July 5 Field Update



July 5, 2000 Evil upper class wetland

		We needed a site in downtown Charleston to keep with the intended 4.5 mile spacing. Things were looking grim until we happened upon Quarry Creek Road. It appears that a small stream through and old sandstone quarry was dammed to make a pond at one time. The pond is now drained, but the old dam has created an isolated wetland perched on the side of the Kanawha River gorge. A developer has taken the area further and perched some beautiful homes at the top of Quarry Creek, the long winding landscaped driveway passes through the abandoned quarry. The landscaping lures one into a false sense of comfort...step off the safety of the old dam and you'll plunge into ankle-deep muck, razor sharp sawgrass-like weeds, thorns, and treefulls of poison ivy. The site gave up one big brown that night.

			Back at site 14 in the middle of Davis Creek, despite high water Dave and Tom picked up two long eards, a red, and one pipestrelle, making for a fairly productive site. Top: Site 15, showing part of the quarry and wetland. View is from the old dam. Middle: The advantage of being a photographer is that I can watch Dave set up double highs amist fields of poison ivy and offer all important moral support. Heck of a job, Dave!!

	Left: I was able to carefully rig a double high out of the tenacious Ivy at the old spillway. Mist net poles are largely concealed by the shrubs on either side of the frame.