For Release September 11, 2005

What Will the Eagles Do?

AGRI-VIEWS
by Chuck Otte, Geary County Extension Agent

The first question arrived about noon on Tuesday, about 24 hours after the action started. The "action", has to do with the removal of the stand of cottonwood trees at the north end of Milford Lake Dam in the North Overlook area. The individual who first posed the questions was very upset that the trees were being removed. Of course, they wanted to know if I had seen it yet. The truth was that I had not seen it yet, but I was aware of it.

Let me provide some background, which is in no way an official statement from the Corps of Engineers. Several years ago, at least four, the Corps of Engineers told me that there was a problem. The problem is that the entire area where those trees were growing, was actually an engineered compacted clay layer that was designed to protect the north end of the dam. The tree roots were growing into that clay layer and could compromise the integrity of the dam. Anyone who has a farm pond knows that you don't want trees growing on the dam of your farm pond.

Now many of you may immediately say, that the odds of the dam failing because of trees growing on this compacted clay layer are pretty slim. To which I would admit that you are right. But I'm sure many folks that the odds of what happened in New Orleans happening were slim also. When possible, you always have to prepare for the worst case scenario.

There was a lot of time spent determining the best plan of action. Long before any action was taken, there were lots of studies done, and ultimately a plan was developed and an environmental impact assessment performed. Since this area is a well documented winter Bald Eagle roosting area, the US Fish and Wildlife Service had to be involved. Even though the Bald Eagle is no longer an endangered species, it is still a threatened species and as such is still granted special protection. Ultimately it was determined that while the trees did need to come down, there needed to be some mitigative action taken.

If you happen to be out in that area, look to the west and north of the North Overlook road. Some old scrubby brush and cedars have been removed. In the near future this area will be planted back to trees. The mix of trees that can be planted is very specific, in fact, I was contacted to provide input on the final mix of trees.

Most of the trees that have been removed were cottonwoods. And to be right honest, they weren't the healthiest cottonwoods around. Many of them had started to die in the recent drought years. The replacement trees will include a majority of sycamores: a tree that can grow relatively quickly, but is stronger and longer lived than cottonwoods. It won't be an immediate replacement roost, but in time it will give superior roosting for the eagles.

In the meantime, the eagles will not be inconvenienced. There are many large oaks just back to the northwest from this area. In recent years I have seen these being used more than the cottonwoods. I will admit that the cottonwoods made a handy viewing area as you drove over the dam, but there are still many areas where the hundreds of Bald Eagles that winter at Milford Lake can roost and be seen. The eagles will be fine. And if you want to know where they can be found, just give me a call and I'll help you locate them, or come out to Eagle Days with us in January!

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