SCV, INC. BLOG, 12 – 2018

Winter in the Conservation Area.

As a site steward I try to get out to the Shoal Creek Conservation Area as often as I can. Then again, I likely would do that even without that responsibility.

In looking at my journal entries I see that even in January I was out there seven times. During the worst of the month’s winter weather, and there was a lot of it, I had to make do with reading books. One was ‘Saving Tarboo Creek’ by S. Freeman. It is about a restoration project in the Pacific Northwest. It is also a validation of what our volunteers are attempting to achieve here on the shores of Lake Yaeger. This is reflected in one of the book’s statements: “When we preserve a local slice of nature, we are doing our part in saving the planet”. One can also draw inspiration from PBS programs, such as ‘Nature’ and ‘Nova’ and I always look forward to one of my favorite magazines, “Natural History”. It is always amazing to see the extraordinary length some people go to, to bring us these stories. An article in the December 2018 issue really caught my attention as it parallels observations and puzzles about tree recruitment at our conservation area. Perhaps more about that later!

Well, maybe the above are just excuses. I ought to use at least some of that time to work on the blog that I keep promising the editor, yes time and time again. Is it procrastination or is it really that difficult? Why do I prefer to plod through mud and snow, slip and slide over hidden ice? Even pulling honeysuckle or treating them seems like more fun. More fun, really? Forgotten are the stiff toes and fingers, the constantly dripping ‘what-ever’, the thorns and brambles in your face. As I begin writing this it very much looks like winter, though the calendar says that it is still fall. So, perhaps this will still be of interest, though almost a year later now.

With a much-increased lake drawdown, a shore line walk reveals much that was hidden or difficult to access before. On the first outing there was a now exposed curious rock. A closer look revealed a large fossil bark imprint, unlike anything we find today. It was a very different forest then during the Carboniferous age. We still have Horse-tail today, 2 species at our preserve, both less than 3’. Back then this one, a Calamites, grew to 90’. Fern fossils and faint bark imprints have been more common on the shore line in the past and we have many examples of them. They may have been understory trees. All of that formed the coal that has powered our modern industrial age and now much maligned for its contribution to climate change. Talk about connections.

#1, #2

1. Calamites fossil imprint

2.Old deer head  in the Waterfall Ravine

On another outing I encountered remnants of a deer skeleton, especially the head. The antlers had been chewed on by rodents, probably species of mice and voles. They are secretive and mostly nocturnal and seldom seen. That they occur in rather great numbers can be seen after burns when their dense network of runs and tunnels is everywhere. On this hike I did encounter a rodent, though a very large one! From a high point of the Waterfall Barrens I was scanning a beaver lodge across the inlet, at the base of the Central Barrens lobe, that had recently been extended downhill as a result of the lake drawdown. There was suddenly a slight turbulence and out popped the head of a Beaver, ever so briefly. They have been called by some our best volunteers as they chomp down trees on the adjacent ridges. It is only the second time that I was privileged to see one.

#3

3.The Beaver just submerged

A large stump, oak most likely, previously submerged, measured 4’ across, though much eroded after over 50 years under water. Many other such forest remnants line the current shore line or protruded from adjacent ice. With exposed root systems some looked like abstract sculptures. Such large trees are uncommon today. The uplands were also heavily timbered at time of lake construction, but for the most part the trees there may never have grown as large as the bottomland trees.

#4

4. Stump at drawdown. After over 50 years still 4' across

After a light thaw I walked the inlet below the steepest part of the Rocky Hollow Bluff. For the first time it was just an exposed mudflat below, due to lower drawdown level.  I took images of inscriptions on the rock faces, all from the 1800’s, much weathered even in the last few decades. The tooth of time does not even spare hard rock. In a recess was a well-hidden old nest, likely of a swallow. The squishy 6” mud layer here and a bit of water film may have been due to water welling up from the sands below the ravine run which still carried water.

5. One of many inscriptions

6. Interface between sandstone and limestone

7. Limestone slab

Along the lowest waterline it was very soft in places from soft oozy bluish layers of clay. Later, near the W line inlet, I encountered sizable stone ledges of the same strange color that turned out to be disintegrating and may be an earlier stage for the clay layers seen elsewhere. Such clean clay may have been mined by native Americans for making pottery. The first Montgomery Co. map shows that there was a clay pit in the now submerged valley. What was the clay used for?

On the way back, the mist turned to rain and in the distance low, dense fog drifts moved quickly across the thick lake ice. New drifts welled up and came ever closer and finally blew into the inlet only to magically dissolve. Perhaps it was an interaction between warmer air and rain and the ice. It certainly was ephemeral and a phenomenon not witnessed before. Another outing that was anything but boring.     

On numerous outings during suitable winter weather I engaged in control of invasive woody species, cutting out and treating some 2,000 Amur Honeysuckle, including a few Multiflora Rose and Autumn Olive. The latter two are thin barked and full kill is achieved. Well, maybe ‘kill’ is a poor choice of word. Harvesting comes to mind. But that does not quite fit either. I guess I was thinking of deer, since it currently their harvesting/hunting season. Way too many deer though – poor harvesting. All the damage that deer do to our choicest flora. Here I go off on a tangent again. So back to the story.

Only a few of the very largest Honeysuckle survived. They develop a rather unique bark that prevents adequate penetration by herbicides. Much of the preserve is relatively free of these serious invaders by now, but elsewhere they exist by the ten thousand, mostly near preserve property lines. With a steady seed rain spread by birds it will take constant vigilance. Control is also much enhanced by regular burns that kill small seedlings and the tops of larger plants, thereby eliminating fruit production. Control is the best we can do. We will never eliminate them.

Prescribed Burns and More, by Andy Furman

In December of 2017, we were able to accomplish burns in the southern area of the preserve. The Shoal Creek bottom area proved very challenging to sustain a good burn. The Blue Bird trail area up to Chandler’s corner burned somewhat better, however also had some pockets that did not carry the flame. Special thanks to Lowell Chandler and Glen Bishop who participated and included some of their acreage in the burn, thus making the fire break preparation a bit easier.

In March of 2018 we were able to complete burns in the remainder of the conservation area with somewhat better results. The North Barrens complex burned fairly well while the Central Barrens required some follow up ignition, which improved the burn field. However, there were still some pockets that failed to ignite. Special thanks to John Buscher who participated and included his ten acres in the burn, thus making the fire break preparation a bit easier.  Also, thanks to the Litchfield Fire Department on their support during the burns.

#8

8. Fast and furious movement of fire

Travels and Learning with Henry [learning together!]. 

In February we traveled to Giant City Lodge in Makanda, IL for the 2018 Illinois Prescribed Fire Council Winter Symposium.  The two-day event was filled with presentations on topics associated with prescribed burns.  Henry “Weeds” Eilers was known by a large number of those in attendance.  Henry and I were some of the few in attendance that were not either State employed or University based. 

Both IDNR staff as well as Missouri Conservationists were on hand, as well as SIU School of Forestry and University of Missouri experts. 

Unfortunately, due to an ice storm overnight, the next day’s activities that were to be field tours were cancelled.

In April we once again visited Southern Illinois for “Let the Sunshine In –Tour and Conversations”.  This event was held in multiple locations across Southern Illinois. We stayed at the River View Mansion in Golconda IL, a hotel that has been in existence since 1894.  I had an opportunity to visit this

Hotel while in college at Carbondale.  Carol Sue Brown, who had been an English Teacher at Litchfield purchased the Hotel in 1978 and several of her old students that were at SIU visited her as she renovated the old classic.

The Let the Sunshine in event kicked off with a cookout at Lake Glendale on Wednesday.  Thursday, we met at Trail of Tears State Forest for several presentations and then a tour of three sections of forest that had been burned and thinned using three different approaches.  This extremely large forest area in Southern Illinois has led to the use of helicopters for aerial ignition. 

We then ventured to La Rue Pine Hills – which includes the only road in America that is closed for snake and amphibian migration.  We did get to see several snakes and amphibians.  The next day we started off at Dixon Springs with a pancake and sausage breakfast and several presentations on efforts to get local landowners involved with prescribed burning. The group then traveled to Shawnee National Forest – Simpson Barrens Natural Area. The area had many similarities to our local Barrens area and of course some of its own unique features.

In May we travelled to Springfield to the Illinois Native Plant Society meeting to learn from Guy Sternberg. Guy gave a presentation on how to use a Pressler increment borer to determine the age of a tree without destroying it. He had led a team to determine the age and history of the trees at the Governor’s Mansion. We think that we have some presettlement oak trees in the Wet-side Park und would like to confirm that with such a tool.

Earth Day

As in the past, Henry led the local High School students on April-20 on the annual Honeysuckle, Multiflora Rose and Olive Autumn pull in the southern portion of the Conversation area. Susan Shelton has brought out nearly 100 students annually for close to 10 years. That really shows as a now flower rich spring woodland as witnessed by Mark McDonald, producer of the Decatur PBS, ‘Illinois Stories’ series. To view the thirty-minute video go the following web site: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJ9CiJ9uFIM