Surface water levels were low: the pools at Hemlock Bluffs were dry or too shallow to take water quality measurements, but we did have standing water in our forested wetland at Mason Farm.
June 2024 Monitoring: Reflections from a new volunteer
chase.bergeson • June 17, 2024
We got to enjoy some beautiful weather for our June monitoring. We once again monitored water quality, hydrology, and surveyed for amphibians. Thank you to all who joined us this month!
We participated in the Society for Ecological Restoration’s Make a Difference Week and picked up litter from our sites as we monitored. This wasn’t out of the ordinary for us, as we always pick up trash when we go. Our wonderful volunteers like to leave our sites cleaner than when they found them. Luckily, thanks to great management, most of our sites tend not to be pretty clean from the start.
Although we saw fewer amphibians than in our previous monitoring sessions we did see a number of adult frogs and salamanders. You can view our observation on our
iNaturalist page.
Fashion Magazine
green frog
Although we had mostly returning volunteers this month, we were fortunate to have some great new volunteers as well, including both of Carolina Wetlands Association’s summer interns, who attended all of our monitoring sessions! As a special monitoring summary, one of our interns describes what it was like to be a new volunteer, below.
Reflections from a new volunteer
by Erin Mansfield
I'm Erin Mansfield, a student in Environmental Science at NC State and a summer intern for Carolina Wetlands Association. This was my first time volunteering with VWMP, and I was lucky enough to go to all three monitoring sites. While it's hard to pick, I would say that Robertson Millpond was my favorite of the three sites: it was my first time out monitoring, and I thought the bald cypress trees were beautiful (even if their knees tripped me a few times). Being my first time out, I learned a lot about how the monitoring process works, and the specific steps to accurately collect our data. I also learned how wonderful all the volunteers and PIs are! It was a friendly atmosphere, especially with how I was a bit nervous as a newcomer. One of my favorite things about working in the environmental field is the supportive community I often find.
My favorite part of the monitoring itself was testing the water levels in the wells. I enjoyed the mystery of when the dip meter would finally start beeping at you to tell you you've reached the water table, as well as debating with my fellow volunteers the correct hundredth-foot measurements to record. I'm a very data-oriented person, so I liked being able to record real, concrete numbers in the field and think about what they mean in the context of the wetland itself. I'm curious to see how the water level changes throughout each season. As long as I'm in the region, I'll definitely come back for future events: it'll be interesting to experience monitoring as someone used to the sites and procedures instead of as a newcomer.
Calling all plant lovers!
In September, we will be heading out to our monitoring sites once again for our annual vegetation surveys and to look out for invasive, non-native plants. We’d love to have participation from anyone interested or skilled in wetland plants, even if it’s your first time monitoring. Please let me know if you want to join!
It’s also a good time to start reviewing some of the common plants we see, by checking out some of the resources below and staying tuned for more upcoming Plant of the Month blogs. We look forward to seeing you in the wetlands!
Our previous plant observations
Previous plant of the month blogs
Common Guide to Wetland Plants
Identification of Common Trees of North Carolina
NC Native Plant Society Non-native Invasive list
NCDOT Invasive Exotic Plant Guide
A field guide for the identification of invasive plants in southern forests
Mistaken Identity? Invasive plants and their native look alikes
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Join Our 10-Year Anniversary Celebration! We are incredibly proud of all we’ve accomplished together over the last decade, and we can’t wait to celebrate this anniversary with the entire Carolina wetlands community. From advocating for critical policies to advancing wetland science and engaging thousands of volunteers and supporters, our work is only possible because of your dedication. 10 Years of Impact: Our Guiding Mission Since the beginning, Carolina Wetlands Association has been driven by a set of core principles that guide our work across four key program areas: Outreach: Promoting widespread understanding of and engagement in wetlands. Advocacy: Encouraging policies and programs that promote wetland conservation and protection. Science: Encouraging the advancement of wetland science and practices. Sustainability: Ensuring a viable organization for the long term to protect, promote, and restore wetlands. Whether it’s protecting our saltmarshes as nature’s climate protectors (a topic we explore in depth in our recent white paper ) or coordinating hundreds of volunteers to monitor wetlands, our commitment remains the same: protecting and preserving the vital wetlands of the Carolinas. Mark Your Calendar: Sunday November 16th Join us for a relaxed and festive evening to toast a decade of wetland conservation, education, and advocacy! Enjoy local brews, connect with fellow supporters, and celebrate the incredible impact we’ve made together. Whether you've been with us from the start or are just getting involved, we'd love to see you there! Date: Sunday, November 16, 2025 Location: Hi Wire Brewing Company, Address: 800 Taylor St #9-150, Durham, NC 27701 [ Directions ] Time: 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM We look forward to celebrating this incredible milestone with you and kicking off the next decade of protecting the Carolina Wetlands!
Please join us as we celebrate volunteers of our wetland monitoring program on October 12, 2025. Our event will take place in Roxboro, NC and start with a paddle tour of living shoreline and mixer at Black Creek Brewery. All are welcome but please RSVP.