July 22, 2020
Needless to say, the summer of 2020 is unlike any other. Mianus River Gorge and the Preserve had their ups and downs when the season opened with a surge of visitors desperate to get out of the house. Today, MRG is glad to provide the community with a peaceful, restorative experience on our trails. The new Cliff Trail (Red Trail) and the restored Green Trail are particularly beautiful.
Preserve Steward Jean-Luc Plante and Director of Land Management Budd Veverka have worked hard on the seemingly never-ending task of removing invasive species in and around the Preserve. Although they desperately missed the extra pairs of hands of summer interns and volunteers this summer, the Invasives Strike Force of the Lower Hudson Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (LHPRISM) contributed mightily to the effort over the course of a week.
The restoration garden has been quite prolific this summer, yielding a vast quantity of seeds and plants that MRG Executive Director Rod Christie and staff replanted throughout the Preserve and other restoration landscapes. We also planted hundreds of small hemlock trees in the forest and helped raise American chestnut trees.
Fortunately, MRG’s Wildlife Technician Program participants have been able to use their time creatively this summer. Working remotely, Director of Research & Education Chris Nagy has been able to mentor the high school students whose projects continue for a three-year period from their sophomore to senior years. With his help, one student reimagined her individual project as a citizen-scientist project using the iNaturalist app to collect data.
The important work of caring for the environment continues throughout the region. This summer has been a good time to meet with a variety of partner organizations, via video conference of course.
At the same time MRG continues to pursue permanent conservation solutions through land acquisition / conservation easements and properly steward the lands we currently own or protect in the Mianus River watershed.
Best wishes for a happy, healthy summer!
Mianus River Gorge depends solely on generous donors like you to support efforts to protect the Mianus River watershed and preserve natural areas for future generations to enjoy.