Grand Valley Audubon Nature Preserve

Presentation by Bill Noble, GVAS Preserve Director

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Concepts

Shallow Ecology

vs

Deep Ecology

Thursday, April 25, 2013

What

History of the Area

Window lake, gravel pit

Mature Cottonwoods to Fremont, others introduced (Deltoides)

100 year+ old Cottonwoods, a few 25 year to thousands of Cottonwood seedlings after the flood of 2011

Native and invasive species

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Fremont Cottonwood Catkins

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Fencing Cottonwoods

Thursday, April 25, 2013

When & Where

Timeline

100 years

Maintenance

Initially intensive, minimal as the environment stabilizes

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Why

A Work in Progress - Grand Valley Audubon Society’s Gift to All

A major educational showcase for GVAS providing ongoing documentation of ecological succession and the hows and whys of the restoration process in this rare desert river ecosystem

Focus: Bird species & their survival interdependencies

Thursday, April 25, 2013

What & How

I. Outdoors

• Officially Designated National Audubon Society Field Demonstration Research Laboratory

• Periodic assessment and review of progress

• Incorporate demonstration areas within the Preserve

Thursday, April 25, 2013

What & How

I. Online

• Nature’s Gift’s Blog: Documentation and lively forum for practical learning at all levels

• Includes book lists, links, training videos

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Who

• Looking for Collaborators

I am inviting feedback by all, including experts and academics in the field of ecology.

Interested people of any educational level are welcome. Various ideas will be heartily entertained and tested.

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Closing Thoughts & Questions

As an invasive species, how does homo sapiens fit into this plan?

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Pied-billed Grebe

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Bulrushes

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Harrier

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Thursday, April 25, 2013