PEER April 2007 Nahant Marsh

STEP Volunteers Help with PEER Grant Field Trip to Nahant Marsh

PEER stands for Protecting the Environment and Earth’s Resources. Funded by an EPA grant, PEER’s goal was to develop a one-year program to educate underrepresented youth, ages 8-10, who are served through Davenport United Neighbors Inc.’s after-school program. UNI and EICCD’s Advanced Technology Environmental Education Center (ATEEC) partnered on the grant. Written by Georgia Munford of United Neighbors, the following is a description of the PEER group's latest field trip to Nahant Marsh on April 21, 2007:

On a beautiful sunny 75-degree Saturday morning, the PEERs and their supervisors and volunteers drove to one of the most beautiful resources in our community. Nahant Marsh (513 acres), located in a most peaceful and serene setting, is the largest urban marsh or wetland left on the Mississippi River.

Our guides, Arnie and Bob, gave us an exciting tour which included the history of the marsh dating back to 1837 when its plant life was mostly sedge metal. As we trod the trails now laid out for learning, preservation, and enjoyment, we got a better image of how it used to look and how much the marsh has changed. Lead and other hazardous pollution affected the plant and wildlife for a period when the marsh was used as a gun club. Water lilies and the Northern Spring Peeper frog are among the missing species because of this pollution.

As a complete surprise to our guide, a Yellow-headed Black bird flew in and landed on a tree branch over our heads as we listened to Arnie. He explained that seeing this bird was very special since it normally does not come any more northerly than Missouri. What a treat!

The PEERs then took samples of marsh water, insects, and plant life to examine in the lab. With the help of Ann Lawler, Tim Chi, Dan Stone, and Jim Skadal of Scott Community College’s STEP program, the PEERs examined these samples under microscopes.

Among cattail stalks and the dried brown winter remains of other grasses, we spent some quiet time interrupted only by the call of a bull frog, Red-Winged Blackbird, or the splashing of a carp, or buffalo fish, spawning. In the distance blue herons took flight and landed, as pointed beaked coots or mud hens floated by diving for food.

Still close by is the evidence of modern civilization—a freight train, interstate highway traffic, and the smoke from the stack of a nearby business. Why don’t you consider taking a peaceful walk at Nahant Marsh? It costs nothing. You can also volunteer to help maintain or restore this community resource.