Snow Days

16 Jan, 2011 Author: Glorianna Davenport

Snow storms have been plentiful this winter. In late December, a snowstorm brought with it pounding surf causing all sorts of difficulties for the beach communities downstream from us. Last Monday, the latest winter storm dumped 8 inches of snow on the land before the precipitation turned to rain. The freezing temperatures that followed turned the landscape a glassy, crusty white. Throughout the cold, the flowing shallow waters of the headwaters attracted seagulls and wood ducks. Today, a lone swan, a blue heron, a flock of crows also grace the de-watered former impoundment. As we walk around the sandy edge of the former pond, the grand-children delight in finding traces of coyote, deer and some smaller 4 legged creatures that I could not identify for certain. We head toward the source, but the children soon tire of trudging through snow; they head for the woods. Nicole and I press on, until as we approach the southerly end, my leg suddenly disappears through the snow into the mud. I reach for an old stump and pull myself back to safety.  Today the journey to the source is unsafe as the snow disguises the edge between firm bank and soft sediment. We turn back, saving this adventure for another day. I must address the signage issue soon.

The Source

22 Nov, 2010 Author: Glorianna Davenport

Today, I set my sites on visiting the source of Beaver Dam Brook.  I walk in a southerly direction along the high sandy banks of the former impoundment, trash bag in hand. The late fall light rakes across the old tree stumps; these speak of almost prehistoric wilderness. However the signs of human trespassers are every where: old bottles and cans at the edge or half submerged in the soft sediment of the emerging channel; the various dock structures that people had used to access this reservoir; the large new houses that abut the western shore; and even a couple of trees one resident there had felled last summer, no doubt in in order to improve his view of the water.  I walk on, careful to stay on high ground.  At the top of the impoundment area, high ground beckons me into scrub alders, else the muddy sediment may claim a boot or worse a leg!  I obey. Slowly I make my way up the little wood-land stream to a point at which the water pours out of the land.  I have reach the source!  Not conducive to being photographed, turn my camera back toward the light of what was once a 30 acre lake.

Headwaters

22 Nov, 2010 Author: Glorianna Davenport

I retrace my steps toward the old dam.  Looking back, I marvel at the calm with which this impoundment area looks forward.  What species will inhabit the shore line.  I begin to imagine a cedar grove with fern and Mallow that could be planted in an effort to speed and perhaps shape a little the transition to a natural habitat. Meanwhile, a dialog with the community is beginning to emerge.