Fall is for planting!
Last month crews from LaBella were on site placing subaqueous (underwater) plants in the recently completed inlet located on the south end of Ralph Wilson Park.
Yes, subaqueous means underwater and as you can see below, crews were working up to their necks placing a collection of reeds, rushes, sedges and grasses at various depths in the inlet.
These plants have many roles in the inlet, including aesthetics, protection for fish from predators, erosion control and nutrient absorption improving water quality. These plants also provide a food source for fish, turtles and ducks.
Why all the fencing? The fencing gives the plants a chance to grow in place prior to being eaten by aggressive herbivores swimming in the water.
In the aerial photo below, you can see the full extent of the recently completed 2.5-acre inlet and the location of both the subaqueous and high marsh plantings. The high marsh area serves as a transition zone between the deeper inlet plantings. The high marsh plants are selected to thrive in the seasonal water level fluctuations of Lake Erie. The depth of the plantings varies from the high marsh to 5’ deep further out in the inlet.
The plan is to place about 25% of the plantings this fall and carefully monitor the plant species that thrive and which do not do as well. The planting schedule will be adjusted to incorporate successful plant species as crews return to complete the remainder of the inlet plantings in the spring of 2025.
Below is a video of excavation continuing north of the inlet as the existing concrete seawall and cribbing are removed. As this work advances, new stone is being placed, creating the central breakwaters. Inland from these breakwaters, additional habitat will be constructed with the placement of subaqueous soils and plantings similar as to in the inlet.
Preparation for Placement of the Ralph Wilson Park Bridge Continues!
Pictured above is the gantry system and spreader beam assembly. The 220 ton, 263’ superstructure of the new pedestrian bridge will be placed onto the Gantry systems located on both sides of the I-190. The superstructure will travel 30’ on the gantrys and then be lifted onto the abutments.
As you can see in the picture to the lower right, crews have removed the concrete deck on the existing pedestrian bridge in preparation for that steel structure coming down.
A link to our monthly fly through of site is accessible here.
As always thank you for tuning in and we look forward to keeping you updated as more transformation activity continues in your community park!
Mark McGovern
Director of Park Operations
Ralph Wilson Park Conservancy
