Palustrine Projects:
Overview
Palustrine
terrain is generally some form of wetland, but unlike riparian lands, not
associated with flowing water. Rather, palustrine lands include marshes, swamps,
floodplains, places where aquafers rise to the surface. ChcioryLane wetlands include Vernal Pools, an Old Farm Pond, a Cattail Marsh, a Wet Meadow, and a former wet field that has been converted into a
Mixed Palustrine Hardwood White Pine successional forest.
General
Underlying goals for all these projects are to improve the ecological diversity, quality,
services, and interest of relatively small areas that can, potentially,
aggregate into larger, symbiotic composites. Individual areas often
evidence a particular ecological feature, such as a notable specimen (e.g.,
large old Willow tree), or
multiple clusters of a particular species (e.g., multiple viberna), or a particular natural
formation (e.g., a stream or rock outcropping). The main point is to
focus, first, on what is there, and then build on that, keeping the scale and effort doable.
Two pools constructed in 2005 occupy approximately one acre of a 3-4
acre former wet agricultural field. Both pools include water level control
columns that support nearly dry conditions to approximately 18" - 2' of
depth that can be varied by season - e.g., fill in winter and dry during the
summer. A variety of tree and shrub species were introduced at the time of
construction and have been supplemented since. See the complete plant species
list for details. Current project emphasis is on developing a canopy overarching
the pools and increasing the diversity of tree, shrub, herbaceous, and
graminoid species.
A 3-4 acre agricultural field with a central damp area lies directly
North of the Vernal Pools. Always too wet for any crop other than hay, it was
taken out of cultivation in 2005 and converted into a Mixed Palustrine Hardwood
White Pine Successional Forest.. Initial plantings were full size tree species
that could tolerate damp, sometimes wet condition, and included Swamp White Oak,
River Birch, White Pine, and Sycamore. The site also includes an attractive
patch of Blue Vervain. Current project emphasis is to introduce additional
species, including mid-story trees and shrub species.
A small, half-acre farm pond was constructed in 1975. It lies just
North
of the farm lane and just West of the Riparian North project area. It is
encircled by a border of Hybrid Poplars, interspersed with volunteer White Pine,
that provide visual privacy. The shoreline of the water is encircled with a 2-3
foot fringe of cattails, but they don't spread further becuase of water depth. A
few native iris and daylilies add color. Current project emphasis is to
introduce additional shrub and small tree speciesas well as additional
herbaceous and graminoid species to increase diversity and interest.
In August and September, this most interesting and spectacular area of
the property is home to 7-foot NY Ironweed! This magnificent plant glows
with an iridescent purple on sunny days. This 2-3 month wetland also hosts Joe
Pye, for contrast, as well as Monkey Flower, Sensitive Fern, and Swamp Milkweed.
The area is made private by encircling Alder, White Pine, and Swamp White Oak.
And, a good many large invasive shrubs - e.g., Autumn Olive and Multiflora Rose.
Current project emphasis will be to mostly leave it alone except to slowly
replace invasive shrubs with more desirable ones, over years, in order to not
lose its quiet privacy.
This area isadjacent to the Wet Meadow, just below
grade. It is less than an acre and is
fed by a small, 18-inch stream that runs all year. It is invaded by the
occasional Purple Loosestrife. We also maintain a puncheon
walkway around parts of it to provide encircling access. It is largely fine
as it is, with minimal maintenance. We do not anticipate eignificant enhancement
in this area.