Tank Farm Recreational Area

I heard about a cool event happening at the Tank Farm Recreation Area in Monaca, and knew we just had to check it out. The Tank Farm has an interesting history. During WWII, the US Government buried many huge aviation fuel tanks here. They were concerned that the site could make an excellent bombing target for our enemies, so they disguised the site as an ordinary farm. The buildings were disguised as barns.

The fuel tanks have since been removed, and the land is now in the care of Potter Township and open to the public. (The address is a bit hard to find; it's 247 Raccoon Creek Rd, in Monaca.) There are large open meadows that stretch out from the banks of Raccoon Creek, and are dotted with a few remaining structures which are crumbling away. Rachael Mahoney from DCNR lead us there in the evening in the hopes of hearing the famous spring peeper frogs making music. Instead it was unseasonably cold, and the frogs were silent on our guided walk. 

But we still got a great look at the park, and especially the restoration work that is underway. A large section of the banks of Raccoon Creek have been cleared of vast amounts of invasive Japanese knotweed. The banks of the creek were steep and prone to heavy erosion, so they landscaped them to create a gentle taper. Boulders and logs with large root balls attached were anchored into the banks.  These should not only help to hold the banks together, but will create shady spots in their lees where baby fish can relax in cool water without fighting the current. This kind of habitat is crucial to their survival. A reduction in erosion is also great for lots of aquatic life, because it's hard for marine animals to breathe in water that is choked full of sediment. On the surface, they first placed fresh willow branches, which should actually sprout into new trees. Willows like wet areas and their root systems are great buffers against erosion. On top of all, they placed thick mats made of coconut husk, which will help hold everything in place. The mats are embedded with seeds of native plants and shrubs. They also created a convenient boat launch to provide access to the creek. It's always inspiring to see restoration work over time, so I hope we will have the opportunity to come back and see the results of all their efforts. 

Afterwards, folks from the Independence Conservatory had a big bonfire going that kept us toasty warm as the night grew colder. We roasted hot dogs and marshmallows, and made s'mores. We decided that since the gathering was happening just before Easter, we would contribute marshmallow Peeps for the s'mores. They tasted pretty much the same as ordinary s'mores, and were a bit more fun to roast. No one ever said that s'mores needed much improvement, anyway!

A portion of the restoration area on Raccoon Creek.

Red-winged blackbird.