Marsh Master

A new machine arrived at the refuge today to deal with the American Lotus and excavating the water control ditches and building the "refugia".
It called a Marsh Master.
  

 
Orlando and Chad entering the Upper Impoundment

 
Mower attachment.

Busting Rocks with Kevin

Grandson Kevin joined me again today for a little work at Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge in Concord MA. We started the day by spreading sand/clay on top of tree roots on the Timber Trail.

Kevin, examining my office cube (storage closet behind the rest rooms).

Learning the fine art of litter pickup.

Before

and After sign cleaning with Simple Green.

We watched Chad excavating the drainage ditch in the Upper Impoundment.

After Kevin discovered how to work the truck jack we extracted several old posts.

We used the truck jack and chain to move the rock on the right into a vertical position.

Then Keven busted up the rock with a sledge hammer. The rock on the right awaits our attention next week.
We also:

• Mowed the edge of the Timber Trail, the field by Maintenance Shop and the road to dump area.
• Mounted a "No Entry" sign at the dump area.
•  Disturbed a bunch of bees while filling a muskrat hole. 
• Washed the electric truck.

Kevin Bragg at Great Meadows

On July 12 my oldest grandson Kevin helped me with a few chores at the refuge.
 
We hauled several loads of gravel to fill muskrat holes.

 
Ruth stopped by to say hello as we were about to dump a load of brush.

 
Kevin became proficient with a mop and bucket after we washed the electric truck. Some water had leaked from the utility faucet connection we were using in the rest room.

 
Ziggy demonstrated the ARGO 8-wheel drive amphibious all terrain vehicle.

Draining the Upper Impoundment at Great Meadows

Water level at Upper Impoundment side of Water Control Structure is 1.4 feet.

Berm on impoundment side of WCS

Riverside of WCS needs dredging to make it lower than pipe bottom.

 

Riverside of WCS