Waterford Park sustained considerable flood damage during a prolonged May, 2018 rain.
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Photo below is a small example of the damage. Two shrubs and all fencing gone. The water got as far as the turtle area, removing mulch from there but no damage. We have not seen it this bad in over a decade.
We need to get out in the park locating uprooted plants, removing fences loaded with debris, etc. Needless to say, the garden tour folks if they venture through the grass that surely cannot be mowed will have quite an adventure. So be it. Our priority is to free up plants. If we find uprooted ones soon we can save them.
I can be out there at the following times over the next few days, and I will be out there unless it is pouring. Please join me if you possibly can.
Today, Wednesday at 2 pm
Thursday at 9
Friday at 11 and again at 3
Saturday and Sunday at 9:30
No skills required, just willingness. Let me know so I can organize teams, areas to work on.
Ginny
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Several of you are going out on your own. Wonderful. Here is what we learned today.
We found a lot of plants that are tipped with their roots exposed – so take a shovel to get soil, put the soil on the exposed roots, then hold the tree upright and press the soil in. Feel free to get soil in a wheelbarrow from the mulch/compost pile on the hill. Use FWP wheelbarrows. Also under the gray tarp by the shed are buckets of soil ready to use.
We found lots of fences with debris. We are taking the fences off and making piles where people will not trip over them. If you find signs, put them with the fencing.
Also, if anyone wants to just roam around with a trash bag, have at it. Tons of trash, easy to see, lots in the debris piles. That would be a big help. Everything in the woods is flattened so it is easy to walk – just be careful not to trip over vines.
Next outing for me Thursday morning 9:30. We need some muscle for some of these plants and we will see who can come and plan accordingly.
If a miracle happens and we are predicted to have a rain-free evening Thursday or Friday, I will send an email for a 6:30 pm session.
Stay tuned.
Let me know your hours if you work by yourself. Thanks.
Ginny
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Two pictures tell it all.
Logs May 16 – after the first night’s rain. These logs stacked by the middle bridge (to be used in the streambank project this summer) were parallel to the creek May 15, then turned 90 degrees and washed against a large tree in the first flooding. Notice the cut marks on the front log. You will see it in the next photo.
Logs May 18 – we found this log at the last curve downstream toward Rt. 15, about 2000 feet from where it started. We think it shot down the old sewer line where there was nothing to stop it. But that 10 foot log must weigh a couple thousand pounds.
WOW.
FWP folks are working, trying to get trees, shrubs upright, picking up trash, getting soil back around roots, locating signs and fences.
It will take a while but we will get as much as we can. If you live near the park, please do at least one walk where you bring a bag and pick up some trash. Every bit helps.
Ginny