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!

All for one, one for all!

Posted on November 30, 2012 by paulmozina

… the Three BrushCuteers cried as they fired up their chainsaws. Rich, Lindsay and I took the battle to the enemy today and many a stout and formidable foe was slain, dismembered and piled. The battle ground was the hilltop/sand dune just above the Hillside and Hidden Springs (see Map), where we have been working recently.

Rich Csavoy attacked a patch of Black Locust.

And it’s clear who got the better of this fight!

Porthos, aka Lindsay Knudsvig, beat back a frontal assault of Buckthorn and Black Locust while defending the High Ground.

When it was over, you could not cross the battlefield without stepping on a corpse of the invasive enemy.

Meanwhile, Paul ambushed a small army of Buckthorn attempting to sneak up on Lindsay’s blind side.

They never new what hit them.

Anne Korman, Assistant Superintendent of the Southern Unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest, stopped by to enjoy the Springs and offer support and encouragement. Thanks!

This Saturday, December 1rst, The Three BrushCuteers plan to return to the field of battle in the same location. Hope to see you at the Springs!

I Can See More Piles and Piles

Posted on November 25, 2012 by paulmozina

It was cold enough to snow. We haven’t seen any since last March and we’re poised to set a record for days without snow. I hope we get some soon because we have a lot of brush piles to burn. Today I continued making brush piles on the hilltop between the Scuppernong Springs and the Indian Campground.

There are some nice, new, views of the river opening up from this high spot. Here are a couple shots looking down at Connie and Sophia standing by the Scuppernong Spring.

As the sun broke through the clouds around noon, I was treated to flock after flock of Sand Hill Cranes migrating South. They slowed to a lazy float as they loitered high above me, discussing our work in progress at the Springs no doubt.

Good news! The algae is receding at the Hotel Springs. When I met DNR Water Resources Management Specialist Craig Helker on November 15th, I forgot to ask him to check out the algae but he gave this reply via email after checking out my pics:

“If you would, please keep an eye on the algae – say, over the next few months and into spring. We’ll see what happens. I’m curious if it’s a fall phenomenon, or there is something more sinister going on. I didn’t speciate it out, but it does not appear to be “rock-snot”, which was my number one fear. So, that’s a positive.”

We’ll definitely keep an eye on it and consult with Craig.

“I can see for miles and miles and miles and miles and miles
Oh yeah”

I’ll be heading back to the Springs on Monday, November 26th to finish piling brush along the river.

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.

I make piles with a little help from my friends

Posted on November 11, 2012 by paulmozina

Thanks to my good friends we almost finished piling all of the brush at the Indian Springs that Rich and I prepped Last Thursday. This area was one of the nastiest Buckthorn thickets we’ve ever had the pleasure of cutting.

While I was still working at Northwestern Mutual, I often told my coworkers about my work in the Kettle Moraine and today Chakry Indlamuri and Sriram Raghavulu came out to check it out and pile some brush. Here is Sriram in action.

Sriram and Lindsay.

And Chakry.

Later John and Sue Hrobar joined in. Sue gave me a thumb drive with hundreds of pictures she took at the Springs and we’ll post some of them here soon.

And finally my ever lov’in mate Pati arrived with some awesome peanut butter cookies and took this picture.

We made around 20-25 piles and Sriram and Chakry both plan to come back and help again!

It was a warm, sunny day and a lovely breeze kept us refreshed. Speaking of which, Chakry brought a bottle of Champagne and a bit of Chivas Regal and we “partied” by the Scuppernong Spring. “…I get high with a little help from my friends…”.

Old Friends, New Friends

Posted on November 9, 2012 by paulmozina

I had the pleasure of the company of Rich Csavoy and Randy Shilling today. Rich found out about the project via Amanda Prange, DNR Visitor Services Associate, Seed Gather and Volunteer Coordinator extraordinaire. He practically lives next door and noticed the changes happening at the Springs. Rich is skilled with the chain saw and brush pile making and burning and he is a hard-working man. Welcome Rich!

Randy and I used to work together at Northwestern Mutual. He turns wood on his lathe and when he heard that there was some Red Oak, Cherry and Hickory available, he came out and got a truckload today. I can’t wait to see some of his handiwork. Here are a few shots of Randy and a short interview.

Randy Schilling Interview 20121108

Meanwhile, Rich and I worked on preparing brush piles by the Indian Springs. On November 10th, some of my old friends from Northwestern Mutual (I retired last February) are coming out to help Lindsay and I pile so Rich and I organized the chaos by starting piles. This will make the work go much easier on Saturday.

As we finished up this area, Randy joined us and we proceeded downstream a bit along the Indian Spring outflow channel and we made 10-12 piles amongst the Gray Willow, Buckthorn and other brush I recently cut there. We had a lot of fun!

I gathered some Water Cress for my juicer.

Sundown by the Marl Pit bridge.

Brush Piling by the Scuppernong Spring

Posted on November 4, 2012 by paulmozina

Lindsay and I piled the brush that I cut back on October 21rst by the Scuppernong Spring today. I added the Google Earth Map below to the Maps and Brochures page on this site. The imagery is old, predating all of the cutting I did right along Hwy 67 some 9 years ago, but it is still useful. Can you find the Scuppernong Spring?

Here are some before images.

We had lots of visitors today and got a chance to explain what we are doing and refer people to this site. Just as our strength was giving out, Anne Sylvan arrived to help us finish the last piles. Thanks Anne!

We made around 20 piles. We’ll have to wait for an East wind and good snow cover to burn them.

Buckthorn and Phragmites piled with religious zeal

Posted on July 16, 2012 by paulmozina

DNR Trail Master Don Dane made us an offer we couldn’t refuse: 150 volunteers to help us clean up the Scuppernong Springs Nature Trail. We would only have them for a couple hours so Lindsay and I prepared the work sites.

On July 13th Lindsay finished cutting the burnt stalks of Willow and Aspen along the trail across from the Observation deck and then finished cutting almost all of the Phragmites.

On July 14th Lindsay and I marked the locations for the volunteers to pile the phragmites and buckthorn. Here are some before and during pictures… we will add the “after” pictures soon. Approximately 100 volunteers from a religious community in Northern Illinois (I’ll get the specifics) did some righteous piling for us with a generous spirit. Thanks!