Trail clearing and Inundation

Been a long time - several weeks.

Last two weeks I have been able to clear and flag or blaze more trail in the Woods. I extended the Dune Trail northward on the crest of a low ridge of clay.. beyond the drainage area, up to join with the east west fence line trail at the Tall Stump. From there I cleared a trail along Hackberry Alley north to the Trans OWP Trail not far from the East Pond. From the Tall Stump I also cleared a trail eastward to the fence line corner at the north end of the north south fence line midway across the Woods.

There is a clear trail running from the Tall Stump to Barney Junction on the north south fence line. And from the Tall Stump trail a trail runs southwest past the old snag into dense young ash (mostly dead 10-20? year old trees).. down to the main SW trail.

Today I worked from the northeast gate and extended the Escarpment Trail south to a gentler ravine descending to the stream/ dry wash to connect to the eastern end of the east west fence line trail.

It is now possible to walk a good loop from the northeast gate south to the new ravine descent, cross the creek on the low water crossing, then west on the east west fence line trail to the fence line corner, and on west to the Tall Stump, turn north along Hackberry Alley up to the Trans OWP Trail near the East Pond.. turn east back to the Burr Oak Bridge across the creek and rejoin the Escarpment trail.

Nice walk even when rain and high water inundates the SW woods.. as it recently did..

October 8 we received 2-3" of rain and 20-30 acres of Olivers Woods was inundated again.. I donned my knee boots and walked the familiar, although now inundated, SW trail. There were dragonflies ovipositing (not many.. maybe 4-6 I saw.) The water stayed long enough (2-3 weeks) to breed mosquitoes but they did not seem interested in getting a blood meal from me.

I noticed the water over a large area was backed by the low clay lens north of the Dune Trail. I cut the clay ridge and let the water begin to flow out more rapidly. I wondered if the ridge had been engineered by a bulldozer or by shovel work 30 years ago to hold water back in the Woods (maybe protect the service road on the south side?)