Early Stage Wetland Construction
|
These
photos were taken 4/18 and 4/19 and show the excavation of the constructed
wetland and the construction of the three dikes. John Stratton of Crawford
Construction is the one doing all the heavy lifting on this project.
I just take pictures.
|
|
 |
 |
|
The first
step was scarificaiton of the sites of the dikes
|
To make
sure there was a good bond between the dike and the existing substrate,
John cut a cleft in the soil.
|
 |
 |
|
We had the
topsoil set aside so we could use it later to 'reseed' the excavated
areas. Our plan is to let 'Nature run its course' instead of planting
vegatation. Kind of a 'If you build it they will come' approach. By
saving the topsoil we hope to perserve much of the indegionous microbial
community.
|
|
 |
 |
|
This area
was still pretty wet around the time of construction and we were concerned
all the water and clay might plug up the soil pans. John had to scoop
a lot of the muck at this end and build a temporay dam to keep the lake
from flowing back into our excavated area.
|
Around the
site of the third berm we had to remove a few small buttom willows.
|
 |
 |
|
Moving
the drain pipes.
|
|
 |
 |
|
This photo
shows the placement of the drain pipes within the dam. John used drier,
sandier soil to fill around the pipes.
|
Placement
of drain pipes in the second berm.
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
In the course
of excavation near the last dike we found a large charred area. John
speculated that it may have been form a brush fire when the area was
cleared for agriculture.
|
|
 |
 |
|
The bulk
of the excavatation was with these soil pans.
|
|
 |
 |
|
Much of
the excavated material was used to build up the dikes.
|
|
 |
 |
|
Early
Stage Wetland Construction
|
|