Winter Wetland Monitoring Recap

aaron.ellis • January 27, 2025

Volunteers faced chilly weather to complete December 2024 data collection efforts.

December 2024 was a cold time for monitoring at our wetland monitoring sites! But several of our hardiest volunteers suited up and faced the cold to collect water quality samples and download hydrology data. Robertson Millpond Preserve was a sight to behold, as there was a thin layer of ice crusting over the dark waters above the dam. It was slippery going as the crew navigated through the knees of the cypress trees!

Pictured here is our lead volunteer Tom Schwarz, braving the water to get a quality YSI reading for pH and dissolved oxygen.

Wetlands at Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve were completely dry at the surface during the monitoring event. This often happens in the fall which is a drier time of the year. Spring rains should see the return of the vernal pools, which are critical to reproducing amphibians. A big special thanks to our volunteers who came to Mason Farm, who not only withstood the cold, but also a very long walk carrying equipment to and from the monitoring well at Study Area 2 due to a locked gate!

In other news, thanks to our dedicated volunteers, we have received great feedback about ways to improve our program. During the winter monitoring, we tested a new data collection approach that we hope will make participation and data quality even easier. If being out in the wet and the cold isn't your thing, we need volunteers to review data entry to provide ensure we are accurately recording field data. Please email Aaron Ellis at aaron.ellis@carolinawetlands.org to learn more at this opportunity.

Enjoy the rest of the winter and we hope to see you at a monitoring event in the spring!

Click here to learn more about our Wetland Monitoring Program

< Older Post

Fall 2024 Monitoring: Sleuthing Plant IDs and Dodging Hurricanes

By chase.bergeson • October 21, 2024

At this time of year, we focus on vegetation surveys along with hydrology and water quality. We have several reasons for this- for one, many of the plants we encounter still have mature leaves, are in bloom, or have fruited, which makes them much easier to identify. Our vegetation surveys can be somewhat intensive, depending on how many plants are located within the designated survey area. There’s lots of crawling around with plant books, lists, and photo taking to ensure we are capturing all of the species growing in the plot! We are very grateful for our plant-savvy volunteers who responded to our call for this monitoring season.

Want to make a difference? Join a Committee.

By rick.savage • September 11, 2024

Message from the Executive Director

The Changing Tides of Leadership: A Conversation with Our VPs

By rick.savage • August 14, 2024

Dear Wetland Supporters: The Board of Directors provides guidance and oversite to the organization. Board members serve 3-year teams and every year one-third of the board changes. I thought it would be good hear hear from our outgoing and in coming Vice Presidents about their hopes for the organization. Heather Clarkson has been a board member since 2018 and served as the Vice-President for the past 3 year. Luckily for us, she is going to stay as a general board member for another term.