Gallup park- check it out!

Between the upcoming bird-watching walk in Gallup and the splendid Huron River Day coming up on July 12th, I thought it would be nice to revisit some information about Gallup Park!

Park Focus: Gallup Park (Wet Prairie Region)
by
Jennifer Maigret
(originally appeared in our Spring
1999 newsletter)

This spring [of 1999] NAP will host a special series of workdays in celebration of Earth Day which focus on one of Ann Arbor’s most unique natural areas, the Gallup Park Wet Prairie. These workdays, along with Huron River Day events held in July, will likely attract attention to a wetland that is overlooked by many users of the Gallup Park paved trail who run, bike, skate or walk by it daily. As a precursor to
this newfound “stardom,” herein lie the reasons why the wet prairie has been selected for such special treatment. More importantly, however, these reasons
will illustrate why the area’s health depends upon users’ respect for its fragility. This requires enthusiasts to admire from afar the diversity of plants and animals the wet prairie hosts by remaining on the Gallup paved path to
overlook its natural beauties.

How will I know when I arrive at the wet prairie?
You will see an open area dominated by grasses and sedges. In spring look for the showy, yellow flowers and thick, dark green leaves of the marsh marigold (Caltha
palustris) or the bluish-green tussocks of the sedge Carex stricta. More careful scanning may reveal the flowers of two uncommon plants growing nestled among the sedges. Star grass (Hypoxis hirsuta) produces tiny, yellow flowers and swamp saxifrage (Saxifraga pensylvanica) sends out a single stalk of small, greenish flowers.
Why is this site special?
Wetlands of all types have diminished rapidly due to agricultural and developmental pressures. The first studies of wetland abundance were conducted in the early 1900s as requested by Congress to determine “the amount and location of swamp and overflow lands in the United States that can be reclaimed for agriculture.” Since then, it has been estimated that up to 50% of Michigan’s wetlands have been lost. Because of this, many of the plants and animals adapted to these unique environmental conditions are rare. The ecological significance of the Gallup Wet Prairie in particular was recognized by Paul W. Thompson of the Michigan Natural Areas Council who began lobbying to have it protected in the late 1960s. In the 1970s the Michigan
Chapter of The Nature Conservancy listed this site as one of only 3 good examples of wet prairie in Michigan. However, research published by former NAP Botanist David Warners in his dissertation in 1997 indicates that the site actually fits the classification of sedge meadow better than wet prairie, based mainly on its soil type. The name “Gallup Wet Prairie” has stuck, nonetheless.

How will workdays help?
The rare plants and animals dependent on the Gallup Wet Prairie for survival are currently threatened. Two major threats are invasive plants and excessive nutrient loads in the Huron River. The combination of these two factors has enabled plants such as purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), native and non-native cattails (Typha
latifolia and Typha angustifolia), and black alders (Alnus glutinosa) to gain a foothold and begin to out-compete the rare, native plant species found there. Although solutions to water quality problems will take long term foresight and planning on the part of the entire Huron River Watershed, workdays help by removing targeted invasive plants to relieve competitive pressures on the rare plants. In doing so, we can help preserve the biodiversity of plants and animals in the Gallup Wet Prairie.

How can I help?
We’re glad you asked! Helping NAP restore and preserve the Gallup Wet Prairie starts with checking the volunteer calendar and deciding which workdays you will attend. It is NAP’s hope that each Gallup workday will enable you to see first-hand why the site is so unique and teach you more about how to preserve this special place
both during and after workdays. Hope to see you there!