Wetland Planting – Eagle Nest Lake Unit

If interested in participating in any, or all of the planting date events PLEASE email Jennifer Wilson [email protected] to let her know so she can determine the number of plants to bring for planting.

Message from Jennifer Wilson:

We are hoping to do more wetland plantings at Eagle Nest Lake this month.  We have several tentative dates identified and wanted to send out a query to see if any Master Naturalists might be interested in coming.  We have 1,200 1-gallon pots of plants ready from Greenstar to plant in January / February.  We would gauge the number of plants to pick up for each planting based on the total number of people that would like to come that day.

The dates we have identified so far are:

Wednesday January 28

Thursday January 29

Friday January 30

Wednesday February 4

Thursday February 5

Friday February 6

We’ll be planting on substrates ranging from shallow water to moist mud to dry soil.  If people are coming, we ask that they:

• Bring a shovel or planting tool that they would use to plant a 1-gallon pot (sharpshooters are fine).  If they can’t bring a tool to plant with, that is ok too.  Let us know and we’ll identify extras to bring.  We’ll likely plant as 2-person teams but if someone wants to plant individually, we can make sure there are enough shovels / tools for that.
• Wear clothing and footwear that can become wet and muddy.  We won’t be wading in deep water but the soil can be mucky and contribute to falls.  Work gloves or gloves that are protective for shoveling and mud/water/dry soil contact are encouraged.
• Bring some towels and a change of clothing in case they want to make sure their vehicle interior stays dry on the way home (just in case).
• Bring whatever fluids and snacks or food they might want for 2-3 hours of planting.  We will have extra water and some sport drinks in a cooler as well.
• If interested in coming, please write me at [email protected] and let me know the dates they would like to come.  This will help us identify the best dates for planting.  Also please include their phone number in case we need to shift dates for weather conflicts.

Our project site and the meeting location is on CR 24A (gravel road), which is accessed as a right turn off CR 23 if approaching from CR 25.  If coming up Highway 36 from West Columbia, drive 5 miles north of the West Columbia Walmart on Highway 36 and make a right turn on CR 23.  This right turn off Hwy 36 is opposite a new gas station (Fuel Maxx) on Hwy 36.  Travel 3.6 miles on CR 23 and take a left on CR 24A (a gravel road).  We’ll park on the road shoulder of CR24A.

VMS Code:  RM: Managing Natural Resource Areas and Wildlife (Service Project)

VMS Description: Wetland Planting Eagle Nest Lake