MANY RIVERS WORK PARTY
Many Rivers Ottawa Bluffs Work Party
Saturday, February 15 – 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Location: Ottawa Bluffs, Le Sueur, MN
While we have done a lot of tree thinning over the years, there is still more to do. The savanna areas of the preserve are recovering nicely as we’ve gotten more sunlight to reach the ground, promoting the growth of partial sun loving grasses and forbs. Some of the plants that are benefiting include the rye grasses (particularly silky rye), black-seeded rice grass, white grass, moon seed, green briar, germander, American spikenard, and several sunflower species. The sunflowers are noteworthy because they were difficult to find at Ottawa when this work started in 1990, but now large clones can be found blooming in late summer. Still there are areas which don’t receive much sunlight and we aim to change that. Tree removal generates a lot of slash which we can always use help piling. Once we have a good amount of snow cover, we can start burning those piles.
Work will involve some combination of brush or tree thinning and possibly brush pile burning. Learn more about Ottawa Bluffs HERE.
WHAT TO BRING:
Please bring a lunch, plenty of beverage, appropriate (sturdy) foot wear, and work gloves. Leather gloves work best for brush work, thinner gloves (or none) for seed collection. Dress in layers with an eye toward the weather. Rain, snow, or shine, we will be out there.
CONTACT:
Email Jim Lynch if you have questions and to RSVP. If for some reason there is a cancellation, it will be announced through this email list. Contact Jim to be added to the email list.
LOCATION:
If you need help getting there: Look for the preserve sign and vehicles parked along the side of the highway. MAP
Alternatively, from LeSueur, take County 36 south to Co. 23 to the preserve.