My Favorite State Parks

National parks get a lot of buzz, especially since the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service in 2016. But with 50 states to chose from, there are a lot of amazing state parks out there. Many are overlooked, as most people are only aware of their own state's parks. I've been to a few places, so here's a look at my Top 5 state parks that I've been to.

#5 Cape May Point State Park, New Jersey

Located at the southern tip of New Jersey where Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic, Cape May Point is a key birding location along the Atlantic flyway. The main feature is the lighthouse completed in 1859, there are a few miles of trails that wind through a varied landscape of beach, wetland, and forest habitats. The trails connect to an adjacent Audubon Society property, creating a complex of protected natural habitat in a popular vacation destination.

Coastal forest

Lighthouse seen through marsh grasses

#4 Ohiopyle State Park, Pennsylvania

For thousands of years, the Youghiogheny River has snaked its way through the mountains of western Pennsylvania, cutting through rough terrain as it tumbles towards Pittsburgh. Today, Ohiopyle preserves a stretch of the river known for its waterfalls and rapids, surrounded by dense forest. In the 1750s, George Washington said the Youghiogheny could never be tamed, and because of its wild beauty, I hope he is right.

Laurel Highlands

Ohiopyle Falls

#3 Myakka River State Park, Florida

As the Florida State Parks website says, this is the REAL Florida. Myakka River is worlds away from the resorts, theme parks, and strip malls, and Florida Man stories but only minutes away by car. Leave your thoughts of the modern world behind as you trek through palm forest, wet and dry prairie, freshwater wetlands, and even a walkway in the treetops. Every bend in the trail presents new opportunities for wildlife watching, from fire ants to roseate spoonbills to alligators. Highlights include a boat tour when the river is high enough, and a tower that rises high above the surrounding trees.

Alligators, black vultures, roseate spoonbills, and wood storks in Myakka River

Wildflowers in a dry prairie

#2 Custer State Park, South Dakota

Fall in love with the West at Custer. This park preserves mountain lakes, towering granite spires, and rolling prairie in the Black Hills. Custer State Park is most famous for its 18 mile Wildlife Loop Road, where you are almost guaranteed to see deer, elk, pronghorn, and the iconic bison. The Needles Highway winds though granite spires at elevations so much higher than the surrounding prairie, you'll feel on top of the world. To the native Sioux inhabitants, it was the top of their world.

Bison roaming the prairie

The Needles

#1 Larrabee State Park, Washington

My top state park is where the majestic forests of the Pacific Northwest meet the sea. Peaceful lakes drain through bubbling streams in a quiet forest, reaching the Salish Sea at rocky beaches. At low tide, sea urchins, anemones, and starfish briefly become part of our world while they wait for the incoming tide to return their world. If you find the right trail, you can sit cliffside and watch seagulls fly beneath your feet.

Forested headland

A small stream trickles toward the Salish Sea

This list is subjective and based on no criteria at all. If you chose to visit these or any other parks, check conditions first and carry the 10 essentials. Be aware of all hazards including wildlife and weather. Remember to leave no trace. 

Photo credits my own

South American Splendor

Hispanic Heritage Month is about to wrap up, and before it does let's celebrate by taking a look at some of the fantastic ecosystems south of the border. While the Amazon and Andes are the best known features of South America, there are many diverse habitats. This week we're exploring the Pantanal, the Pampas, and the Llanos, important natural features maybe you've never heard of.

The Pantanal is the largest wetlands in the world, located in Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay. Located just south of the Amazon, and in its shadow, the Pantanal actually has a higher concentration of wildlife than its more celebrated neighbor. This wetland is flooded by annual monsoon rains that leave behind pools of snacks for birds. Unlike the Amazon, the Pantanal is open, so ecotourism is easier. Not only are there better views of the wildlife and scenery, it's also more accessible because of the openness.

Pantanal (The Guardian)

The Pampas is a large grassland like the Serengeti or the Great Plains. It is in Argentina, Brazil, and Uraguay. It is flat and gently slopes toward the Atlantic. The western Pampas near the Andes is a dry section with brackish streams and ponds, but in the east it is more humid, better watered, and more fertile. While much of the land is still unchanged, large areas have been developed for agriculture.

Pampas (The South American Specialists)

The Llanos is a tropical grassland in Colombia and Venezuela. Wedged between mountains and highlands, the Orinoco River drains the region. Seasonal rains flood the plains, and after the rainy season it can be quite parched. The dryness had limited development in the past, but irrigation and mining activities are making it economical for people to live in the area.

Llanos (Latin America & Caribbean Geographic)

South America has so much more to offer than tropical rain forests and jagged mountain peaks. I hope this piqued your curiosity about these and other lesser known natural wonders. Information this week comes from National Geographic (Pantanal), Britannica (Pampas), and Geography (Llanos).

Amazing Okavango

Ever hear of the Okavango River in Africa? You probably haven't. It's a rare river that flows into an inland delta rather than the ocean. During the winter, it floods the glassland and creates a seasonal wetland that attracts wildlife from all over Africa in one of the world's greatest migrations. It is an amazing oasis in the Kalahari Desert.

Flooded Okavango (Natural World Safaris)

The annual flood occurs at the height of Botswana's dry season, so it offers welcome relief to the plants and animals in the area, in addition to welcoming migratory animals of all shapes and sizes. The abundance of water boosts the growth of plants, drawing in herbivores. The herbivores attract large predators.

Elephants (Royist)

Safari cruise through the grasslands (National Geographic)

Among the many different animals who take advantage of the situation are elephants, lions, cheetahs, zebras, rhinos, 89 fish species, and 24 globally threatened birds. Not only is the Okavango key to survival of individual animals, it is crucial habitat for entire species.

Lion and buffalo (National Geographic)

A safari in the Okavango is like watching "The Lion King" live and in person. This weeks information comes from UNESCO World Heritage.

Oh Deer!

In August 2017 I had the opportunity to visit Springbrook Nature Center in Fridley, Minnesota. Located just outside Minneapolis, it's an urban oasis of forest, prairie, and wetlands. While walking on a trail through the wooded section, my companions and I saw a doe with two fawns up ahead of us. They crossed the trail and disappeared into the woods. I thought we were done with them. A few minutes later, the doe ran back across the trail the way she originally came from but without the fawns. My friend expected the fawns to follow any second, but they never did. What just happened?
The doe treated us as predators and was protecting the fawns. In her secret deer language, she instructed them to lay low on the forest floor. With their brown coloring and white spots, they would blend in well, even though there wasn't much sunlight dappling the ground that day. They likely had no scent, also. Meanwhile, Mama Deer took off running right in front of us, making as loud as crashing sound as she could. She wanted to attract our attention and trigger the chase response, leading us away from the fawns. Lucky for them, we're just normal humans who were out enjoying nature that day, not expecting to become part of it.

The doe came into view first

Later, we caught a glimpse of the fawns. One is to the left, the
other is slightly visible behind the doe.

This was the last wild adventure from my journey across the country that began with the total solar eclipse. I've shared some other stories from that trip, such as Volcanic Idaho, and there will be more to come in the future. If you plan on visiting the Twin Cities, here is a link to Springbrook Nature Center.

Species of the Month

With Thanksgiving just a week away, once again we turn our attention to the dinner plate. In years past, November's Species of the Month has featured the wild turkey, venison, and clams that were likely present at the first Thanksgiving. This year, we look at a staple of the modern celebration, the North American cranberry.

Whole berry cranberries (UWLC)

Scientific name: Vaccinium macrocarpon

Kingdom: Plantae (plants)

Class: Magnoliopsida (dicots)
Order: Ericales (heath)

Cranberries on the shrub (UWLC)

Range: US west coast, northeast US and Great Lakes areas
Habitat: Bogs with acidic soil
Diet: Water and sunlight
Predators: Bears, rodents, birds, deer, humans
Conservation Status: Listed as endangered in Illinois and threatened in Tennessee

Cranberry bog

Other facts: Cranberries grow in freshwater peat bogs. They are grown commercially for use in food products. The best use is the canned jellied cranberry. Cranberry plants are useful as a food source for animals. Birds, bear, and rodents eat the berry, while deer browse the shrub. Birds and rodents also use the stems for nesting material. Birds may also build a nest in the shrub. Cranberries also form a symbiotic relationship with fungi, giving up sugar in exchange for access to soil nutrients. Cranberries can survive being submerged for long periods, and even being kept on ice over the winter.

Cranberry flower (Cape Cod Cranberry Growers)

This week's information comes from Cape Cod Cranberry Growers Association, USDA PLANTS, and University of Wisconsin- La Crosse. Pictures, except the flower, are also from University of Wisconsin- La Crosse.

Habitat Rehab

Habitat restoration is one of the most important challenges facing conservationists today. Without adequate habitat, endangered species can’t be recovered. Many human activities require restoration as well. Fully functioning wetland systems can provide flood control and clean drinking water. How does the process of habitat restoration work?

Restored coastal marsh, where dikes were removed to
allow the sea to once again access the land

The first step, as in medicine, is “First, do no harm.” A site evaluation will determine exactly what needs to be done to restore what once was. Noting current conditions establishes a baseline for measuring success of the project. It might involve stabilizing a feature immediately, such as an eroding stream bank. After figuring out what needs to be done, the next step is figuring out how to do it.

In many cases, conservationists will use a reference site similar to what is being restored to determine plants and other features. Plants will influence what kind of animals will begin using the site, but the land and water on the site will determine what plants can live there.

Live willow stake planted to reforest
a former pastureland

A lot of times, restoration work is more than simply replacing plants and animals that lived on a site before people came in and messed it up. A site I monitored in Washington had once been a thriving salmon stream with a wide flood plain. 19^th century farmers drained the area by straitening the stream to allow water to flow in and out faster. They also cleared the trees. Fast forward to the 21^st century, and we’ve figured out that the stream needs to be slowed and shaded. Over a period of several years, the curves were put back in the stream and thousands of new trees and shrubs were planted. Fixing the stream required building temporary dams, removing fish by hand, and using heavy equipment to excavate a new stream bed at just the right depth and slope.

Ohop Creek after being restored to its twisted ways

After work has been completed, the site must be monitored for success. There should be some kind of measurable goal, and even if the restoration fails it can be a lesson for future attempts. The site I mentioned was restored for salmon habitat, and while it will take a few years for trees to begin cooling the water temperature, it has been under constant observation since work began. Several times a year, conservation groups involved in the restoration work check water levels, tree survival, how many salmon are spawning, and what kinds of animals are using the habitat. All of this is checked against initial observations from before the project began.

This prairie, currently a restoration work in progress,
was a field of weeds a few years ago

My work with habitat restoration has been monitoring (documenting wildlife and animal signs, as well as plant survival rates), site maintenance, and invasive species removal. The work is hard and sometimes conditions are brutal, but I find it to be very rewarding.

In many cases, restored habitat is second rate compared to what it once was and what nature has provided. It’s not for a lack of trying, but nature is a much better architect of natural features than what man could ever hope to be. But it’s better than nothing.

Superfund Site

While I was working toward my environmental science one of my classes was Environmental Law and Policy. For one of our assignments we had to research a Superfund site and present to the class. The site I chose was less than a mile as the crow flies from where I grew up. At that time, EPA hadn’t begun work on the site. Last year after moving back to Pennsylvania, I attended an EPA meeting on the status of the cleanup. This year, as work nears completion, I was able to tour the site with EPA’s Tim Gallagher.

Contrary to what you might think, not all Superfund sites are full of leaking drums of glowing green radioactive waste. The Watson-Johnson property was a landfill from the 50s to the 70s, then forgotten about. In the late 90s, water testing revealed several contaminants in the groundwater. One of the town wells for the water supply was closed. The solution the EPA came up with was to cap the landfill and use chemical injection to neutralize the contaminants in the groundwater.

Watson Johnson landfill site. The geosynthetic is
buried under 18 inches of soil here.

Capping the landfill is a common practice at sites like this. Why not remove the waste? Odds are, everything would just be taken out of the ground and buried in another landfill somewhere else. One oozing container was discovered and removed from the site, but otherwise it was all collected together and capped. The cap uses a layer of compacted clay soil, a waterproof synthetic fabric, more soil, and vegetation. The purpose of the cap is to keep the waste contained and keep water out, preventing anything from seeping into the groundwater.  Water drains to wetlands, ponds, and level spreaders. Level spreaders are cement cisterns that capture water and allow it to overflow and slowly spread away from the site.

Drainage swale around the outside of the capped landfill.
Grass seed has already been spread inside it.

Level spreader beyond the edge of the capped landfill

The soil above and around the cap is contoured to divert surface water away from the cap. There are natural wetlands on site, as well as new artificial wetlands created to contain and disperse runoff. The cap itself layered in a way that creates pathways for gases flow towards several vents. Because they site was once open but now is closed with those release points, concentrations are higher. Methane has been noted at the vents, but not volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Gas vent. No monitors are attached.

Monitoring and injection wells reach the groundwater. Sodium permanganate is injected to react with the chemicals in the water. The reaction breaks down the chemicals (including the sodium permanganate) into harmless elements like oxygen and hydrogen. Monitoring wells are set up to test the levels of chemicals in the water. Injections will stop once the concentration goes below 100 parts per billion. At that point, EPA will begin bioremediation. Microscopic critters that eat the contaminants will be injected to the groundwater to bring the contaminants down even further.

Work on the site is nearing completion. Despite a cold winter and rainy summer, work is only two months behind schedule. Workers are currently adding a layer of topsoil six inches deep on top of the cover soil. Once topsoil is in place, it will be seeded with native grasses. Around the cap, workers are setting up deer fence to protect new trees that will be going in. Landscaping was supposed to start last week but was delayed by heavy rain.

EPA will continue to monitor the site for a year after completion, before turning that duty over to the state. Future plans include nesting boxes for swallows and bats. The new trees will create a nice matrix with the older existing woods on the edge of the site, which should attract songbirds that prefer new growth. The site is privately owned, so it will not become a park like old landfills in other areas. However, development will be limited by cap so it will likely remain a nice green oasis as the area becomes increasingly more urbanized.

For more information visit the EPA's Watson Johnson website. Special thanks to Tim Gallagher for taking time out of his day to show me around.

Conservation or Preservation

Conservation and preservation are two tools for environmental protection. They are similar, and many people use the terms interchangeably. The term “conservation” is most frequently used, however. What are the differences, though?

First we’ll look to the federal government for the differences. The US Forest Service practices conservation, while the National Park Service practices preservation. Both agencies protect natural resources, but in different ways and for different reasons.

National Forests were set aside and are managed for conservation. For the most part, they are working forests. The resource (timber) is being conserved- managed logging that ensures there will always be a supply. Certain areas are off-limits to logging for various reasons such as habitat protection or recreation.

National Parks were created “for the benefit and enjoyment of the people”, and in the early days pretty much any enjoyment was acceptable, right up to feeding the bears. As we’ve discovered what damage we’ve caused to the environment, NPS cares less about having all the fun and more about preserving ecosystems and ecological processes. In this sense, preservation- protecting and maintaining the environment- is what many people see as conservation.

The environmental toolbox also includes restoration and enhancement. Restoration is returning a damaged or degraded ecosystem to its former glory. This is a difficult task and rarely achieves perfection because nature is much better at building a system than we are at replicating one. An example of a successful restoration project is at Washington’s Billy Frank Jr Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge. The original coastal wetlands were diked and drained for agriculture. In recent years, the dikes were removed and the tide was allowed to reclaim its former marsh. Salmon took advantage of the new channels that formed. Shorebirds enjoy having a shore again.

Incoming tide at Nisqually's restored tidal wetlands

Enhancement makes improvements to a functional ecosystem. For an example, we’ll return to Washington and visit a tributary of the Nisqually River, the Mashel River. Also a salmon-bearing river, a coalition of public and private agencies put artificial log jams in the river to improve habitat for juvenile salmon. Large woody debris adds nutrients to the river and also creates slower moving, deep pools that give fish a place to rest and hide during flood events. The log jams also reduce erosion by forcing the water to slow down.

Engineered log jam on the Mashel River

You can see an area of calmer water behind the log jam

Even without owning lots of land rich with natural resources, you can still practice conservation and preservation. Conserve water, soil, fuel, and energy. Preserve or enhance the ecology of your property. Resources are available if you need guidance. Ask me for details! 

Species of the Month

Easter has come and gone, but the memory remains. Last year we took a look at the cottontail rabbit and this year the Easter species of the month is currently filling our ponds and creeks with quacks but will soon be joined by tiny peeping sounds. Enjoy a brief profile of the mallard duck.

Easter ducklings with mother

Scientific name: Anas platyrhynchos

Kingdom: Animalia (animals)

Class:   Aves (birds)

Order: Anseriformes (ducks, geese, and swans)

Range: North and South America, Eurasia, north Africa

Habitat: ponds, wetlands, streams  

Lifespan: 5-10 years, oldest known was 27 years

Diet: plants, insects, worms, small crustaceans, cereal crops

Predators:  foxes, coyotes, birds of prey, humans

Conservation Status: no special protection

A group of mallards enjoying a warm spring day together

Mallard hen on the go

Other Information: The mallard is the most common waterfowl species in the world. They have adapted to life with humans, but still display a fear (which you’ve noticed if you ever tried to pet one in the park). They are dabbling ducks. Dabbling is what they do to eat- flipping head down in the water, tail up in the air. The females do the quacking. Mallards also make a sound that I describe as muttering at you under their breaths. Females lay clutches of 9-13 eggs in a nest on the ground. After hatching, ducklings follow mama to the water, never to return to the nest. However, there is always an exception to the rule. Mallards nested in a tree at my parents’ house, to everyone’s astonishment. Both male (drake) and female (hen) have iridescent feathers on their wings, and the drake also has an iridescent green head.

Mallard drakes, complete with iridescent green heads

Bottoms up! Dabbling drake

This week's information comes from University of Michigan's Animal Diversity Web. Species comparisons will return next week. Stay tuned and be sure to like Nature Minute on Facebook.

Species of the Month

February's species of the month is a pink bird, reminiscent of Valentine's Day. The roseate spoonbill is a spectacle to behold with pink plumage that only becomes more vibrant as the bird ages. It's not necessarily known for being a love bird, but at least the color matches the month.

Roseate spoonbill (Cornell Lab of Ornithology)

Scientific name: Ajaia ajaja

Kingdom: Animalia (animals)

Class:   Aves (birds)

Order: Ciconiiformes (storks and relatives)

Range: Gulf Coast south across the Caribbean, Central and South America

Habitat: freshwater and saltwater marshes

Lifespan: 16 years on average

Diet: small fish and crustaceans, plant matter, insects

Predators: alligators, coyotes, hawks (prey on chicks), raccoons (prey on chicks and eggs)

Conservation Status: No special conservation status

Other Information: The roseate spoonbill feeds by swishing its spoon shaped bill in the water. Like flamingos, the pink pigmentation comes from the crustaceans in the spoonbill’s diet. They were hunted for their feathers to near extinction. Protection in the 1940s led to their remarkable comeback. However, they remain vulnerable due to habitat loss.

This month's information comes once again from University of Michigan's Animal Diversity Web, as well as New Hampshire PBS.

(Texas Parks and Wildlife)

(US Fish and Wildlife Service)

Species of the Month

January has been a snowy month for me, so it seems fitting that the Species of the Month be equally snowy. A few weeks ago we learned about the snowy owl, but now we’ll look at another white bird from the cold, snowy north- the snow goose.

Scientific name: Anser caerulescens

Kingdom: Animalia (animals)

Class:   Aves (birds)

Order: Anseriformes (ducks, geese, and swans)

Range: Summer range is eastern Arctic Canada and Greenland; winter range is Gulf Coast and Midwest states. They don’t fly nonstop, so there is migratory habitat in between.

Habitat: Tundra, marshes, tide flats, prairies, farmland

Lifespan: 20 years, on average

Diet: Roots, grasses, sedges

Predators: Arctic foxes, jaegers, eagles

Conservation Status: No special conservation status

Other Information: The snow goose has two color morphs, white and dark gray (known as blue goose). Blue goose was originally considered a separate species. Snow geese are a popular game bird. Due to rising populations, they are considered an agricultural pest in some areas. The black mark on the bill is sometimes referred to as lipstick or the grin patch. They mate for life. The female incubates the eggs while the male stands guard over her. They sometimes nest near snowy owls, which may deter predators. Nesting colonies can contain tens of thousands of birds. The snow goose is model for the National Wildlife Refuge System's logo.

National Wildlife Refuge System's logo

This week's information comes from University of Michigan's Animal Diversity Web. Photos are from Missouri Department of Conservation, except the logo.

Snow goose

Blue goose color morph

Thousands of snow geese in flight