I was there last Sunday and it was deeply disturbing to see that there was no consideration for the public trail and everything was stripped to bare mud right up to the edge of the trail, not a shrub nor a tree was left to provide a visual buffer between a widely used natural area and an asphalt and concrete expanse. I presume we can thank the City of Lacey for being so respectful of a private property owner's right to do anything they please, no matter the alternatives that might provide a greater societal good at virtually no meaningful cost to the private landowner.



Kelly McAllister

Olympia



From: tweeters-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu [mailto:tweeters-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu] On Behalf Of festuca at comcast.net
Sent: Thursday, January 11, 2018 7:29 PM
To: Tweeters <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Subject: [Tweeters] Construction at Hawks Prairie ponds



Hi folks,



Day before yesterday, I went out to the Hawks Prairie settling ponds off of Marvin Road/Hogum Bay Road in Lacey (just west of the Nisqually NWR) to "twitch" the drake Redhead and vocalizing Black Phoebe. Yes - I was successful, thank you:

http://ebird.org/ebird/pnw/view/checklist/S41778006



I thought birders ought to be aware that the north end of the Ponds are closed to public access, because of construction in the property north of the LOTT facility. The 'open' fields south and west of the old cheese plant (now Nutriom, who make powdered and dehydrated egg product) are turning into more of the Industrial complex, including the Target and Trader Joe's warehouses, with their attendant acres of asphalt and impermeable roofs. So, the Scot's Broom and open fields have given way to "progress" and "development". There was no one around that I could talk to, so do not know how long the road/trail around the north end of the ponds will be closed to public use.



Just an FYI,

Jon. Anderson

OlyWA