On the North Side

Posted on December 13, 2012 by paulmozina

We started a new chapter in the Scuppernong River Nature Trail restoration effort today as we began cutting the Buckthorn on the North side of the River. The area is scratched out in white on the map below. Our goal is to reopen The Lost Trail that bisects the loop trail, which I highlighted in white below. We want to clear the area between the trail and the River.

Mark Mamerow, who was assigned as my “buddy” almost 25 years ago when I started working at Northwestern Mutual, is still keeping an eye on me. He piled brush all day and made a great contribution. Rich Csavoy did some piling and cutting as well. And last, but not least, Pati came out to help pile brush and clear the “Sawmill Springs”.

Mark cleaned up the area by the bridge over the River at the Hotel Springs.

And After…

My before pictures on the North side of the River did not turn out, but here are a couple.

And after…

Lindsay and I have noticed a Spring just North of signpost #12 so we’ll call it the “Sawmill Springs”. We began clearing this one out today.

And after…

This still needs a bit of work.

We noticed this permit posted on the bridge over the Scuppernong River at signpost #5. This is where the Water Flow Gauges will be installed.

In case you were wondering, the algae bloom we reported at the Hotel Springs has completed disappeared.

Mark, Pati and I enjoyed the sunset from the Indian Campground.

Down by the River

Posted on December 8, 2012 by paulmozina

You never know who you’ll run into at the Springs. This morning Kris Hinrichs, the outgoing director of the Lakefront Marathon, was taking pictures for her Project 365. We had a nice visit and compared notes on what was ailing our bodies. I searched high and low on the various Project 365 websites and Facebook but could not find her photos. Kris, if see this, please put a link to your Project 365 photo gallery in a comment to this post.

I took these pics on the way to get some drinking water for the day from the Scuppernong Spring.

The Hillside Springs.

Rich Csavoy and Lindsay Knudsvig joined me and our agenda was to re-pile the phragmites that our religious friends piled back in July so that it would burn better and to finish piling all the brush along the river trail.

These phragmites piles are too spread out and would be hard to start when covered with snow. This area is by the Hidden Springs.

And after…

The observation deck area by the Emerald Springs.

We almost finished piling all of the brush along the river trail.

Thanks Rich and Lindsay! I hope to have an “about” Rich page added to the site soon.

After the work was done, Lindsay and I took some time to enjoy Mother Nature and we scouted out some areas where we plan to open up additional Springs.

Be on my side,
I’ll be on your side

See you at the Springs!

Waiting for the Snow

Posted on December 6, 2012 by paulmozina

It looks like we will break the record for consecutive days without snow, 279, this Saturday. I miss the snow so much, I had to go to the March 2012 archives just to get a little fix.

Our DNR friends Amanda and Anne suggested to the Kettle Moraine Natural History Association that they give Lindsay and I a gift to show their appreciation for our efforts. I paid a visit to Forest Headquarters this morning to pick up our Kettle Moraine State Forest tote bags loaded with goodies. Thanks!

Amanda is preparing seeds for us to sow at the Springs.

I got a chance to catch up with Paul Sandgren, DNR Superintendent for the Kettle Moraine State Forest. Paul and Ron Kurowski gave me the go ahead to resume working at the Springs back in May, 2011 and I can’t thank them enough.

After my visit to Forest Headquarters, I returned to the Springs and continued piling brush that we cut on the hilltop just above of the Hillside Springs.

And after…

Here is another perspective.

I didn’t see a soul out there today, had the place all to myself.

I’ll be waiting for you to come along at the Springs.

Respect the Land

Posted on December 1, 2012 by paulmozina

Today Rich and I continued cutting and piling on the hilltop where we left off last time. During a break we discussed our mutual respect and admiration for the Native Americans, who nurtured the land and understood it’s mysteries. When considering their impact on the earth, they planned ahead 7 generations.

Pati Holman and Jim Brown joined us in the afternoon and we got a lot done. Thanks!

Here are a few before shots.

And after…

Later, our friend Andrea Goetzinger paid her first visit to the Springs. She’ll be back for sure!

One of the reasons we are cutting the phragmites and cattails along the river is to take a close look at the land and identify where springs are flowing. We recently found a new one by the bridge over the river near the Hotel Springs (see Map). I took a few minutes at the end of the day today to open this one up. I’ll get some better pictures next time. There are a couple of really nice springs here.

It’s flowing freely now and there is a little waterfall that makes a pleasing gurgle.

There are more springs in this area yet to be revealed…

I hope to see you out at the Scuppernong Springs!

Happy ThanksSpringing!

Posted on November 27, 2012 by paulmozina

I was nourished by a wellspring of thankfulness and joy today. I’m lucky to be retired and have the opportunity to work at the Scuppernong Springs, and it just gets better and better. To everyone that loves and inspires me…. thank you, thank you.

I swung the brush cutter all day starting on the hilltop at the South end of the Nature Trail by the Scuppernong Spring.

And after.

I’m coming back to this area later this week with the chainsaw.

I spent the rest of the day cutting phragmites and cattail by the river. Walking the land like this is a great way to take an inventory and I’m finding evidence of a lot more springs.

And after.

It was a very peaceful day and I hung out for a while enjoying the moonlight.

Every Pile You Make

Posted on November 22, 2012 by paulmozina

The allure of the Hatching House Springs was irresistible, compelling us to pause our brush piling efforts for a couple days. Today I picked up where we left off last time and finished piling at the Indian Springs.

There is a second, smaller, spring and channel next to the Indian Spring and I finally got around to cleaning the brush out of it.

The main Indian Spring outflow channel is on the right below and the spring shown above joins on the left side.

Looking back up towards the spring source.

Next, I went to the hilltop I cut back in October and, along with Pati, made a few more piles. This is where we will resume this Saturday.

The last thing we did was clean the leaves out of the Scuppernong Spring and the Hillside Springs. One of the four Hillside Springs has dried up! I’ll get some pictures with morning light.

It’s another phragmites sunset.

I’ll be watch’in for you out at the Springs.

The Hatching House Springs

Posted on November 18, 2012 by paulmozina

I knew it was going to be a great day when I saw Lindsay’s smiling face!

We picked up where we left off on Thursday at the newly christened “Hatching House Springs” (see #9 on the Map). Our goal was to open up the Springs and cut and pile the huge Willow that had fallen into the wetland. Many of the Willow branches were taking root. We also wanted to finish brush-cutting the cattail, which was concealing yet another series of springs closer to the bridge. Here are some before shots.

You can see the two strategically placed boardwalks we uncovered last time below.

And the Water Cress…

Pati came out later to help pull cress and pile brush. Here are the fruits of our labors.

The Hatching House Springs revealed!

There are at least a dozen springs in the area. Here is a nice bubbler.

Time to pack up the gear.

The view from the observation deck at the Emerald Spring.

Sunset at the Indian Campground.

Hope to see YOU soon out at the Springs.

Ground Water Monitoring Project at the Springs

Posted on November 16, 2012 by paulmozina

It was a beautiful, warm, sunny, and, dare I say, exciting, day at the Springs yesterday (November 15th). I began cutting brush and cattail at location #9 on the map, the site of the old Trout Hatching House, which is between the Emerald Spring and the Hotel Spring. The last time we worked in this area Lindsay and I noticed there were a couple of old boardwalk sections buried in the brush and, along with all of the Water Cress in the area, these were sure signs that there might be some hidden springs there.

Here are a couple of before shots.

And after.

I pulled a handful of cress aside and you can see running water by the first boardwalk.

There is a bubbling spring by the second boardwalk.

This Saturday, November 17th, we plan to pull the cress out of these springs and open them up and pile the brush. I can hardly wait!

Around mid-day my good friends Ed and Jim Brown, stopped by. Ed has been involved in developing organic food sources and distribution networks for over 30 years (edward@organicbydesign.com) and currently makes his home in Spokane. Ed introduced me to the Paradise Springs way back in the late 70’s. He is an Enlightened Being. Ed is going to connect us with some people who may be able to use the abundant firewood that is available and also to harvest some Water Cress. Thanks to Jim for bringing Ed out to the Springs!

Ed noticed these roots from a Cottonwood tree by the marl pits enveloping the concrete foundation.

Just as Ed and Jim were leaving, along came a crew loaded with cameras and backpacks. Mike Parsen, a Hydrogeologist from the Wisconsin Geological & Natural History Survey, John R. Karl, a Videographer and Science Writer with the University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute, Craig Helker, Water Resources Management Specialist with the DNR and Anne Korman, Assistant Superintendent of the Southern Kettle Moraine State Forest were making their first visit to the site as a team. They are going to make a documentary describing their effort to update the state-wide ground water monitoring network. Listen in as they explain. From left to right below John R. Karl, Mike Parsen, Anne Korman and Craig Helker.

When we interviewed Tracy Hames, from the Wisconsin Wetlands Association, he stressed the importance of monitoring the river so we are very excited that Mike will be installing a water flow meter and temperature gauge. Craig has been shocking the river to do fish surveys for 8-9 years and we are very interested in any changes he may measure as well.

To top off a most excellent day, Pati came out to help pile brush and participate in the interview. It was a day full of fun and surprises!

River Views

Posted on October 26, 2012 by paulmozina

Dave Hoffman completed the grant request to get a slice of the North American Wetlands Conservation Act pie for the Scuppernong River Habitat Area restoration effort. We’ll find out in March 2013. The volunteer hours we are putting in at the Springs would be used to help provide the matching funds required for the grant. Thanks Dave!

Lindsay and I ignored the threat of rain today and had some fun by the River. The first thing I worked on was taking down these two huge Willows by the Hotel Spring.

I had to get a 25″ bar for my chainsaw to attack these monsters.

Meanwhile, Lindsay mowed the Phragmites by the Emerald Spring that had regrown since we cut it back in July. We are hoping this will make the plants more vulnerable to die off this Winter.

After I finished the two Willows, I went down by the Scuppernong Spring to finish cutting some buckthorn that I was not able to get to on the 21rst.

Lindsay proceeded to clear some Willow shrubs between the Emerald and Hotel Springs.

And I cut a huge patch of Phragmites on the West side of the River (you can see it in the center of the picture below).

The rain held off all day and we had a great time!

Scuppernong River Walk

Posted on October 19, 2012 by paulmozina

One of our favorite stretches of the Scuppernong Springs Nature Trail is along the River from the Scuppernong Springs to the Hotel Springs. To the East is a steep slope covered by Oak Savannah. To the West the views of the River and Wetlands were obstructed by a lot of brush including Buckthorn, Honeysuckle, Willow, Aspen and the witch’s brooms from charred stumps of Cherry and Red Oak. The area in question is marked in white on the map below.

On Wednesday, October 17th I spent the day working in area between signposts #7 and #8 above. Here are some before pictures.

After a little effort with a brush cutter and chain saw…

I still had a little energy left so I put on my chest waders and grabbed my shovel. There were a couple of places by the Emerald Spring, where the observation deck is, where the River was spilling over its banks. On his last visit with us, Ron Kurowski suggested we get some bio-logs from the DNR to shore up the banks and keep the River in a narrower channel. I contacted Ben Heussner and found out there were no more bio-logs at the moment, so I decided to just try a low tech solution for now. Here are some views of the areas in question before I started and after.

And two blisters later…

On Thursday, October 18th, Lindsay joined me and we worked on the area just North of where I had left off on the 17th and made it all the way up to the boardwalk leading to the Emerald Spring. In addition to the brush mentioned earlier, we cut a huge patch of Phragmites. Here are some before shots.