Tapteal A publication of the Tapteal Greenway Association
Summer Edition 2012 talk
PRESERVING the rustic character of the lower Yakima River, PROTECTING native habitats and species through conservation, ENHANCING recreational opportunities throughout the corridor, providing outdoor EDUCATION programs, and promoting PUBLIC ACCESS to and understanding of these resources.
Please Volunteer for June 9
We really need your help. Tapteal has committed to Time slots begin at 7 AM, ending at 9 PM a minimum of 50 volunteers for the Tough Rhino Mud Run on June 9. A portion of the proceeds from You can work more than one shift this event will be donated to Tapteal based on our Shifts include: volunteer hours. At this writing we only have 8 volunteers and that is quite frankly embarrassing o 7am-9am set up considering the effort we have gone through to recruit volunteers. o 8am-3pm vendor liaison
o PLEASE consider one 10am-9pm trash team (can break into smaller shifts) of the jobs listed below. Ask your neighbors, o 9am-3pm course marshals your colleagues at work, your family members to o 9am-3pm water stations on course help us out. (can break into smaller shifts)
Yes you can compete o 9am-3pm finish line and still help us out after or before your o 3pm-9pm clean up (can break into heat. smaller shifts)
Contact Scott with the times you can work at 627- Visit ToughRhinoMudRun.com for more 3621 or [email protected] information:
Volunteers receive t-shirt plus $10 food Over $5,000 in Cash prizes voucher Horn Rapids Park in Richland 5K obstacle Mud Run The Tough Rhino Mud Run tests your ability to run, climb, jump, crawl, and muscle your way through the Kids ½ mile and 1 mile events most extreme 5K Mud Run created!
Amon Basin Wildlands Walk 2012 – Best Ever!
The glorious weather on Saturday, May 12 encouraged a fine turnout: 163 folks took part in our annual Wildlands Walk through the 100-acre Amon Central Park. Our good friend from REI, Heather Bendickson, brought along granola bars, water, sunscreen (a very popular item that day), and other treats for walkers. Each family also received a Tapteal shopping bag stuffed with the new Amon Basin plant and bird brochures, a Wildlands Walk brochure, a TGA brochure, a Tough Rhino promo, and REI discount coupons.
From the Claybell Park starting point, 21 trail guides led their parties on a walk covering a 1.5 mile circuit of seven distinct stations. At each post, expert stationmasters gave 10-minute mini-lessons on Amon plants, birds, geology, and wildlife, and the future of Amon. Among the topics presented were:
shrub steppe and riparian habitat
common (and uncommon) resident birds –
waterfowl
wildlife-- badger, coyote, beaver, jackrabbit, lizards
plant restoration areas where native plants are slowly coming back after many hours of volunteer labor
wildflowers in bloom
beaver dams and ponds (courtesy of Einstein and his family)
geologic history: Little Badger fault, Ice Age floods, glacial erratic
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impending development (454 homes) in We are grateful to our intrepid 2012 Trail Guides: adjacent Springwater Development and the Bob Benedetti, Dawn Bern, Bobbie Bull, Sue Carver, urgency to secure funds to purchase 120 Rita Dudley, Christine Faught, Carol Freese, Gretchen acres to preserve and protect these Graber, Tim Kuchler, Gwen Rawlings, Loretta precious lands in their wild state. Rowlette, Diana Ruff, Nancy Stapleman, Karen Sowers, Dennis Trimble, Jim Watkins, Susan Weber, Marie Whyatt, Gene Wirth, Pam Woodward, and Randy Zalubel.
Thanks also to our knowledgeable 2012 Station Masters: Adam Fyall, Ernie Crediford, Marilyn Hayes, Jim Kelly, Richard Romanelli, Dick Gies, and Scott Woodward.
Special thanks to Sam Dechter, our eye in the sky, for keeping the tour groups on course.
Appreciation to all for making this the best Wildlands
Walk yet!
“Do or Don’t Cry For Us Argentina”
President’s Message
My wife Pamela and I recently returned from a trip to the Patagonia region of Argentina and Chile. It is an absolutely fascinating and diverse landscape that at times can be overpowering. Equally intriguing was an underlying respect of the viewscape among those who lived in the region. There is a cultural and ethical thread woven into the fabric of the population. They are proud of their connection to the peaks, ridgelines, lakes, glaciers, rivers and seemingly endless open space. After a few days in the country… you get it.
They are proud of the beauty but they are equally proud of the way they have protected their sense of place. It is also obvious that they figured out preserving what is around them can enhance the entire region’s economy by selling access through tourism and creating a commercial market for those who want to share that same sense of place. We have all seen that happen on a smaller more isolated scale on the perimeters of our National Parks.
My wife and I returned home to a nauseating view of the destruction of Little Badger, notification of the new plat for the destruction of Thompson Hill and the regurgitated plans for a bridge across Amon Creek attached to a road that spells the end of Amon Basin as we know it.
It begs the question…what are we proud of as a region when it comes to our ridgelines, rivers, creeks and open spaces? How do we view the value of these natural blessings? Theodore Roosevelt said, “It is also vandalism wantonly to destroy or to permit the destruction of what is beautiful in nature.” In the case of Little Badger it is vandalism driven by greed and lack of compassion for the community that has been permitted. Can we be proud of just letting it happen? Is there political will to develop a creative approach that maintains our sense of place and makes the landowners/ homebuilders whole?
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There are such solutions and it is up to the community to demand that those options be given an audience. Lend your voice when the time comes. Stay tuned for that call to action.
Trail North Now – The Tapteal Trail
For those of you who have been around Tapteal for a while you are very aware of the long standing effort to secure a trail easement from W.E. Johnson Park to Horn Rapids Park. We have featured the project in the newsletter and at our Tapteal Celebrations year after year. Some of you may have started to wonder if this story is fiction due to the never ending delays and red tape tossed our way.
Well we are very happy to report that after 15 years of negotiations, meetings, phone calls and personal lobbying the end of that tunnel has arrived. The City of Richland and The Barker Ranch LLC, have reached an agreement that secures a trail easement from Horn Rapids development to Horn Rapids Park. Tapteal will be an important part of trail development and maintenance. We will also be the primary stewards of the trail to ensure a safe and clean experience for trail users.
With the completion of this new segment of the Tapteal Trail that leaves just four more links to connect the dots between W.E. Johnson Park and Horn Rapids Park. In addition with the new Chamna Natural Preserve back door (see Chamna back door now open) segment secured the big picture starts to take shape with the Bateman Island to W.E. Johnson Park segment complete and the Bateman Island to Horn Rapids Park piece waiting in the wings.
The four links:
1. Benton County has expressed support for the project and language is currently being developed to bring the Tapteal Trail through Horn Rapids Park 2. North Stone Corporation controls a portion of the property immediately south of the new trail easement. They have agreed to allow the Tapteal Trail to come through their western boundary line, a route that we all approve of. 3. The next adjoining land owner to the south of North Stone is in discussions with the city on a form of easement swapping that could potentially open up another trail section allowing access all the way to Kingston road. 4. A private property owner who borders W.E. Johnson Park has expressed some interest in a trail across his land if the city makes good on all the connections to the north.
Potentially up to 20 or more miles could be added to the Tapteal Trail if all of the links mentioned above become reality. Let’s hope it does not take another 15 years to get it done.
Michael Crowder of the Barker Ranch and Gary Ballew from the City of Richland were the prime movers and shakers of this agreement. They can be proud of the legacy they have created for our community.
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Chamna Backdoor Opens Up
If you are familiar with the east end of the Chamna Natural Preserve you know that there is a very narrow social trail that connects Chamna with the Sacajawea Heritage Trail. If you stray a few feet to the south you will end up tumbling down a steep grade into the Yakima River. This path is especially dangerous for equestrians and cyclists.
Tapteal has made several overtures to the City of Richland and the property owners to create a safer and permanent trail easement that links Bateman Island to Chamna via this small section.
The current Tapteal Trail marker project brought this property and a formal exit point off of the Sacajawea section to the front again as the need for a definitive Heritage Trail onto the Chamna link. Tapteal is route to place trail markers spurred the easement working with the Chinook Cycling club to address discussions once again. Tapteal Board member Mike these issues. Lilga and City of Richland Deputy Manager Bill King Please consider adding your name to our volunteer contacted the Eucon Corporation about the need for list so you can be part of the solution along the a safer route. Eucon responded by moving their Tapteal Trail. rivers edge fence back 6 feet creating a wider corridor and a safer link for access to the back door of Chamna. Some challenges still remain involving a pinch point at the southeast corner of the Eucon
Badger Mountain Elementary Explores Amon Basin
It is always great to get out and about in the with Blue Mountain Wildlife’s Lynn Tompkins, soils outdoors with kids full of wonder. What better place and such with the second grade staff and the future to do that than Amon Basin. Last year’s Amon Basin of Amon Basin with Scott Woodward. Day was such a great success that the second grade team from Badger Mountain School asked for a As an added bonus this year Christina Stevenson rerun of that program. Stacy Hall and her colleagues from WSUTC will be conducting a before and after have designed a curriculum tract that culminates survey of the children’s attitudes relating to various with a day in the field applying those lessons. On aspects of the visit to Amon and their curriculum. May 31 a bus load of excited youngsters will off load The results will be the basis for her Master’s thesis. to experience the wonders of Amon Basin. We are anxious to see the results.
The lesson plan is a four station rotation featuring Thanks to your membership dues and donations we plants of Amon Basin with Kathy Criddle, raptors can afford to provide this type of program to the community.
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Creature Feature: North American River Otter
The North American river otter also known various amphibians, turtles, and crayfish. as the northern river otter or the common Instances of river otters eating small otter, is found near waterways and mammals and occasionally birds have been coastlines. The primary location along the reported, as well. Although they consume Tapteal Greenway is in the Yakima delta birds, river otters do not feed on bird eggs. area where an otter family frequents the Prey is captured with a quick lunge from backwaters of the delta, Amon Creek and ambush, or more rarely, after a sustained the Chamna Reach. chase. River otters can remain underwater The river otter, a member of the weasel for nearly 4 minutes, swim at speeds family. It is versatile in the water and on approaching 11 km/h (6.8 mph), dive to land. It establishes a burrow/holt close to depths nearing 20 m (22 yd), and travel up the water's edge in rivers, creeks or delta to 400 m (440 yd) while underwater. banks. Several river otters may even cooperate The den while fishing. You will see this team fishing may in action at the Amon Creek ponds or have during the winter along the Chamna Reach. many The range of the North American river otter tunnel has been significantly reduced by habitat opening loss. River otters are very susceptible s. to environmental pollution, which is a likely Female factor in the continued decline of their otters give birth in these underground numbers. The species is often used as burrows, producing litters of one to six a bioindicator because of its position at the young. The mothers raise their young top of the food chain in aquatic ecosystems. without aid from adult males. When the pups are about two months old and their Large male otters can exceed a weight of 15 coats grow in, their mother takes them to kilograms (33 lb). The river otter's nostrils the water. The otters may leave the den by and ears close during submersion, inhibiting eight weeks but they usually stay with their water from entering them. Its whiskers are families, sometimes including the father, long and thick, enhancing sensory until the following spring. perception underwater and on land. Otters have specialized teeth, including North American river otters, like most sharp canines that inflict lethal bites to 6 | predators, prey upon the most readily P a g e large molars used for crushing hard accessible species. Fish is a favored food objects, such as the shells of molluscs. among the otters, but they also consume see them before they see you, slow down, sit down and listen to the conversation. I have listened to them while squatting behind a big sage on Amon Creek or tucked up behind a Russian olive tree along the Wood Duck Trail in Chamna. The alarm call, given when shocked or distressed by Our Yakima Delta family are great sliders. potential danger, is an explosive snort, Sliding occurs mostly on even surfaces of made by expelling air through the nostrils. snow or ice, but can also occur on grassy River otters also may use a birdlike chirp for slopes and muddy banks. Sliding across communication over longer distances, but snow and ice is a rapid and efficient means the most common sound heard among a of travel. They are highly mobile and have group of otters is low-frequency chuckling. the capacity of traveling up to 42 km (26 mi) in one day. They are always a joy to see in the wild, forever young, enjoying each other’s River otters are renowned for their sense of company, teaching us a good lesson about play. Otter play mostly consists of wrestling how to live our lives. with siblings. Chasing is also a common game.
River otters dry themselves and uphold the insulative quality of their fur by frequent rubbing and rolling on grass, bare ground, and logs. You will often see the Delta otters hauled up on the Chamna Reach shoreline grooming the fur.
Communication among North American river otters is accomplished mainly by olfactory and auditory signals. Scent marking is imperative for intergroup communication. The river otter scent-marks with feces, and urine.
River otters can produce a snarling growl or hissing bark when bothered, and a shrill whistle when in pain. When at play or traveling, they sometimes give off low, purring grunts. If you are lucky enough to
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Eagle Scout Projects
Kyle Deatherage from Troop 190 completed the installation of 3 kiosks at Horn Rapids Park in May. Kyle completed the design for the kiosk structure that will be used for posting visitor information at the Park. Local Rotary members donated funds to acquire the materials. Kyle assembled and stained the signs prior to installing them at the 3 sites in the Park.
Mark Damstedt of Troop 204 completed installation of 12 Wood Duck nesting boxes at Horn Rapids Park in April. Mark designed, acquired the materials, constructed, and installed the boxes with the assistance of family, and Scouts from his troop. With the help of a community cabinet shop the Wood Duck boxes were well constructed and very high quality.
The boxes are primarily designed and placed for use by wood ducks, but screech owls are also known to use them regularly; and occasionally even kestrels, bees, or other critters will hole-up in them. These boxes are similar to the ones placed and maintained extensively along the Lower Yakima River by the Richland Rod & Gun Club. Biologist Ray Johnson helped with the box locations. The nest boxes will be monitored and maintained by County staff. See photos below.
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Spencer Ballo of Troop 275 completed his project in April. His project consisted of 2 parts. The first portion established a new trail in South Amon that connected the overlook trail to the central access trail. The trail was officially used this year during the Amon Wildlands Walk. The new trail provides a gentle grade between the 2 areas. The 2nd phase of the project included installation of 2 signs in South Amon adjacent to the east irrigation waterway. The City of Richland donated the 4 wood posts for mounting the signs. Family and Scouts from his Troop assisted in the sign installation.
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Scott Woodward Tapteal Greenway President P.O. Box 3007 627-3621 Richland, WA 99354 [email protected] (509) 627-3621 Dave Jackson Http://www.tapteal.org Vice President
627-5834 Address Services Requested [email protected] Vicki Clark Secretary 727-7527 [email protected] Vacant
Treasurer
DIRECTORS AT LARGE
Sky Bradley
967-0584
Adam Fyall
942-0354
Mike Lilga
946-8966
[email protected] Dave Nelson 627-6286 [email protected] Kathy Dechter 627-0950 [email protected] Jim Kelly 627-1016
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Not a Member a Not Yet? Haveidea an for a “Creature Feature”? Members receive a quarterly aMembersquarterly receive newsletter,special annual the invitationsto mee at privilegesattendance boardmeetings. are We for open nominations in the acreature you if found the of envelope geographic you Tapteal Greenway that would more know to like note a about. send Just at Scott yourto nomination [email protected] investigate we it! will