Cascading Waters can be found at 135 Olean Street on the eastern edge of Worcester's northwest parklands, the Cascades. The Cascades are 350 acres of park and conservation lands along the borders of Worcester, Paxton, and Holden, Massachusetts. Home to countless species of plants and animals, the Cascades are open to passive recreation year-round.

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Nancy

We're getting the edges of what I believe has been downgraded to a tropical depression (still named Nancy). Gusts of up to 30 mph, periodic rain.
It's hovering right around 70 degrees
The barometer's at 29.29 and steady

While here under the cliff the wind is less (we're going up to 4 or 5 mph per gust), it's a lot of wind for where we are. If you're near a storm drain, pull out the leaves, as there's a flood watch in effect and those won't help!

Sunday, September 26, 2010

MOOSE!

Oh Yeah!

Report in from another neighbor this morning down by Benjamin Rd. in West Tatnuck near Olean and 122. Moose!

"the size of a couch" "galloping through the yard"

Apparently the police have been getting reports of our visitor.

Keep an eye out folks!

Friday, September 24, 2010

still deciding

It looks like it's still deciding what type of day it's going to be today. We had some low-lying fog down by the pond this morning. That's broken up, but the skies remain overcast. No forecast for rain, and it's warmer than you'd think from a glance outside.
At 9 am, it's 66 degrees and rising.
The barometer is steady at 29.32 inches.
We've got 3 mph of wind right now.


We're hoping that the skies do clear, and that many of you can join us for a Friday noon Asian Longhorned Beetle hunt at God's Acre. We'll meet off of Swan Ave for a short training, and then send you off with binoculars (bring 'em if you have them!).

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Outing club reporting in

Turns out one of the bloggers over on Clark Diaries went on the Outing Club trip to Cascades. Excellent!

Work project day!

To all of you who wielded a bark spud on Sunday, now all those logs need shaping! If anyone is free this morning and would really like another whack at the adz(e), come on by! We'll be working on logs all morning.

At 9 am, it is just hitting 60 degrees
A bit overcast and cloudy
The barometer is at 29.44 inches of mercury

We got a report from a neighbor that two foxes had cornered an opossum earlier this week in his backyard. He didn't stick around to see how that worked out, but we're guessing not in the opossum's favor.

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Good Neighbors!

Up here in the Cascades and in West Tatnuck we have really great neighbors.

There was an illicit, non-sanctioned, encampment on Cascades West, so we went out there and as it was unoccupied we disassembled it and removed it.

Today there was an unusually large number of cars parked at the Cascades East entrance and our good neighbors to the north called us to flag it. Turns out it was Worcester State University Professor Bill Hanson and his students on a field data collection exercise and all was well.

It is impossible to keep an eye on all of the hundreds of acres up here without help, and thankfully the hikers and the neighbors keep an eye out and let us know when something seems askew.

To all y'all out there walking, hiking, strolling, moseying, and watching, thanks for caring and for making this conservation land your own.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Chilly

Today feels like fall. As fall actually starts tomorrow, I suppose that's seasonable!
(The autumnal equinox, for those of you keeping track, is tomorrow at 11:09 pm EDT.)
At 9 am, it is 56 degrees and rising (slowly).
The barometer is at 29.44 and steady.
Clear blue skies again this morning.
Still no water in the stream bed (and with the forecast, it's going to be some time before we see any).

Monday, September 20, 2010

Nice one

We hope all of you who were using the bark spud and the adz aren't feeling it too much today. We wrangled the logs (a bit lighter!) back here to the Lodge last night (thanks, Roger! We couldn't do it without you!), and they're awaiting some more adz work before we set to with mallet and chisel. Thanks for the help!

This morning it's 58 degrees and rising at 9 am.
Sunny blues skies
29.18 inches of mercury and steady
The brook is dry
The fire danger remains LOW

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Join us at stART!




If you're looking for the Greater Worcester Land Trust on this beautiful Sunday, you'll find us close to the intersection of Elm and Park under the trees of Elm Park at stART on the Street. Come work on log hewing and timber framing some new property signs!

Monday, September 13, 2010

Incoming!

It's only overcast now, but look what's headed our way.

(And yes, that is a tornado watch down by Wilkes Barre!)

Sunday, September 05, 2010

You'd never know this was Worcester

We've got vanloads of Clark University students coming through today. The Outing Club is running their annual hike in the Cascades (my subtitle: "You'd never know you were in Worcester!"). We've thus spent the morning running off maps and baking cookies (oatmeal raisin chocolate chip, a hiker specialty). The third group, each of 15 or more, is just out getting acquainted with the area now.

At 2pm, it is 68 degrees and sunny
We've got about 1 mph of wind, 'though it's been up to 3 this morning.
The barometer is at 29.75 inches and steady
We didn't get enough rain to get the stream back, but we're sure it's coming.

And take it from the Clark students: it's a great day for a hike!

Friday, September 03, 2010

Battening down the hatches

Even without incoming Earl, it's cooler and less humid this morning.
At 10 am, it is 78 degrees
Humidity is about 60%
The barometer (which should be rather dramatic later today) is at 29.12 inches and steady.
The fire danger is LOW.

No water in the stream, but we're hopeful the falls will be back a bit this weekend.