SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES ORES GMT LAKE REFUGE APRIL, 1938
Transcript of SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES ORES GMT LAKE REFUGE APRIL, 1938
Foreword:
" Summary of ActiTities" truly states the case of the
past month, as April has been a month of action. A blizzard
on April 6, a Tor^^r^ on the 26th.
An enlarged crow from 19 to 54 men. Received 34000
trees. Duck Hospital plans have been approved • Garage,
Well, Windmill, and water system at the secondary head
quarters. Combination garage and barn at the over-night
cabin at the Sast side of the Refuge.
Fencing program to soon start at the North Platte
Refuge, as will our fencing program at this unit.
4000 fence posts were received this month, also a
shipment of barb wire.
The above mentioned points are just the highlights
of our actisltiSs as we review them. We will endeavor in
the following pages to give the reader a word picture of
our monthly progress.
Tree and shrub plantings:
Tree and shrub plantings has been the major project
during the month. Most of the plantings done in previous
years had become grass choked. Each tree was cultivated
for a distance of about 3 feet around the tree, grass was
cut away anda mulch made to hold the moisture.
A large number of willows wore transplanted on the
tracts where we have control of the grazing. Underplantings
of native shrubs were made namely; Chokecherry, wild currant
and buckberry.
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Caragana and Osage Orange from our o-wn nursery were trans
planted, scattering these trees among the above mentioned
plantings•
After "we received word that we were to receive a
shipment of 34,000 trees, grounds was prepared by digging
holes for these trees# Pach hole was dug about 2 foot deep
and 3 foot in diameter, the soil was mulched throughly,
and replaced awaiting the arrival of the trees.
We had several good rains during the month , one
storm giving us 3.30 inches of rain, this has left the
soil well saturated, making ideal conditions for planting.
A trench was prepared to heel in the trees upon
arrival. With the site for the planting picked out, holes
dug for most of them, the planting is progressing rapidly.
If we do not save a large percentage of these trees
it will be beyond our control. Every precaution has been
taken to make the plantings accordingly to the Department
of Agriculture bulletins, and our own experience in tree
planting.
Every effort is being made toward the Biological
development of this refuge. With our many duties at the
present time, and somewhat short of help for the office,
do not have the time to make a study of this problem
that it requires.
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Seed Crop Planting;
As this refuge is not suited for the raising of
farm crops, we are only planning on a small,scale plant
ing this season# A few^ small plots have been plowed and
disced, but only where the soil is heavy and will not
blow# These plots will be planted to Kaffir Corn, Millet v
and a few acres to field corn. As the large sun flower ^ ̂
does very well here, we will plant sun flower along the
edge of our other plantings# This will be used for the
upland birds, and the smaller birds that remain with us
throughout the winter months#
Roads;
Heavy soil was hauled and placed on the road leading
to the secondary headquarter buildings# This road was very
sandy, making it almost impossable to drive to the house
and turn around. This road is now in very good condition
and will be a lasting one# A neighboring rancher gave us
a stack of hay, about 15 tons, most of this hay has been
placed on the minor roads# balance hauled and stacked for
future use.
Lake Gauges;
0. E. Recroft, Assistant Cadastrel Engineer, arrived
here on the 18th, to reset the Lake Gauges that vrere taken
up at the beginning of the freezing weather in November#
Two men from our WPA crew were assigned to him to
assist in replacing the gauges. A large amount of stakes
were made from our salvaged material, for his use in the
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survey of the North Platte Refuge. Cement monuments were
also made by our WPA men for his use at the North Platte
unit.
Flag Pole, Walks:
The flag pole was erected at its new location dir
ectly in front of the Residence. This gives the dntire
headquarters a finished appreance. With the completed
flag stone walk from the front of the residence to and
around the flag pole, another from the residence to the
office. We can now state all improvements are complete
at the headquarters.
Predator Control;
This project was not worked very heavy during
April. Mr Yotty, our predatory animal hunter being an
experienced farmer, he was used mostly on the farming
work.
One den of coyotes was dug out and four pups killed,
1 coyote was trapped. 5 rkunks was trapped, one female vac
caught, and when exAmined found to have 9 embro, another
with 8, so the skunk population was kept down even though
the small catch. Our plans for the month of May will
be den hunting enterely.
Equipment:
All equipment is operatingly very satisfactorly,
with the exception of the Cletrao Tractor. This piece
of equipment is so costly to operate, that it is impract-
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ical to use for the light work we have at this refuge.
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This Tractor was used on our farming operations, but only
because there was nothing else available. With our allotment
balance down to a minimum, and plans made for the use of
the balance , it was out of the question to hire teams.
Sod House Valley Cabin:
This project is now completed. The fence around
the cabin was enlarged. Toilet repaired and moved to a
new location. The yard cleaned of all debris. A grove
of trees will be planted in the enclosure.
Plans are being formulated for the construction
of a small combination garage and barn at this location.
When this is completed it will give us a much
needed shelter for a man or crews doing work at this out
laying point of the refuge.
Wildlife:
With the grand storms of the past month, every
depression is full of water, and in each Ane can be seen
from one to several pair of Ducks. Time has not permitted
us to made a search for nests, but beleive the must be,
or will be a large nesting this season.
Shoveilers are the predominatien species at this
time. Early in the month while making an observation of
the waterfowl migration, we beleive a conservative esti
mate of 25,000 Shovellers alone were seen on Cresoent Lake.
Lajfge numbers of Snow Geesei/remained almost the entire
month. One small band (36) of white fronted geese were seen
on Island Lake.
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l^ong billed Carlew^can be seen over the entire Refuge*
On the Eastern part of the Refuge, in the barren sand
hills, a pair of these interesting birds can be seen on
almost every hill. tX
On the alkiline, or brackish lakes, Avqcets are
seen feeding along the water line, or wading almost up
to their bodies. Willets are screaming at every intruder.
A few yellow le^s have been seen. Coot are following
the diving ducks, stealing the stray bites. Western Grebe
are arriving, as are a few pied bill grebe.
v/ One pair of our Canade Geese are hatching today,
IvIayJL, 4 other birds are setting.
Other interesting sights that we know are to be
seen makes it almost impossable at time to stay in the
office, or to take care of the many other duties, that
require attention at all times. But as we know the routine
work that we have to do, and the other work that comes up
unforseen is all in line for the better ment of the wildlife,
makes all duties a pleasure.
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Weather:
On the day of April 5th, a heavy ivind started blowing
which continued all the next day. With this North wind came
the snow. The wind never abated but blew the powdery snow
against the windows until all vision was shut out.
The next morning we awoke to a clear sunny day-but a snowy
world* They were high banks of drifted snow on the South
side of the buildings, ̂ he hill tops all wore long caps.
The tall dried grass, brush and sweet clover was
all flattened to t|ie ground. The roads were drifted full
of snow, which made travel impossable for almost a week,
and to complete the picture the Telephone lines were down
oijd broken, which caused us to be completly cut off from
communication with the outside world.
The lakes froze over again. The snow was beaten
and frozen into rough waves over the entire lake surface.
On Gimlet Lake bands of ducks stood huddled togeather
along the shore line. We carried corn aid scattered it on
3.e ice, which they hungerly ate. Eared corn was carried
to the shelters for the upland game. This being the worst %
storm of the year we had a chance to study the shelters. ^
All shelters that could reach wre being used 1 ^
by 1 hesants, Pabbits, and by many small birds, as the
tracts in the snow indicated.
On the morning of April 7, 24 Northern Flickers ^
n-* e seen clinging to the tree trunks here at Headquarters.
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The m ming of April 26 iwas very hot, mth no vdnd. At
2 oclock dark coulds "began gathering, in a few minutes
it was so dark that it was impossahle to see without lights.
The storm broke about 2.50 ?. M. with a heavy downpour of
rain and hailstones, accompanied by heavy winds, ho damage
was done here at headquarters, other than break off a few
limbs from the trees. About 12 miles south of the Refuge
much damage was done. A "twister" passed between the two
Trucks returning to Cshkosh with the Y£PA crew, tearing
up the Blue Creek Bridge. A School House was entirely des
troyed a short distance from there, killing t-uree chxldern
and seriously injuring the teacher, and four other childern.
Several Farms were destroyed and livestock killed.
Now at the close of the Month all is tranquil again. The
weather Gods wrath seems to be appeased. he roj,l$ng hills
are clothed in soft grfen velvet. The meadows are blossoming
mth yellow buttercups.
COOPERATIVE OBSERVERS' METEOROLOGICAL READING
APRIL, 1S58
Crescent Lake Refuge (Nebr.)
TEMPERATURE Date Maximum Minimum 1 36 14 2 45 5 3 50 18 4 60 22 5 52 29 6 24 12 7 24 11 8 35 3 9 53 9 10 59 23 11 59 31 12 71 34 13 70 41 14 65 45 15 45 40 16 58 40 17 76 37 18 69 34 19 53 28 20 54 30 21 50 28 22 52 30 23 60 41 24 63 35 25 80 48 26 27 72 40 28 64 26 29 71 36 30 77 41
PRECIPITATION Amount Snow Depth
.65 Drifts
11 n it
0 0
1.62
.04
.95 2.50