From the Chamberlain to Long Causeway

[james ungehajer]

Looks like you all had a great time, it is a shame that you did not find the Stone or the Monument, i do not know if i get more saddened or teed off when those things go missing.

Jim

 

[dragoncjo]

In many areas of the Preserve I've noticed what appears to be "piles" of sand throughout the old bogs and of course from reading here assumed this was part of their process of "restoring" them back. Is this the extent of the "restoration"? From a distance it looks like loads of earth/sand were just dumped in piles but from the photo in this post it's as if they just take a scoop of earth and pile it to the side. I've yet to wander out into one myself to actually see.

Does anyone know the exact process or expected result? Is this all that will be done or just a stage and they have more to complete?

Its rather unattractive in this state for sure and was just digging for more info on the process, wondering if it is something proven and what we might try to picture the longterm result looking like years from now.

Bill

Bill, I'll do my best to explain what I know of the process. The goal is to restore natural water flow between the bogs. Therefore the dikes are opened up, then the centers are dug out. The way the are now you have those trenches on the perimeter and the elevated center portion. The center portion is dug out so the water from the outside can flow in. The goal based on what I've seen of other bogs is to replant At. white cedar and turn it into a cedar swamp again. The mounding to me is how many cedar swamps are naturally. When you walk through them you notice little pockets of deep water, with undulating little mounds of sphagnum.....I guess this is the eventual goal. If you really want the exact facts though I would contact the new jersey conservation fund office.

Bob, the area feels very wild back there to me.....It seems like road access is real limited and that adds to the feeling. And I agree with you about the cedar thing.

 

[NJBill]

Thanks Dragoncjo for explaining in more detail what the plan and expectations are. As you suggested, I did write a note to NJCO asking if they might have more information on the project they could pass along and will certainly post anything I find out.

Bill

 

[pinelandpaddler]

After we reached the little stream (about 30" wide), we followed it into the deep recesses of the cedar swamp for awhile. Now, I ask you ladies and gentlemen...how can you beat that?

You don't.

 

[NJBill]

Bill, I'll do my best to explain what I know of the process. The goal is to restore natural water flow between the bogs. Therefore the dikes are opened up, then the centers are dug out. The way the are now you have those trenches on the perimeter and the elevated center portion. The center portion is dug out so the water from the outside can flow in. The goal based on what I've seen of other bogs is to replant At. white cedar and turn it into a cedar swamp again. The mounding to me is how many cedar swamps are naturally. When you walk through them you notice little pockets of deep water, with undulating little mounds of sphagnum.....I guess this is the eventual goal. If you really want the exact facts though I would contact the new jersey conservation fund office.

Bob, the area feels very wild back there to me.....It seems like road access is real limited and that adds to the feeling. And I agree with you about the cedar thing.

I received a prompt response from NJCF on the bog restoration at the Franklin Parker Preserve which supports Dragoncjo's explanation.

" As for the restoration work at FPP, what you are seeing right now is the first phase our wetland restoration. We are restoring all of the bogs on the property to some form of native pinelands wetland. They will range from Atlantic with cedar forests to emergent marshes and everything in between.



In their current state, the bogs are filled with drains, ditches and are nearly perfectly level which doesn’t provide the natural wetland functions that we wish to restore. Our first step, which is what you are seeing out there, is to plug up the ditches, break up the soil compaction on the bogs and develop microtopography or what we call the English muffin, nook-and-cranny landscape. This allows for native plants that have different hydrologic requirements to find their niche and re-diversify the plant community out there. Fortunately invasive plants are not a huge problem in pine barrens environments so we can do this type of work and not get overrun by Phragmites or the like.



Moving forward we will be doing targeted plantings of certain species, adjusting the water control structures and monitoring the natural succession."


The response added that they are actively seeking volunteers for their bog restoration efforts and anyone interested should contact the New Jersey Conservation Foundation.

Bill