A few days after the flood, it is now possible to drive all the way to the main platform, but the road washouts appear worse now than they did when we did that trip by foot on Monday.  Some  work is needed.  Other than that, things seem fine.  We were happy to see a Snowy Egret pattering about in the marsh.

Lee Varian, Sept. 2, 2011

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All of our structures withstood Irene’s wrath, but many trees did not.  The narrow path off the fire road around the back of the marsh was a scene of particular devastation, as at least partially shown in the attached photo.   Much work needs to be done in the area to clear a path and discourage tromping through the newly restored spice bush.  I will check with the Institute (it’s on their property) to determine what to do.  There’s enough debris on the main fire roads to occupy them for a while.

We will for sure need the township to restore the pump, which is not currently working.  There’s been so much water that it’s not been noticed, but we could return to drought conditions quickly enough.  

On a more positive note, or at least as an example of benign destruction, Steve Hiltner and I sprayed sections of the Phragmites with Rodeo on Saturday.  It will continue to be a perennial struggle to keep this in check;  hopefully we’re winning.  And definitely more positive, Dave Wilcove reported a large fallout of warblers at the Refuge on Saturday morning.

Fred Spar, Sept. 18, 2011