Indian Creek Valley Tree Loss

April 12th, 2012 by Susan

Director Rich Patterson has been fielding a lot of questions about the loss of trees in the Indian Creek Valley. We are equally frustrated! Here is some information from Rich that may prove helpful.

Many people have expressed concern or anger about substantial tree cutting near the Sac and Fox Trail along Indian Creek. The Nature Center is also concerned and frustrated.

For many months, the Nature Center has been aware of a City project to replace an old sewer down the valley with a larger one. Staff have attended engineering meetings where we asked the City to minimize tree loss and use the opportunity to move the often flood damaged trail to higher dryer ground. The project itself has nothing to do with the Nature Center but many people have contacted staff frustrated by tree loss.

The City marked many trees that were not supposed to be removed.  These were typically the largest and most impressive trees. The contractor removed them anyway. It is an abomination. The last I heard, the City is attempting to get compensation from the contractor for the loss of these trees, but I do not know the status. The contractor is required to plant new trees following construction.  

If you are concerned or want information contact Dave Wallace at 286-5814 at the Cedar Rapids Engineering Department.

~Rich Patterson

Wild Rice in our Wetland

March 23rd, 2012 by Susan

Land and Facilities Steward Jean Wiedenheft was out recently in search of wild rice in our wetland and makes this report.

When the Lynch Wetland was initially planted in 1999, wild rice (Zizania aquatica) was on the species list. This native annual is an important food source for everything from muskrats to ducks, so it is a valuable plant to have in a diverse ecosystem. Unfortunately, the wild rice population never established itself. We won’t ever know if it was gobbled up by a tiny weevil or a red-winged blackbird, or whether the conditions at the time of the planting just weren’t right. The wetland would seem to be an ideal setting for wild rice, with several feet of standing water in the small pond and a gentle current as the water flows into the larger pond.

Because wild rice is an annual and needs very specific, wet growing conditions it disappeared from the local landscape as wetlands were drained. Harvesting it, either to eat or to establish elsewhere, is difficult. Native Americans used canoes, shattering the ripe seeds into the canoe and allowing some to land on the water to sink and grow for the next year.  When winter thaws into spring is a perfect time to plant seeds. I kept the seeds wet and cold all winter, to mimic a normal stratification process. This should support a high germination rate.  I’ve also formed most of the seeds into mud balls. Some of the seeds float on the surface of the water for a while before sinking, and during that time they are quite vulnerable to being eaten. The mud balls help them sink and help ensure they have good soil contact.

The cattails in the area are starting to emerge, and the red-winged blackbirds returned February 27. As spring progresses, I’ll be looking for the emergence of prairie cord grass—another water-loving species that belongs in Iowa wetlands. And I’ll be looking for the Canada goose pair that traditionally nests on the island to return.