As part of the continued restoration work on Marsh Lake, the plan is to maintain very low water levels through spring and summer to allow sediment to consolidate and vegetation to grow prior to allowing it to refill in fall. Of course much of this is weather dependent. So, fingers crossed Mother Nature cooperates. Waters levels are currently low enough that there are newly exposed expansive mud flats throughout the basin. Shorebirds are just starting to discover the new flats and numbers are building. With a quick scan in just one bay this morning I saw dozens of yellow-legs, and low numbers of semi-palmated plover, dowitcher, stilt, and avocets.
There are various access points around the lake, but very limited options for up close viewing right now as the water and mud flats are a considerable distance from shore. As water levels continue to drop, the best views might along 615th Ave (aka Louisburg Grade) looking west into the "West Pool". Curt Vacek ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html During the pandemic, the MOU encourages you to stay safe, practice social distancing, and continue to bird responsibly.
