Turning the Page to Autumn

The ever-striking Common Gallinule is becoming that much more common at Standing Rush thanks to expansion
of desirable vegetative habitat (and all the shelter and food options that come with a diversity of native plants)

Despite significantly shorter day length and considerably more hours of darkness in the evening, (candidly) it has still been a major challenge to regain the discipline of regular journal entries. Per usual, it's not for a lack of activity in and around the marsh. [More than at any time in this project's five years, I also continue to be very busy at my desk planning for future improvement opportunities.]

These types of distinctions, while always
appreciated, are a tangible reminder
of the importance of collaboration
-- no great work happens
in a vacuum

The images above and immediately below are in recognition and appreciation of an evening well-spent this past Saturday. I was invited as a guest of the Firelands Audubon Society to its Lake Erie Wing Watch banquet in Huron, Ohio to receive its conservation award on behalf of Standing Rush. A passionate ~125 attendees filled a room surrounded by exhibitors displaying all things birds. A very talented and articulate keynote gave an incredible talk about an entire year fully devoted to birding. But as I settled in to dig into my delicious meal (including homemade elderberry pie!), it became obvious that this group extends its enthusiasm not only to their ultimate pursuits -- the birds -- but to everything it takes to support their well-being.

It was an honor, of course, to be recognized for our efforts, but even more so, it was an honor to spend some time with this group. Our paths officially crossed when a couple of their active members -- Bill and Dorthy Baker -- took a tour of Standing Rush as part of the Biggest Week in American Birding this past spring. Their friendliness, enthusiasm, active curiosity, and professionalism all contributed to their instant appeal. And now we can hopefully add another talented group to a growing list of collaborators. We look forward to the opportunity to tour them on-site soon!

With so many projects going on simultaneously, we just haven't been as diligent about taking (and sharing) wildlife images;
that doesn't mean we haven't enjoyed watching broods like these gallinules grow up before our very eyes 

Other highlights over the last few weeks include:

• Annual fish sampling in and adjacent to Standing Rush's West Marsh (once again in conjunction with BGSU's Fisheries & Aquatic Ecology lab and some scientists in-training);
• installation of an initial pipe and screw gate to provide targeted connectivity between Standing Rush and an adjacent agricultural drainage ditch (to intercept storm water runoff before it enters Sandusky Bay);
• berm rehabilitation on the interior of our West Marsh's bayfront dikes (including earthwork and seeding);
• the start of another waterfowl season: with persistent hot and humid weather, teal and early goose season opened somewhat unceremoniously the weekend before last -- there have been a few mornings of activity (coinciding with brief cool-downs) thus far; we're optimistic that the best is yet to come . . . there's a lot of duck season ahead of us. 

The fish does not have to be big to capture one's attention; here we count rigid dorsal rays of a yearling crappie
to distinguish black from white

Fish sampling once again took the form of multiple, strategically placed Fyke nets and a good amount of seining;
plans to electrofish just outside our new water conveyance to the bay were scrapped due to high winds,
but the usual late-summer suspects were still identified, tallied, and released within the marsh

The nondescript pipe at the center of this image may look pretty uninspiring, but we hope it will be the start of some
really exciting water quality improvement opportunities at and around Standing Rush

This image was taken to document the amount of debris (mostly bladderwort and cattails) caught by the debris screen
in front of our new pump in just a few short hours, but the background is a good visual of the extra protection
provided by recent berm rehabilitation efforts (lower marsh water level to left; elevated bay water level to right)

Just like the early arrival of teal, seeding dikes is starting to feel like an annual right of passage;
like so many things that Roy does quietly and without fanfare around the marsh,
his careful attention now will bear dividends later

Another Critical Improvement Project

Our drone's perspective of work in progress late last week, about five solid days into digging

For the second time in as many major projects, our excavating contractor proved us wrong. On both occasions he estimated the heavy lifting of their work would be completed in 7-10 days, on both occasions we were skeptical (at best), and on both occasions he got the job done -- both done well and on schedule. Seeing the long-reach excavator almost to the bay going into the holiday weekend has provided even more reason for celebration this 4th of July.

As with the last project (completed in 2016), this is a major victory for the broader project. And also as with the last time, the scope of the project involved the complete rehabilitation of ~3,000 linear feet of interior earthen berm (or "dike") on our West Marsh.

Makeshift repairs like this one were becoming more and more
frequent going into this spring; it will be nice to give the shovel
a rest and not have to go on daily patrols looking for leaks

This project quickly moved up the priority list as the water levels in the lake and bay continued to climb. We really started thinking about the need for this work in 2017. As repairs became more frequent in 2018, we started laying the groundwork from a permitting and funding perspective. But as water levels continued to press higher, it became evident that this really needed to be a 2019 project. It had reached emergency status.

We call this levee an "interior dike" (as opposed to a bay-front or lake-front "exterior dike") because under normal circumstances, it would be. But sustained historically high water levels in Sandusky Bay have backed water up on a neighboring property and in so doing exposed us to sustained water pressures that the original dike was never built to withstand. As a result, we leaked -- early and often through much of this spring. And the situation created a snowball effect that wasn't good for our near-term or long-term management goals.

Excessively high water on the neighbor's side of the dike meant one of two things. Either (1) we conducted business as usual on our side -- with lower water levels in the main West Marsh and sometimes daily breaches from head pressure differentials that were greater than the dike could withstand, or (2) we held our main West Marsh higher than we wanted (from a habitat development and broader earthen infrastructure perspective) to reduce the pressure and likelihood of regular leaks and blow-outs. Neither situation was ideal, but that's been the reality, really for the last couple growing seasons.

This image highlights the first couple days of
digging and the quality of the clay we found,
visible by the teeth marks of the excavator
seen in the lower-right (click to enlarge)

Fortunately for us, we had local knowledge that the clay we needed was available on site -- in fact, directly adjacent to the existing dike. Roy reminded me early on in this project that if there is high ground in a coastal marsh, there is usually deep water nearby. But fortunately for us, the "deep" water nearby (the channel from which the clay was excavated to build the original dike) wasn't too deep. And also fortunate for us, there was an ecological driver to dig the adjacent channel deeper.

The premise is this: by digging the channel deeper we accomplish two goals -- (1) we harvest the clay needed to rehabilitate the earthen berm over its original "footprint" in the marsh, and (2) we create deep-water habitat (8-10' deep) that will allow a broader diversity of fish species to survive weather extremes within the marsh . . . both extended heat spells in the summer and prolonged ice cover in the winter. This minimum depth tends to provide critical refuge from what would otherwise be fatally low dips in available oxygen. And it was this win-win that allowed us both to get the original permit from the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and to begin the project before the typical July 1 start date. (The Corps and affiliated agencies typically restrict all "in-water" work through June to protect fish spawning, but in our particular case, the risk of waiting outweighed the risk of starting a couple weeks early, so we were granted a waiver.)

The first day of digging from another perspective (I'm standing on the far left of the new pile of clay for scale); we really
didn't know what the quality of the clay would look like until we started to dig -- we've been pleased from start to finish

This image depicts what ended up being the final day of excavation (before clay was "put up" onto the dike); with the muddy
bay water to the left and in the background, it serves as a stark contrast to the clear, stable water within the marsh (right)

Now that we are 95% finished with the excavating portion of the project, the risk of leaks or blow-outs is dramatically reduced. We will now wait for the excavated clay to de-water and dry, hopefully over the next couple/few months, and then the contractor will bring in a dozer to level the "crown" (top of the dike) and reshape the side slopes. By this time next year, we should be able to drive a pickup truck all the way around the West Marsh. This will be a first since we took possession of the property in 2015 and will probably afford the best access this site has seen since at least the 1980s.

One more fun perspective of this most recent work from the sky -- this one taken by ODNR
Division of Wildlife Private Lands biologist Mark Witt from the agency's helicopter;
two important notes: (1) Private Lands will once again be supporting this project financially --
which is immensely helpful, and (2) notice the water covering nearly all of the farm ground
on the very top of the page . . . absolutely amazing

The long-reach in action -- each bucket could be placed in 20-30 seconds

Good Timing

Re-seeding of the main West Dike is complete; just in time for the rain

I wanted to post the image above just because it's a great testament to the importance of timing in this work (plus, I love the colors and the depth of the clouds in the sky). Roy convinced the Buehlers that they should come out this morning and seed the dike that they just stoned ahead of what forecasters are saying will be a steady and sustained rain that should last for the next day or so.

Until we heard from them this morning, they were planning to come out tomorrow (challenging the meteorologists' forecast). At the last minute, they called an audible in favor of today. Just as they pulled their dusty tractor back onto their trailer and got ready to head for home, the first rain drops hit my windshield. Ground is broken. Seed is in place. Fertilizer is in place. Hay is down. The forecast suggests good grass growing weather. Fingers crossed.

Wilson's Phalarope

I also just got word as to how the recent shorebird walk lead by the Black Swamp Bird Observatory went back on August 26th. About 15 birders from the Toledo Naturalists' Association spotted 59 species of birds (2,418 individuals) in just about 2.5 hours of walking around our East Marsh.

They recorded everything from American Bittern to Wilson's Phalarope (right), and just shared all the specific data with me. Again, timing was right. The mud was exposed and "fresh" from some recent light rains. So while diversity wasn't immense, they did record about 16 shorebird species. It seems fun was had by all.

Protecting an Asset -- Bringing Stone to the New Dike

Buehler Excavating (Oak Harbor, OH) getting underway on our newest project; they are a preferred contractor for us --
not only are they a pleasure to work with, they are masters of all things marsh management-related

After a year of planning, another important project got underway yesterday. Phase II of the West Dike rehabilitation/reconstruction project comes down to protecting the asset that was rebuilt last summer. Essentially, we are laying down an 8'-wide, 1'-thick band of crushed limestone along the entire 3,000 linear foot south-facing slope of the new dike to protect the underlying clay from the erosional forces of wind and waves.

If everything goes just right and we can stay on budget, we will also protect 500 linear feet of the most vulnerable north-facing slope. We are less concerned about this side of the dike though because there is a much lower probability of water being held high on the dike from this side, particularly without a good amount of vegetation to break up the momentum of wind/waves (as compared to what can become large expanses of open water to the south).

Always dangerous to use a size 15 work boot for scale;
this stone is classified as D-rock by ODOT and ranges from
grapefruits to footballs in size

While this project isn't glamorous, it is crucial to extending both our near-term and long-term water management capabilities. It will allow us to maintain higher water levels over the southern ~145-acres of marsh, particularly at strategic times of the year. This has a direct impact on our ability to hamper the spread of invasive species like Phramites and purple loosestrife. It also allows us to promote habitats that enhance the attractiveness of the unit for targeted wildlife (could be fish, could be birds, etc.).

We now anticipate this project investment to be at or very close to $50,000 -- a bit more than we anticipated when we were budgeting last winter, but a fair price considering the current cost of locally quarried stone. We took a hard look at recycled materials (clean, crushed concrete), but in the end, local supply was limited (to meet the required spec), cost savings weren't a certainty, and the finished product with virgin rock is easier to control. At this total project price, we wouldn't have been able to do this work without an infusion of outside funds. For the second year in a row, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife's Private Lands Management program stepped up in a major way. They will end up covering somewhere around 60% of the overall project cost in exchange for our guarantee that the habitat will remain marsh for at least 15 years. Good news for everyone is: we plan to keep it that way a heck of a lot longer!

While Roy keeps this plate spinning, I am working on some other important strategic steps, most notably (1) the pending sale of ~38 acres on our east side to a neighbor (more on this soon, I hope) and, (2) a conservation easement application that we have been working on with the USDA for almost two years (again, I hope to have more detail to share on this in the weeks to come). On top of these major areas of focus, we have a duck season opening a week from Saturday. I'll start to give that topic some attention starting tomorrow.

Progress -- we figure they got close to 1,100 linear feet of the south slope protected in about a 1.5 days on the job;
if all goes well with equipment, weather, etc., they will be finished and on their way by mid-next week
(in time to give the marsh a couple days rest ahead of the teal opener)

Good News for the Newly Rehabbed West Marsh Dike

West Marsh Photo Location #14A, facing northwest
(Click to enlarge and then click quickly through the series to gain a panoramic view)

West Marsh Photo Location #14B, facing northeast

West Marsh Photo Location #14C, facing east

West Marsh Photo Location #14D, facing southeast

West Marsh Photo Location #14E, facing southwest

West Marsh Photo Location #14F, facing northwest

The six images above represent a single photo location recently established on the West Marsh. This specific site is positioned on the center of the dike that was rehabilitated last summer. The best way to gain perspective is to click on the top image and then "scroll" through all six from left to right. If physically (or electronically) interwoven this provides a 360-degree view from the established vantage point.

I chose to post these particular images for a couple reasons. First, it offers an example of what I've been working on over several recent days in the marsh. Twenty-four similar photo locations have been established on the East Marsh, each marked with a hardwood stake driven into the ground. This way, we can return to the exact same locations at regular (e.g. monthly) intervals and capture photos of the exact same perspectives over time. Not all photo locations have a full 360-degree vista (in fact, very few do), so I think we have something like 60 discrete images captured as reference on the East Marsh. I am only about half way through the West Marsh, and the way it's looking we could have something more like forty photo locations and 100+ individual photo perspectives.

It's a lot of work, but I'm confident that gathering these "baseline" photos will be very valuable as the months and years pass. Whenever possible, I've established formal photo locations in spots where I've already been capturing photos over the last 2.5 field seasons. In many cases, the changes are profound even over a series of months. It's already amazing to compare 2015 to 2016 to 2017. That fun will continue into the future. It's very gratifying to see the positive physical changes through time.

The other reason that I chose to include the series above is that it is tied to some good news that we received yesterday. For the second year in a row, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife's Private Lands program has selected Standing Rush as the recipient of their largest restoration grant. We found out definitively yesterday that they are doubling down on the earthwork that they helped fund last year (the dike restoration in the images above) and are going to provide additional money so that we can armor and protect the investment. Their contribution will cover more than 50% of the total project cost.

Essentially, we will be placing "D-rock" (softball to melon-sized limestone) along as much as 3,500-linear feet of the new dike to protect against wind and wave erosion. Most of the work will take place along the ~3,000' south bank (the one that has standing water on it in the photos), but we may also choose to rip rap a small (400-500') segment of the north-facing slope (depending on how the work goes compared to the budget).

The south slope is the most critical because it will have standing water against it much more regularly as compared to the north slope, which should support vegetation right up from the toe (base) of the dike. This is a critical management step not only because it will protect the dike that allows for crucial water level manipulation. It will also allow us to hold more water in the main South Unit -- thus reducing the impact and prevalence of Phragmites and other invasive species.

We are very appreciative of Private Lands continued support and look forward to getting the project underway. If all goes well, we'll be protected by the end of next month!

The Joy of Matted Down Millet

What could possibly be exciting about this image? Note the subtle greens under the water and
the duck feather in the lower left corner, and I'll explain . . . 

Well, you might have to be a bit of a wetland freak to truly be excited by this photo. (I'll admit, I'm guilty as charged.) But when Roy passed this image along -- and several others just like it -- this week, I know we were both thrilled at what we are seeing.

I spent some of last evening adding some content under the "2016" tab above. The West Marsh Dike Rehabilitation story (scroll down just a bit on that page) provides some helpful additional context to today's photo. But essentially, because

(1) we were able to draw water off a 40-acre area that has historically been called the "Rest Pond" (because no hunting was allowed in it to provide refuge for ducks), and because
(2) we were able to rebuild a large earthen dike directly adjacent to the pond to better influence what grows in it, we were able to
(3) seed and nurture a bumper "crop" of Japanese millet within these 40 acres.

All of this happened last summer, but the millet "strategy" wasn't just beneficial for a single season. Even though this plant is not native and is an annual (only grows for a single season), it has some remarkably useful attributes that persist. I will get into more detail as I continue the 2016 summary, but essentially, this grass-like plant converted what was a shallow pond of "chocolate milk" (muddy water) into a 2016 waterfowl buffet. The millet offered great cover. It grew in dense stands to 8' tall. But the seed-heavy terminal ends of the lush growth sagged temptingly into 2-3' of water, creating convenient openings for glutinous dining.

While the ducks gorged on millet seed in late summer through fall, they executed on two critical goals: (1) they spilled enough millet to provide a chance for decent self-seeding of some millet for 2017, and (2) they deposited all the seeds of all the other desirable plant species we want introduced into the Rest Pond as contents passed through the ducks' digestive tracks. (That's right, seeds do get carried by ducks -- and very effectively, I might add.)

So the feather in the photo above is symbolic of our unsuspecting restoration partners -- in this case, ducks. And the green represents this spring's first harbingers of new and diverse life in what will be a really fun restoration story to continue to witness. Isn't nature grand?