North Pond Restoration Update – March Addendum (April 6, 2023)

06 Apr North Pond Restoration Update – March Addendum (April 6, 2023)

Dear Friends of North Pond. With the dawning of April, we’ve seen a significant amount of activity this week related to the completion of punch list items by our contractor, as noted in last week’s blog entry.

In addition to this work, we are happy to report that six through-way gaps have been cut in the temporary aquatic fencing on the west, east, northwest, and northeast sides of the pond to allow access for birds and wildlife from the shore to the pond. We thank our community members and several active birders who shared their concerns and offered assistance in helping to select these spots. The aquatic fencing is important to help new aquatic plant plugs to get established and will be removed once this happens later this year. In the meantime, these new gaps will provide necessary access that birds and turtles need to safely navigate from the shore to the pond.

In addition, we have gotten a few notes about the new temporary fencing that was installed along the northwest side of the pond along with ‘Natural Area Restoration in Progress’ signs. This fencing is temporary and necessary to allow newly planted native seeds (and soon to be planted native plants and trees) to become established. Access to the Pond is intentionally limited at this time to give nature the time it needs to establish and flourish. We hope you will enjoy the views throughout the spring and summer as plants begin to grow and thrive while respecting these protected areas during the restoration process.

In closing, sings of spring are all around the pond. Turtles have been spotted basking on snags, Great Blue herons, egrets, and Black Crowned Night Herons, among many other bird species have been spotted enjoying the pond and springs’ first ephemerals are showing off their brilliance. If you have questions, please contact us at: info@lincolnparkconservancy.org