40' x 4.5' flume as the fresh concrete continues to cure

Fall turned to winter early this week when rain quickly transitioned to snow and overnight temperatures plummeted into the single digits. Afternoon highs barely got above freezing this week, insulated by the first accumulating snow (3-4") of the season. The marsh completely froze by Tuesday and we may have as much as 2-3" of ice cover in spots as of today.

That said progress continued at the project site this week. The guts of the structure (screw gate, aluminum stop logs, carp screen, etc.) have been delivered on site. Good headway was made on the fabrication to receive all these components, and if all goes well (and weather cooperates), the concrete crossing will be poured next week. If the marsh gods shine favorably down upon us, we could be operational by Thanksgiving. Call me a skeptic, but based on recent weather trends, I'm betting on early to mid-December. We'll see.

West Marsh Structure 2: Update #3 (& Duck Opener!)

Woodies should be part of mixed bags this
coming weekend

The only day without progress on the job site this past week was on Friday (today) -- the eve of this year's duck opener. We asked that the guys move the construction trailer and relocate the larger equipment in preparation for what we hope will be a fun weekend for our hunters.

So Friday was all quiet in the marsh -- at least from a construction standpoint. But as the photos below will show, the crew made hay in nice weather Monday - Thursday and got a lot of welding accomplished. We'll have to feel our way through the next couple weeks (first split of the waterfowl season closes October 27th), and then hopefully the weather will cooperate to really push toward completion during the break (which runs October 28 - November 8th this year).

Our lease groups recognize that restoration activities have to be priority number one, especially while pressures from high lake levels are so acute. But we still want to do all that we can to encourage waterfowl activity and successful hunting. As I've written about several times before, responsible hunting is just too much a part of this amazing place's heritage.

I stuck around past sunset one evening mid-week and saw a decent number of birds "working" the marsh -- preparing to settle in for a restful overnight. Our punters had some similarly encouraging reports. It is supposed to drop from the mid-70s (this afternoon) to the mid-30s (by sunrise tomorrow). We'll see how it goes!

Structure 2 at the end of the work day on Thursday

Cross braces and angle steel, mid-installation

Once plate steel is added to the top of this angle, the crew will move on to prep for the floor and dike crossing

West Marsh Structure 2: Update #2 -- And Then There Was Sheet Pile

The drone was literally in the air for under 60 seconds before the first large rain drops started to fall late Wednesday
afternoon -- but the very brief window of opportunity afforded the chance for a good overview perspective of progress

Despite a couple rain-out days over the last week and a half, the project site has transformed pretty significantly since the last update. Where there was just a hole in the ground (or more technically a long, deep trench) during the last few days of September, there is now a complete channel of sheet pile connecting the "Main West Marsh" to the south (left in the photo above) to the "Rest Pond" to the north (right above).

This juvenile Pied-billed Grebe offered
some distraction while I was photo-
documenting progress at the project site

Earthen cofferdams still hold water back from both sides. This will remain the case until construction is about complete. The next steps are to 1) add a steel "cap" (upper frame of welded plate metal) to the top profile of the sheet pile walls; (2) add horizontal bracing at the top of each wall; (3) prep the bottom of the channel for the concrete floor; (4) prep the top of the cap for the eventual crossing; and, (5) backfill around the outside of each wall to add stability and to further prepare for the two concrete pours (channel floor and crossing deck).

It's our hope that much of this work will happen over the next week or two. With opening weekend of the main duck season set for Saturday, October 12th, the goal is to have the heaviest lifting behind us. By getting the largest machinery off the dike, we should be able to minimize the disturbance to the immediate area and the marsh in general.

Temps are FINALLY starting to normalize. After days of recording-breaking heat to end September and begin October, I dusted off the winter coat for the first time this morning when I went to take the dog for her morning run. We see a pattern of 60s/40s setting up in the 7-10 day forecast with more dry than rain. This should help move ducks and also should continue to help move the project along.

The crew setting one of the last "sticks" of steel on the southwest corner of what will become Structure 2

Another perspective of the newly constructed connection between our West Marsh management units;
this ~5'-wide channel will be a big improvement over the 18" pipe that currently serves as our only conduit

I never got a clear image, but I spent a good half hour trying -- this striking female Common Yellowthroat was seemingly
curious to monitor progress at the project site as well; despite fresh raindrops and this little warbler never holding still for more than a second, I couldn't help but try to capture a clear view before she continues on her migration south

Here We Go Again -- Structure 2 Underway! (Update #1)

Site overview for Structure 2, looking west/southwest in Standing Rush's West Marsh;
40-acre Rest Pond in the foreground, 145-acre Main Marsh in middle, and Sandusky Bay in background

While equipment and building materials have been mobilizing on-site for going on three weeks now, our second new "water conveyance structure" (a.k.a. "Structure 2") is finally starting to look like something. "Structure 1" -- completed this past January -- connects Sandusky Bay to our West Marsh. The challenge is that it only provides ideal connectivity to the most adjacent management unit.

While we received the official green light on Structure 2 about a month ago,
the last few weeks have focused on mobilizing equipment and raw materials
(above: steel sheet piling being off-loaded from flatbed along highway)

When complete, Structure 2 will be an approximately 6' wide x 8' deep x 45' long steel and concrete, open-topped conduit (essentially, a simplified version of Structure 1) that will serve as connection between our 40-acre "Rest Pond" (adjacent to the bay) and the 145-acre "Main Marsh" on west side. As it stands today, any water exchange between these two units is limited to passage within 40-feet of 18-inch PVC pipe.

This immensely improved connection will encourage much broader access and use by a diverse population of fish species that benefit from moving in and out of the marsh. It will also allow us to convey much larger volumes of water across the entire site as we work to tie agricultural and surface water runoff (from the south) into the marsh.

Steel sheet piling lying in wait (Rest Pond to left; Main Marsh to right); Structure 2 will be built through this earthen
berm that was completely reconstructed by Standing Rush in 2016

With modest coffer dams in place and surveying complete, the trench within which Structure 2 will be built was cut
late last week (Rest Pond in background)

Temporary steel H-pile was placed last Friday as a guide
for the placement of the sheet-pile walls
(click here for a visual of  how it will eventually look)

Think improved water quality. Typical flows are south to north at the site, So Structure 2 will complete the structural infrastructure needed to "fully reconnect the kidneys." To complete the metaphor, as water from fields and ditches can be diverted into the upstream (south) end of the marsh, it can now gradually work its way downstream (north) through nearly 200-acres of wetland and near-shore estuary before entering the open bay. This significantly increased natural filtration area will provide dramatically  increased residence time, giving time for solids and particulates (which add to turbidity) an opportunity to settle out. Flow-through will also subject macronutrients like derivatives of both phosphorus and nitrogen (the biggest contributors to algae issues in the open bay and lake) to ideal conditions for uptake within the wetland footprint. Our mantra is we would rather "grow bigger cattails" than have those otherwise available fertilizers/nutrients bypass the marsh and enter directly into Lake Erie (to grow algae).

This project was originally conceived and proposed for funding in the spring of 2017. Funds were secured through GLRI (federal dollars) and ODNR (state dollars) for Structure 1 just over a year ago and construction took about five months (September - January). We kept at it over this past winter, resubmitted for Structure 2, and received confirmation this past spring of a second round of funding (utilizing the same awesome team of collaborators) that will allow us to complete Structure 2. Our goal -- especially consider this simplified design involves no pump, no electricity, and significantly fewer parts -- is to have this project buttoned up well before the snow flies. With temps continuing to bounce from the 50s or 60s at night into the 70s, 80s, and even the 90s, that seems a long ways away. But as we know too well, you can never count on the weather.

Structure 1: A View From Above

The view from atop our newly constructed water conveyance structure (looking south/southwest); most of the field of view is of the
~40-acre "Rest Pond" (restored starting in 2016) -- the main ~145 acres of our "West Marsh" lies just beyond the open water toward
the top of the shot, and Sandusky Bay wraps this perspective to west (right) and to the north

Well, I finally got my drone in the air over the marsh! I beat this past weekend's crazy winds and took to the sky late Friday afternoon. Lighting was harsh, but the images still provide decent perspective. All were captured just above our recent construction site.

Our new pump and water conveyance structure ("Structure #1") from just inside the marsh, looking west/northwest
(the water on the top half of the image is what we call the "estuary" because it is directly tied to Sandusky Bay where
the cluster of trees jut from the water in the upper left of the image; the highway visible on the upper-right is Route 2)

Similar vantage point, facing more or less due west (image provides good overview of estuary, good view of access
to the open bay, and the winter vegetation within the Rest Pond)

Structure #1, the Rest Pond, and the Main West Marsh from the estuary/bay side of the newly constructed
water conveyance structure

We look forward to gathering more imagery from above -- not only of this project but of other restoration efforts around the property. Check out this post to read more about the many benefits of an aerial perspective.

West Marsh Water Conveyance: Project Update #15 (Near Completion/Demobilization)

Success -- the newly installed water conveyance infrastructure on the day our contractor pulled all equipment
from the job site (I hope to capture some drone footage of the structure very soon!)

Well, except for an ever-shrinking punch list of final to-do's, our single largest rehabilitation project to date is about in the books. While we will wait for the official ribbon cutting, we want to thank everyone who has been involved. It really has been, and continues to be, a great collaboration. And it will provide opportunity to do even more great things on this special corner of land and water.

We are really down to odds and ends now, and as of last week, our contractor decided most everything else needs to wait till spring -- when things finally dry out.

Bay ice heaving onto our shrinking "barrier island"after
multiple freeze-thaw cycles and a strong west wind

The construction team has jokingly dubbed the site "Stand-in Mush," the area has become so sloppy. Every time we think we've finally firmed up (even after a week of sub-zero temperatures), we find a way to hit 50+ degrees for a day or two, watch the snow melt, endure a half-inch or so of rain, and watch it get muddier.

Roy and I affectionately refer to this time period (February through April) as "the mud months." It's sometimes hard to keep morale up because everything takes longer than it should, and some things just can't happen at all (like final grading and grass seeding of the tops of dikes -- two of the final items on our punch list).

Especially with all that has happened (or not happened) in Washington since December, this particular stretch has truly been a season of waiting. Currently, the ripple effect from the government shutdown has impacted us in at least two significant ways: lawyers reviewing our easement process were furloughed (causing delays), and agency personnel reviewing permit applications for future projects were not working (keeping those projects on hold). That said there is never a shortage of work. After all, spring will be hear before we know it.

Last year's lotus bloom, drooped into a seemingly perpetual freeze-thaw-refreeze cycle; the warmth of the sun on its stem
and the residue from last season's vibrant display are a reminder that another growing season is not far off

The construction trailer was one of the last items to go

Blue skies still do happen (occasionally), as do large numbers of ducks and geese; we've been surprised to see the
numbers of gadwall around the marsh -- even after all that bitter cold a couple weeks back . . . tough birds

West Marsh Water Conveyance: Project Update #14 (Pump in Place!)

Prior to our recent efforts on the West Marsh, "free flow" out of the marsh has typically been limited to periodic and
very calculated events that are usually confined to a 24-72 hour time window -- when west winds lower Sandusky Bay
below the elevation of the adjacent marsh; all water (in or out) has been confined to this single 24" pipe

The new pump, being lowered into position

Earlier this week, I read excerpts from The Marshes of Southwestern Lake Erie by Louis Cambell, a 20th century naturalist and highly acclaimed outdoor writer from Toledo. While I've read the text cover to cover several times over the years, I still find myself picking the book up every six months or so.

During this last read, I randomly flipped to a page where I had written the following in the margin of one of the dog-eared pages, probably sometime around the year 2000: Wetlands managed behind earthen levees (diked marshes) can be perceived as starved of the life sustained by Lake Erie but are at the same time provided vital protection from the wrath of high winds and changing water levels.

This note is very apropos to our current management energy and our philosophy more broadly. In a perfect world (and in the natural world before European settlement), marshes of the Western Basin of Lake Erie wouldn't need earthen dikes to "contain" them. Marshes would ebb and flow with changing water levels in the lake -- over a season and over multiple years. Sand bars and silt deposits would move with currents to help hold back water, encouraging wetland habitat development inland. And if a storm blew out the temporary protection, new marshes would form wherever water levels found a new equilibrium.

The challenges arise when the human footprint is delineated and expands. We determine this railroad is going to go here, and that highway needs to run there; our family is going to farm these fields; this town is going to establish itself here (and grow over time). Boundaries are set, property lines are drawn. And Lake Erie no longer determines where the marshes should be (or where they shouldn't).

Pump placement into the new structure; note addition of new guardrails over channel/dike crossing (temporarily covered
in plywood) and a new utility pole 

As these lines were drawn throughout northern Ohio, the space left for marshes dwindled. As early as the early 20th century, dikes were being erected -- sometimes by mule, cart, and hand shovel, and best-case by coal-driven dragline -- to preserve some level of consistency to wetland environments. Just as settlement was working to drain much of northern Ohio, a subset of our ancestry established itself as early conservationists. Some were motivated by a heritage of trapping or hunting (particularly duck hunting). Others -- those who derived a livelihood from fishing -- saw the link between marshes and a bountiful catch. But no mater the reason, lines were being drawn and earth was being altered to encourage a desired response from nature.

The pump, after more than a year of planning
and construction, finally set

Our management efforts are really just a continuation of that momentum. An expanse of wetlands and associated coastal habitats once expanded over a region of northern Ohio larger than the Everglades. More than 90% of that habitat is now gone -- having succumb to a huge array of (often noble) land use changes. But we now have a much better understanding and appreciation for the tremendous role these environments play in natural processes. They are a lifeline to clean water and a critical center to biodiversity, just to name a couple of those I hold nearest and dearest to my heart. Wetlands aren't just cattails and croaking frogs; they truly are something to stand for.

The first test run of the new pump; when water levels do not allow for passive (gravity-induced) "free flow" (see top image and video below), we sometimes have to resort to pumping water to maintain the water levels within the marsh that support the rest of the targeted ecosystem (remember: water levels dictate vegetation and vegetation dictates about everything else)

While we perceive dikes as the only means to the desired ends, considering all the land use changes that have occurred as the human population has increased, there is no question that direct connections to the lake and bay are highly desirable -- especially if there is capability to let the ecologically "good" in and keep the "bad" out . . . to the fullest extent possible. That's really what this entire Water Conveyance Project I've been droning on about is all about. It's hands-on, it may not look "natural," but it allows us to work with nature to some pretty profound ends. I feel blessed to be a part of it all.

The bayside half of the new channel, now surrounded by a safety fence

Pretty thrilling to finally see crystal clear marsh water freely flowing into Sandusky Bay from our newly constructed channel; there should be lots and lots of fish interested in seeing it, too!

West Marsh Water Conveyance: Project Update #13 (And the Joy of Daily Photographs)

It took Roy a 75-yard "military crawl" along a dike and a one hour sit in fading light to capture all these puddle ducks
at close enough range to yield decent photographs (as always, click to enlarge)

Last week marked another largely spent at my desk. End-of-year accounting, 2019 forecasting and planning, and some outings for and to Toledo Public Schools made for another "eye blink" Monday through Friday. The federal shutdown -- which probably justifies its own post because of how it is now impacting Standing Rush -- has added some unforeseen challenges to the New Year, but as the photos herein demonstrate, life most certainly goes on in the marsh.

A Cedar Waxwing conceals much of its vibrant
color behind the shadow of a dead ash tree;
even in the shade, an impressive bird

The daily phone call, email, and text updates that I receive from Roy are critical to my ability to stay connected, but the photos that he forwards have become not only a routine highlight of my day, but also a visual lifeline. Photos are certainly not the same thing as experiencing first-hand, but as this blog can hopefully attest, they really help offer a taste of all that is happening -- even as ice and snow wrestle to put the marsh into a state of relative dormancy.

Many of the common creatures of winter on the lakeshore -- from eagles and waterfowl to cardinals and white-tailed deer -- as well as some of the less common ones (e.g., red fox, coyote, mink . . .) flash in and out of my subconscious on a regular basis when I'm working at my desk. But the images that Roy passes to me (many of the best which I then pass to you) help to solidify in my mind some of what I am missing while I am away from the property.

And then there are the update photos from improvement projects -- which also help to fill in the visual blanks. The series below shows this week's highlights: (1) removing the bayfront cofferdam that temporarily held water out while the new West Pump structure was constructed and (2) installation of the new electrical service in preparation for the new pump.

Following the removal of the earthen cofferdam (remnant visible on the lower right), Jason and crew had to remove the
temporary sheet pile that has helped keep the construction site free of bay water since late August

Shiny and new; a far cry from the 50+ yr old
equipment we've been relying on

While the real money shot will be from above -- hopefully via my new "hobby" drone -- (to show the entire structure with water in the entire channel), I am waiting to share that until the pump is installed. Before that can happen, the electricians needed to make sure we were all ready from a utilities perspective. That work seems to be just about completed, so we're hopeful that the pump can be placed this week.

We have not been able to remove water from this location since the old pump was pulled in early September. There have been a decent number of decent rains since then.

Our only other option is to gravity drain water from more than 185 acres through a 24" pipe that connects directly to the bay on our southwest corner. The challenge there is we need sustained west winds to drop bay levels enough to do so, and that has been a pretty hit-or-miss proposition lately. We aren't desperate to take out water, but we certainly don't need any more. A solid free these last few days will help reduce the risk from erosion. Now we just need to take a foot of water off to reduce the stress on the emergent vegetation. (While water depth tolerances are species-specific, most do better with more leaf area out of the water than under the water -- even in winter.)

Pump pit awaiting new pump -- shouldn't be long now!

Numbers can be deceiving when ducks are relaxed, snoozing and feeding in winter afternoon sun within the marsh
(click to enlarge); note splash in center of image

This close-up was taken from 750-800' away (based on Google Earth) -- not bad for a $500 camera!
(click to enlarge); note water coming off drake mallard's head on lower right

Roy estimates the total number of ducks coming and going from the West Marsh in this flock at somewhere around 2,000;
this image captures about 200 of them