SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES

ORES GMT LAKE REFUGE

APRIL, 1938

G, E, Y^ardwell

Refuge Manager

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

Still later

Farming at the Harris place

View of plowed land after storm

Tree planting along highway

Tree planting west side of Crane Lake

Planting Willows

O £ ^v

Planting trees at Craiie Lake

Gottonwoods four years old at Gimlet Lake

Planting

Posts

Pipe line ditch covered with hay to prevent

wind erosion

Painting stakes

Completed

"Her Duty"

c

Young Owls

Gimlet Lake after the storm

Snow drift April 8, 1938

"End of the trail"

Laying flag stone walk

Going up

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