09-01-18 Field Note

09-01-18 Field Note

September 7, 2018
Jeff Clarke's early September field note shows the field crew's recent exploits, including transplanting lily pad clusters, and searching for mountain mahogany seeds.

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Lily pads, aquatic sod, alfalfa restoration, willows, mountain mahogany seed

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We dug up 40 lily pad clusters from a pond downriver, transported them upstream, and transplanted them into the Clubhouse Pond. Once established, the lilies will spread naturally.

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We also collected 100 lily pad seed heads. We cut the the seed heads open and distributed the sticky seeds all over the pond. We shall see if they grow.

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We purchased 25 rolls of wetland sod from North Fork Native Plants’ hydroponic nursery (bottom photo). Each 3’x15’ roll contains beaked sedge, woolly sedge and arctic rush.

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We laid the sod in open niches around the perimeter of the Clubhouse Pond. The new plants should take root in two weeks, and spread via seed and rhizomes.

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Many of our steep, south-facing slopes contain little organic material and receive direct sunlight most of the day.

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We added a 6 inch layer of alfalfa hay to a large south-facing slope in an attempt to add more nutrients to the soil, increase moisture retention and get rid of cheat grass.

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Several native forbs grew through holes in our black mats in the willow exclosures. As the native forbs flourish, the exotic reed canary grass remains absent from the site.

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We’ve found that the black mats also keep willow seedlings from growing.

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One of our most successful restoration projects has been our application of black mats and willow cuttings to restore reed canary grass invasions

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In another area, we transplanted sedges, rushes and aquatic forbs into a matted reed canary grass field. We will remove the black mat once the natives take hold.

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We ventured 40 miles south to Sleeping Child Valley to collect mountain mahogany seed.

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Many of the mountain mahogany shrubs grow from cracks in the bedrock

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We found this dead juvenile coyote near a heavily used elk trail.

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We’ve found several mule deer beds on the north side of our planted junipers

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