Monday -- April 4, 2005
Water Level at Little Falls: 7.8     Water Temperature: 48

I spent most of the weekend away from the island. I dropped by occasionally to make sure everything was OK but I decided it was too much trouble to cross the river when it was so high. The river is slowly receding now and I'm hopeful that the workfest will be held on schedule. It will be nice to get the floats back out in the river, especially now that the sun has come out.

Tuesday -- April 5, 2005
Water Level at Little Falls: 7.8     Water Temperature: 48

When the ferry isn't running its impossible to get from the island to the car without getting muddy. No matter how careful you might try to be you can't avoid the silt left by the receding waters.

I've been shoveling the boardwalk as it emerges from the river and I'm realizing that if I hadn't been keeping it clear the boardwalk would have been buried long ago. The island is eroding on the south/west side while on the ferry side the island is growing. There is so much silt piled up on either side of the boardwalk that it looks as if it has sunk eight inches into the ground. The change is slow but obvious and it will soon be necessary to extend the dock so that the ferry doesn't run aground trying to reach the island.

Sycamore seeds are everywhere. The tiny seeds with their feathery tufts have been raining down with the windy weather. It's hard to believe that such a large tree can start from such a small seed. I put some seeds in water to see if they will germinate.

Wednesday -- April 6, 2005
Water Level at Little Falls: 6.7     Water Temperature: 50

I looked for the eagles yesterday but I saw nothing in the nest. I hope this doesn't mean that they've left.

It was a beautiful sunset yesterday. It was nice to see all the cormorants silhouetted against the colorful sky as they made their way up river.

Thursday -- April 7, 2005
Water Level at Little Falls: 6.2     Water Temperature: 51

I just got the sad news that the eagle nest has failed. I'm sorry that we won't have any eagles for neighbors this year and I hope they try again next year.

The good news is that an osprey flew near the island yesterday, maybe we can settle for a nesting pair of osprey.

The river is slowly retreating into its banks but with the forecast of rain the workfest is in danger of being postponed because of high water.

Friday -- April 8, 2005
Water Level at Little Falls: 5.5     Water Temperature: 61

No school today and the ferry is closed so I'm taking the kids out to Luray caverns. It should be a lot of fun.

Things are not looking good for the workfest on Sunday. They predict the river will be above six feet that day so you better call before you head down here.

The wild flowers are out and besides bluebells we have spring beauties, trout lilies, dutchman's breeches and trilliums!

Saturday -- April 9, 2005
Water Level at Little Falls: 5.3     Water Temperature: 61

We didn't get as much rain as expected and thankfully the river is going down. Unfortunately the river isn't going down fast enough to make it possible to have the workfest tomorrow. The workfest has been postponed until the 24th and I pray that we have sunny weather like this next weekend.

I got a real close look at a red-necked grebe as it hunted neat the ferry yesterday. I was surprised to see it, usually the grebes are only here in the winter when their plumage in dull. Seeing the bird yesterday made it easy to tell how it got its name.

Monday -- April 11, 2005
Water Level at Little Falls: 4.9     Water Temperature: 57

We didn't have the official workfest yesterday but enough people showed up so that we were able to get the swimming dock out into the river. We also stocked wood, cleaned up the yard, and the kids did some wonderful decorating of the well-pipe. We then had a nice picnic, what a day!

Things are really alive down here now. The geese are nested on the ground, there's a phoebe nest in the tool shed and the song birds fill the air with their song. I saw a flicker, and the pileated woodpeckers are and everyday sight. The cormorants are congregating around Rupperts and I've seen an osprey three days in a row now. I caught a glimpse of a ground hog when it came out for a late afternoon snack and as I walked past the canal last night I could hear the moan of a bullfrog.

Tuesday -- April 12, 2005
Water Level at Little Falls: 4.8     Water Temperature: 59

The gauge that we use at Little falls is in jeopardy!

NOTICE (03/31/05) --"As of June 30, 2005, data collection at this stream gage will be discontinued due to funding reductions from local agencies. Although historic data will remain accessible, no new data will be collected unless one or more new funding partners are found. Users who can contribute funding for the non-Federal share of costs to continue operation of this stream gage should contact the USGS Maryland, DC, Delaware Water Science Center at 410-238-4259 or email gtfisher@usgs.gov."

In the long term, the best scenario for stable operation of the Little Falls and other stream gages is full implementation of the USGS National Streamflow Information Program (NSIP), which was discussed in a prior e-mail to you. NSIP would fully fund operation of streamgages of National interest, including the Little Falls streamgage, and would also free up state and local contributions to be used at other streamgages. NSIP is a program funded through Congressional appropriation, and is currently at only about 15 percent of the funding required for full implementation. If you are interested in supporting NSIP, you are encouraged to contact your Federal representatives. If you would like more information on NSIP, you can contact the Coordinator, Mike Norris, at mnorris@usgs.gov.

I hope we can all make an effort to try and save this important gauge.

Wednesday -- April 13, 2005
Water Level at Little Falls: 4.6     Water Temperature: 57

Thursday -- April 14, 2005
Water Level at Little Falls: 4.4     Water Temperature: 57

The new roof was put up yesterday. John Matthews and I supervised the whole thing, I even brought a chair up to the roof so Matthews could sit and watch. It was an amazing thing to watch too! The crew of six never took a break and they were able to strip the roof of the old shingles, carry over and install all the new shingles and have everything cleaned up and finished in under six hours. We now have a huge pile of old shingles that need to be hauled away somehow. I hope we can get it done soon, we sure don't want this pile to become a permanent part of the island topography.

Thursday -- April 14, 2005
Water Level at Little Falls: 4.4     Water Temperature: 57

The new roof was put up yesterday. John Matthews and I supervised the whole thing, I even brought a chair up to the roof so Matthews could sit and watch. It was an amazing thing to watch too! The crew of six never took a break and they were able to strip the roof of the old shingles, carry over and install all the new shingles and have everything cleaned up and finished in under six hours. We now have a huge pile of old shingles that need to be hauled away somehow. I hope we can get it done soon, we sure don't want this pile to become a permanent part of the island topography.

Tuesday -- April 19, 2005
Water Level at Little Falls: 4.1     Water Temperature: 59

The weather has been perfect, the bluebells are at their peak and the island is awash in shades of soft blues and greens. The redbud planted at the edge of the field has bloomed for the first time, adding a complimentary magenta to the scene.

The goose wars continue and now there are some casualties to report. This morning I found a broken egg next to one of the nests. We found some broken eggs yesterday morning too but I think that was the work of a hungry raccoon.

We had a lovely group of four-year-olds down here yesterday and I think they all had a memorable time.

The warblers are back and I saw a prothonotary warbler yesterday. Lets hope that they nest on the island like they did last year. We also had a very close look at an american coot as we rounded the head of the island in a canoe.

Tuesday -- April 19, 2005
Water Level at Little Falls: 4.1     Water Temperature: 59

The weather has been perfect, the bluebells are at their peak and the island is awash in shades of soft blues and greens. The redbud planted at the edge of the field has bloomed for the first time, adding a complimentary magenta to the scene.

The goose wars continue and now there are some casualties to report. This morning I found a broken egg next to one of the nests. We found some broken eggs yesterday morning too but I think that was the work of a hungry raccoon.

We had a lovely group of four-year-olds down here yesterday and I think they all had a memorable time.

The warblers are back and I saw a prothonotary warbler yesterday. Lets hope that they nest on the island like they did last year. We also had a very close look at an american coot as we rounded the head of the island in a canoe.

Tuesday -- April 26, 2005
Water Level at Little Falls: 4.2     Water Temperature: 57

Yesterday was yellow-rumped-warbler day down here. The little colorful birds were everywhere, filling the trees by the dozen.

On Saturday we were treated to a visit by a small flock of twelve red-necked grebes. I've never seen so many at one time and i was really surprised when these large grebes with their spring plumage started popping up in the water right next to the ferry.

The work fest was a success. All the docks and floats are in the river and the big pile of roofing shingles was bagged up for transport. The question now is how and when are we going to get rid of the seventy heavy bags of shingles we have stacked by the ferry.

Wednesday -- April 27, 2005
Water Level at Little Falls: 4.2     Water Temperature: 59

There was a strong wind from the east yesterday. It's unusual to have the wind blowing up river and it makes for a difficult pull on the ferry. The waves were so big and with the white caps I felt like I was on an ocean crossing. I also learned a valuable lesson yesterday about the power of the wind. I know from experience that chairs can be blown off the docks when a strong wind comes and I try to bring in all the chairs before a storm. (It's embarrassing for a caretaker to see his lawn chairs floating down river with their legs sticking up.) But I never imagined that the wind could carry a canoe off the dock and send it UP river to the head of the island. Luckily for me Dick Doolittle, a hero, was walking by and alerted me about my wayward canoe. Kaylen and I quickly jumped into a boat and retrieved the unmanned vessel keeping my record of no lost canoes in tact

I still have 70 bags of old shingles on the island.

Thursday -- April 28, 2005
Water Level at Little Falls: 4.11     Water Temperature: 60

ATTENTION ALL BIRD WATCHERS!!! Today on National Public Radio (NPR) the nature conservancy announced a sighting of an Ivory-Billed Woodpecker. This rare woopecker has been missing since their habitat was destroyed by logging and they faced near extinction. If you have ever seen this bird you have ever seen this bird, you should contact the Nature Conservancy, and if you havn't maybe you'll see one on the island. Just the other day we saw a Great Egret, a white Heron-like bird. Like the birds the mammals have been out and about more than usual lately. Near the newly designed well, I have seen the groundhog twice in a row!! Most of the time I just see a fleeting image of it, but this time I saw the whole thing stare at me for almost a minute! The island has been leisurely and peaceful lately and the water is becoming warmer, at least warm enough to cool your feet. Also the blue-bells are rapidly vanishing, so come to the island ASAP (as soon as possible) if you wanted to see them. We hope to see you soon!! CARETAKER"S DAUGHTER OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Friday -- April 29, 2005
Water Level at Little Falls: 4.06     Water Temperature: 60

I went for a canoe paddle last night at dusk. After a day of wind and choppy water the calm of the river at sunset was just too inviting to ignore. I paddled up and around Rupperts and decided to check on the beaver hutch I found there last month. I guess I shouldn't have been surprised but the big pile of branches that was a beaver's home had washed away. All that was left was a slight depression in the ground and a tunnel leading to the water that was the beaver's entrance. I guess the beaver learned the hazards of building in a flood plain.