April 11 - Volunteer Day at Legacy Nature Park (Nature Conservancy Land)

Volunteering with the Nature Conservancy today to plant trees at the Legacy Nature Preserve in North South Lake. The property is managed by the Nature Conservancy and it was created to offset the impacts of the 14 mile highway (Legacy Parkway) completed in 2008.

The preserve is approximately 2100 acres and a wetland with the Jordan River flowing through. And at times, it's a floodplain for the Great Salt Lake. But at the time of its creation, it was pretty much a dumpsite and wasteland of invasive plants. Over the years, many tons of waste have been removed and restoration continues.

Today it is a closed restoration site (i.e., not open to the public) and is becoming a thriving wetland again.

I arrived thinking there'd be between 10-20 volunteers but there was 50-75 people already. They're mostly young people in their 20s from a university class.

We get a quick orientation of the days events (planting trees/native grasses and trash removal) and we head off in a long line of cars to the north end of the preserve. It is pretty bare - not sure what grows here in the summer time but along the river there are plants/trees. I see many Coots, Canadian Geese, Mallards and other bird species.

There is a nesting Bald Eagle pair that we will be passing along the drive. We've been asked to pass quietly and quickly so as not to disturb them. I spot the wooden tower that holds their nest and see a Bald Eagle fly in and perch on the nest. Pretty impressive! As I approach, I manage to snap a quick picture -- such a beautiful bird.

We continue on along the river. The grasses in the middle of the dirt road tickling the underneath of my car. There are small water holes which contain geese and other waterfowl. And I can hear frogs calling - Chorus Frogs!

We finally park and get to today's tasks -- I'm a tree waterer -- dip a bucket in the river and find the newly planted trees.

We got a lot done today in about 2 hours -- hopefully, most of those trees will survive and grow large to provide habitat and nesting spots for more waterfowl and Bald Eagles to make this home.

Great day!