07-01-16 Field Note

07-01-16 Field Note

July 1, 2016

Jeff Clarke's field note reports on a thinning project, reed canary grass transplants, painted turtles, and the first big fire of 2016.

Boondocks thinning project, reed canary grass, kochia, wildfire, bullrush

all stands of deciduous trees grow interspersed within thick conifer stands in the Boondocks. To encourage further deciduous recruitment, the field crew removes conifers competing with deciduous trees. We position the thinned trees to protect future seedlings from browse.

The field crew weed-whacks and mats large patches of reed canary grass in the North Floodplain. The matted areas will be filled with dogwood, willow, and cottonwood in the spring. We will continue to remove reed canary grass a little at a time.

Kochia is the dominant weed in and around the feed lot. After we removed it, we noticed native grasses. We will continue to maintain this area for weeds, and monitor if weed removal affects native plant vigor.

Plants in the diversity island flourish in the summer heat.

The Observation Point Fire, 10 miles southwest of Hamilton, is the first major forest fire in the Bitterroot Valley this summer. Lightning caused, the fire has burned 322 acres so far.

A bumblebee dives head first into a native wavy leafed thistle.

When we pull houndstongue in remote locations, we create designated piles near the thickest invasions. Plants and seeds at the bottom of the piles compost back into the soil.

These photos show transplanted bullrush from 2014 and 2015. The rushes transplanted two years ago show dense growth compared to those planted last year. As the rushes continue to establish, they will send up additional shoots.

Western painted turtles battle for the prime spots to bask. They even prop themselves up on other sunbathers to maximize their sun exposure.

A few years ago we erected a three-foot fence on the east side of Clubhouse Pond to exclude beavers from the aspen forest. The fence worked well and allowed a new class of aspens to exceed browse height. We removed the fence and now hope that a pair of beavers might establish a lodge in the pond.

This mule deer continues to add to its head gear in preparation for fall battles.

Buckwheat boasts fireworks!

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07-01-16 Field Note

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07-01-16 Field Note

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