DECKER LAKE FOUNDATION
764 S 200 W, SLC UT 84101 359-2444
Volume 3, Issue 4 December 1998
Where can you get more information? Call Brenda at 957-0608 preferably in the evenings.
Since our last issue of the newsletter, we've done a lot to turn Decker Lake into a viable wetland habitat and valuable public resource.
Of course, "we" refers to the Board, lots of volunteers, our business partners, and Salt Lake County.
Beyond the results of continuous clean-up and weeding, here are the most visible changes you'll see next time you visit the Lake.
Those 42 trees we've planted on the west side owe their presence to many volunteers, and to Scout Leader Mike McLaughlin and two of his scouts, especially Kirk, a 13 year old Eagle Scout who did a lot to get most of the trees into the ground in spite of numerous obstacles. Our congratulations go to this fine young Eagle Scout for demonstrating leadership qualities, and not giving up when the going got rough a couple of times.
There are other volunteer projects available for groups, scouts, and in- dividuals through the Decker Lake Wet- lands Preserve Foundation. Projects include, but are not limited to:
building nesting bird boxes and bat houses putting them up monitoring them replanting native vegetation weeding out the exotics helping with other programs
And of course, it seems like no matter how often we go on garbage patrol, there is always more garbage to be picked up. We are trying to keep the area clean and inviting to both park visitors and the native wildlife species.
So, where do we go from here? The Decker Lake project is proceeding along two main lines: habitat restoration and human needs.
For the native species of plants and animals to survive we have to take out, and keep out, the exotics, such as the phragmites and pepper grasses, bindweed, tamarisks, Russian olives, and always the thistles. The degree to which the shore is infested with these plants is the degree to which native animals, especially the ducks, cannot take up residence. For example, the phragmites is too stiff for ducks to move about and nest.
These introduced species are all over Utah and their seeds blow in continuously, so their removal will be an ongoing project for the Decker Lake Foundation. In fact, once the Lake is an established habitat, weeding will be our principle concern.
As we continue to eliminate weeds (in other words, exotics), and replace them with native vegetation, we improve the habitat, and we will see greater variety and numbers of wildlife at Decker Lake.
Now isn't that something worth looking forward to?
That's because the native species will take root if we just give them a chance. This spring we plan to extend the water supply to the west shore in order to irrigate the new trees and grasses. Among those natives which already have a foothold are wild rice, milkweed, sage brush, rabbit brush and bunchgrass.
The Forest Service has offered some full grown trees from the Price area, but we can't accept them until we find a way to move them and plant them.
If that sounds like something you can help with, call Brenda at 957-0608.
As for our species [one of the exotics we won't try to eliminate], we need to get trash containers in place to make it easier for visitors to keep it clean, and for volunteers to clean up.
There are a few points along the trails where we need to build boardwalks and bridges. We'll get started on those once the County decides what to do with the Youth Facility; they're considering moving it elsewhere.
If they do, then we won't need to pay for a boardwalk to guide people away from their fence.
Finally, a public bathroom would en- courage families and students to spend some time at the Lake.
The DLWPF is lucky to have Jean Irwin, of the Utah Arts Council, as our new Community At Large member.
At Jean's first meeting on Dec. 16, she quickly got up to speed on the project, then offered at least a dozen good ideas about grant writing and management. Jean's considerable experience with nonprofits and community programs are a welcome asset for the DLWPF. Get ready for wildlife art.
We want to thank Norma for her patience and perseverance over the last 3 years. She was instrumental is winning the support of area businesses and government, bringing in volunteers, and generating valuable media coverage for every stage of the project.
Her skills at negotiating, consensus building, and teamwork were crucial in getting us this far, and Norma, we want you to know it.
Sal Jansson, chair Earl Jackson, vice-chair Kent England, vice-chair Richard Parks, treasurer Rep. Fred Fife Van Fox Steve Goodrich Tim Brown Jack Wilbur Robin Call Jean Irwin
Bob Buchanan Walt Gilmore Randy Hunter William Smith Pam Ostmark David Waid, editor
Diana Smith
DLWPF is a 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to restore the environment of Decker Lake, and to promote the appreciation and awareness of environmental issues.
By Brenda Bell
Our ducks, geese, and other critters that live at Decker Lake could really use some help! There are places around the shore with snarls and matts of tangled fish line lying around.
We are not at all against fishermen, but we need everyone's help to deal with this important problem.
You see, when the line is left on the shore, or in the trees, critters who are looking for food get their heads, feet, or wings tangled up in the fishline.
Another source of trouble are the plastic rings from six-pack holders, the ones around your pop or other canned beverages. They cause the same kinds of problems.
I have seen the results and remains of what happens to birds that get tangled up in this deadly refuse. Believe me, it is anything but pretty, but with a little help, we can reduce injury to the birds.
We need help educating folks about these problems. If you see someone who might be leaving fishline on the bank, you might try to explain in a friendly way what can happen to the birds. If you see the plastic rings or fishline laying around, would you please pick it up and tote it out?
If we all work together, maybe we can eliminate the hazard to the wildlife we all enjoy at Decker Lake.
Decker Lake Wetlands Board member Fred Fife was elected to the Utah House of Representatives last November.
Fred's interest in environmental and low- income housing issues are what brought him to Decker Lake, and his presence in the legislature will help the Foundation form partnerships in our effort to restore the Lake. Congratulations, Fred.
Do you have information or announcements relevant to Decker Lake Wetlands? If you do, send them in and we'll run them in the next newsletter. 764 S 200 W, SLC, UT 84101 359-2444 ext.235 waid@slcap.org
by Brenda Bell
In courtship, they wade gracefully, frequently bowing or crouching, dancing with widespread wings, sometimes tipping from side to side.
They may nest in groups of 5 to 12 nests. Nests are generally made of grasses, weed stems, straws and small sticks, perhaps with a few loose feathers. They are loosely arranged around small hollows, 5 to 7 inches in diameter.
They usually lay 3 to 5 eggs. The young are precocial (able to leave the nest soon after hatching). They can swim and dive at an early age and soon learn to tip up in shallow water, like their parents.
Their diet consists of approximately 65 per cent animal matter and about 35 per cent vegetable matter. They have been found to eat pyhyllopods, dragonfly nymphs, back swimmers, water boatmen, various beetles and flies and their larvae. The plant material is mostly marsh plant seeds and aquatic plants. They also eat grasshoppers, predaceous diving beetles, crickets, centipedes, weevils, small snails, sea slugs, small crustaceans, and even small fishes.
Have you figured it out yet?
It has long legs and webbed feet, can take off and land in water, can wade or swim, and can even dive.
They have blue legs, a stocky build, white tail, black V on a white back, black wings with white secondaries.In the summer, the head and neck are a rusty color.
In Utah, they usually nest between April 10 to June 15. At Decker Lake, they arrived in March, although one was spotted in January. They like to hang around south of the island, but north of where the California gulls usually gather.
Have you figured it out yet? Okay, its scientific name is Recurvirostra americana. What's the common name?
[Answer on the back cover].
Decker Lake continues to look for partnerships with government, citizen groups, business, and the public. Of course, we need this broad base of support to restore the lake; but we'll also need it to keep the habitat fit for the future.
In November, board members met with Diane Conrad, Director of Environmental Programs for the Salt Lake Organizing Committee for the Winter Olympics. Given the lake's proximity to the E-Center, an Olympic venue, it's in everyone's interest to have the lake in good condition in time for the 2002 Games.
Diane took a tour of the lake and saw its potential as a beautiful part of our city. Our hope is that the SLOC will express its interest in seeing the lake restored, which would, in turn, help us recruit more support from Utah businesses.
Happy New Year! Let's make it a good one!