24 Dec, 2015 Author: administrator

Progress on the restoration site has been steady and rapid. As we enter 2016, channel work is complete and all large wood has been placed in the Red Maple Swamp. With the water meandering in and out of the forest, this area now seems as mysterious as it is beautiful. Channel work is also complete in Cell 2 and Cell 4 and almost complete in Cell 3; these areas are flatter and, with the exception of cell 2, devoid of large vegetation. Still the meandering stream and associated depressions give these areas great character. The micro-topography has been completed on the western side of cell 4 gives us a good feel for what the roughened surface will look like when the project is finished. The piles of peat on the Eastern edge of cell 2 provide a window into the rich material below the surface. Thanks to the skilled excavator operators for their perseverance in what is sometimes very soupy terrain!

For any restoration project, invasive species represent a serious threat. This fall we have continued to aggressively remove phragmites and non-native willow. In October-November, Chris Polatin's team spent 4 days cutting willow on cell 2. In November, they were joined by the Town of Plymouth Wardens,Nathan Christifori and Mark Bulport. Thanks to all for the hard work! In November as water was brought up in the impoundment in order to dry out the western portion of the site, Alex and Glorianna became concerned about the amount of seed that might now travel across the site. On a day's notice Alex commandeered help from his wife, Keri-Nicole Dillman, Glorianna, and Paul and Linda Williams to pick seed heads off the phragmites stems. Thanks to all who filled bags and bags and apologies for the sore muscles that had to be repaired after.

Linda and Paul reaching for seed heads Photo cr: Alex Hackman

Big news on the Living Observatory front: we are now incorporated and in the process of filing for 501c3 status. This will allow us to raise money and help support our current activities including research to understand and document how the ecology changes the landscape over time, experiences that help the public see/feel/hear this change, and the native plant nursery that we are establishing on the site.

Not surprisingly, we have enjoyed visits from many Living Observatory researchers, friends and collaborators. Beginning in early November, botanists, Irina Kadis and Alexey Zinovjev of Salicicola.com have been on site almost every weekend helping to put the nursery to bed for the winter; we have converted one bay of the barn to accommodate many of the plants. Guests and friends are invited to participate!

On November 9th, Steve Goodwin, Dean of the College of Natural Sciences, U of Mass Amherst toured the site with Sandy Thomas and Joe Shoenfeld. Sandy tells me that the article she wrote back in June has been printed large scale and now graces the hallway of the College. Jacqueline Karaslaanian of the Luys Foundation, Armenia invited Garo Armen, CEO of Agenus, formerly Antigenics, a biotech company and a team of Luys fellows from MIT and Harvard to visit an brainstorm about the Smart Center Garo is building in Armenia. Alex Hackman led the introductory tour. Here is a short post about the visit.

Jacqueline and team climb to outlook on Mars

Recently, Living Observatory researcher, Prof. Kate Ballantine of Mount Holyoke College toured the site. She was in awe of the peat that has been dug out of the stream channel and temporarily graces the side of the road. She teaches us that one Table spoon of peat has as many microbes as there are people on the planet! When I mentioned that I was mixing some of that black gold in the potting mix for my Atlantic White Cedar seedlings, she enthusiastically commented: you are inoculating them; that's good.

Last Tuesday, Lee Woodworth treated Alex and Evan to some Peter Pan moments as they over flew the channel in cells 3 and 4. We were all thrilled to see this arial view and are working on a plan to make sure we do regular flyovers to document change. Thank you Lee!