Date: 4/11/25 8:16 am From: Mike Ludewig <fishinorbirding...> Subject: Oxley Nature Center Sherry Lake and Marsh Pond
For those who don't know yet, Sherry Lake at Oxley is at best only 50% full (by surface area). The earthen dam has broken and the lake is totally dry from the shore near the observation platform well past the island. Assuming you wouldn't sink in wet mud and muck, you could walk on dry land to the island and well beyond. Besides that, the Marsh pond is extremely low and also is at least 50% dry by surface water area. As a result, neither of these two favorite areas of mine are very "birdy". In fact, during my visit yesterday, I only saw some chicadees and blue-grey gnatcatchers! Also, Lake Yahola had no "water/shore bird" activity!
I talked with the Oxley folks about the situation and was told that after work with agencies such as the EPA, Corp of Engineers, etc that a plan had been developed for repair/ replacement but would not be totally completed "during our lifetime". I'm hoping this statement meant that although a complete reconstruction/replacement of the dam (which dates back to the Roosevelt WPA program of 1933-1939) could take a very long time, perhaps the dam hole could be "patched" to allow the lake to fill again while reconstruction takes place. Who knows?
