Barton Fen Outing

On May 10th 2003 the OTA hosted an interpretive hike of the wetland known as Barton Fen.  Our guide was Paul Nelson, the Ecology and Land Management Planner for the Mark Twain National Forest and a wildlife biologist.  Paul was assisted four other MTNF employees and took twelve participants on a two-hour tour of the fen.

(click on an image for a full-size view; ~100KB each)

Paul Nelson points to the fen while explaining the rules.	Paul explains how fens are created and reviews some of the plant species that thrive in the moist acidic soil.
John reviews the Ozark Trail route with Greg E. (the trail will go around the fen)	Paul describes how leaf galls are formed.
Paul V. and others look at Neals Creek.	Gary S., Audrey S., Martha P., Betsy S. and Greg E. examine one of the crayfish burrows that line the deep muck fen.
Susan discusses the Hines Emerald Dragonfly, an endangered species that lives in the fen.	Also attending were Harry T., Justin E., Suzanne S. and Valerie V.

Many thanks to Paul Nelson and Susan for an awesome hike!