Tree Planters: These are some of the many volunteers who turned out last week to plant 52 trees at one end of Harns Marsh in Lehigh. They are from left to right, front row: Clayton Adams, Steve Boschi, Damon Shelor. Back row, Frank Rowe, George Gonzalez, Ray Qualk, Bill Walker, Mike Armstrong, Mike Stowell, Dennis Bennett, Terry Iorio, Linda Jacobson, Clayton Hadley, Gayle Sheets, Bill Nottling, and Russ Ringland.

Harns Marsh was the scene of a major tree planting project last week when more than 30 people turned out to voluntarily plant trees on a point on the north end of the march, which will help to stop erosion during the rainy season.

Harns Marsh, with an entrance just off 38th Streeet, is composed of 578 acres and houses some of the most interesting wildlife in Southwest Florida. It is fast becoming a favorite spot for bird watcher and for hikers who want to see the vast wetlands and take photos of nature.

Damon Shelor, president of Keep Lehigh Beautiful, headed the volunteer project and said alterward that he was happy that so many people had turned out to plant trees as high as five and six feet.

“These trees are the beginning of a project to help maintain that point from erosion that we see during heavy rains,” Shelor said.

The point can be seen off in the short distance from the Abel Canal Bridge on Sunshine Blvd.

Several people work together to plant a large tree along the water’s edge at Harns Marsh last week. Photos by Mel Toadvine

The trees included such species as Cypress, Red Maple and Laurel Oaks. The project, Shelor said, was in partnership with the East County Water Control District, which owns the pristine marsh and its wetlands and property around the big body of water that the Abel Canal feeds into.

“We did the planting in honor of Earth Day,” Shelor said.

The trees were provided by Urban Forestry by Rotary of Cape Coral. It is the group that has provided the trees planted all along Veterans Parkway at the Cape.

The trees were bought at discounted prices and several Cypress trees, five and six feet tall, were donated, Shelor said.

The plantings began at 9 a.m. when temperatures were in the 80s and ended by 11 a.m. when the temperature was rising. There were some light winds, but still some of the volunteers were sweating from the heat.

Two women volunteers are shown here planting a large tree at Harns Marsh last week in honor of Earth Day. The trees that were planted will help to prevent erosion of a lower plot of land at the edge of the marsh that is visible from the Sunshine Blvd. Bridge which crosses the Abel Canal.

Mike Armstrong, who owns his own lawn landscape business,

was one of the volunteers sweating while trying to pry open a large plastic container so a tree could be pulled out and planted.

“We’re going to get that tree out,” he said, sweat dropping from his face. And he did finally unloose the roots from the container.

Shelor said the point can sometimes be covered with two to three feet of water when here is a big rain. Other rains may bring six inches of water over the point, which is lower than land adjacent that overlooks the point.

“We want to save the point and we plan to bring in vegetation too. That and the trees will help deter the erosion,” he said.

“It will improve water flow eventually into the two canals at the point, the Sailfish which runs to SR82 and the Able Canal.

“It will improve the water quality as it enters the Orange River,” Shelor said.

“With all the labor and the donations, we probably saved around a thousand dollars,” he said.

The area in which the trees were planted is four miles around the lake from the 38th Street entrance. Vehicles are not allowed around the lake when the gates are down, but folks are free to walk around the lake if they want, Shelor said.

He wants to form a Friends of Harns Marsh, a group of volunteers who can volunteer their time to the park.

“They would be able to eventually provide information about the eco system of the marsh and explain how nature works with the water flow,” he said.

In fact, Shelor is ready to form such a group now and said anyone interested can email him at Lehighcleansweep@yahoo.com‘>Lehighcleansweep@yahoo.com. His cell phone is 239-222-4621. If he is busy, leave a message and he will get back to you.

Harns Marsh is being called a gem in Lehigh and a best kept secret from most of the residents.

But more and more people are hearing of the marsh and its vast wildlife and are coming out to see what all the fuss is about. When they get there, and take in the view, they spread the word and every day, more people are coming to visit, many from out of town.

Some have said the area is better than the lands around Lake Okeechobee with its wetlands and vast wildlife.

Shelor sees the marsh as a big attraction for locals and for tourists in the future.

“It’s something we have right here in Lehigh that can’t be found anywhere else in Southwest Florida. We have a gem,” he said.

He believes with the continuing care of the marsh, it can bring people to Lehigh and while here, they may spend time shopping and eating at the local restaurants and even staying at the Microtel Suite & Inn, Lehigh’s only hotel.

“We could have nature tours, clean-up days for people to participate in. We can seek grants for restoration work in conjunction with the ECWCD,” he said.

He sees the identity of Harns Marsh as an attraction for what he calls “eco tourists.“

“It is a great place to come out and see and hike and rest. It is very peaceful,” he said.

Shelor says he has been told there are 140 species of birds that call the marsh home. Many birdwatchers have also spotted the elusive Snail Kite at the marsh, too.

People with binoculars and cameras can be found at the marsh nearly every day of the week. Shelor hopes those that visit the marsh will help to keep it clean.

“The Harns Marsh is one of Lehigh’s greatest assets and what we can keep it maintained without ruining it … the marsh can be a wonderful thing for the locals and those who want to see the great outdoors with beautiful wetlands and naturally blue waters,” Shelor said.

There have been other tree plantings, many by the ECWCD, just to protect the marsh and also enhance its beauty. Any hiker can spot them because they still have red tags attached to them.

The road around the marsh is incomplete because of water control construction work. When the gates are down, a vehicle cannot navigate down the dirt circular road.

Shelor said he envisions one day such things as races around the marsh and hopefully, that the road may be covered with gravel.

“We are so lucky to have it here in Lehigh,” he said.