User: | Open Learning Faculty Member:
The study site I have selected is a creek formed by lake overflow down a cliff face into a valley surrounded by wetlands. It is called Peterson Creek and is a recreational green space with many groomed walking paths that are frequented by residents and often off leash dogs. Notable wildlife in the area was sparse, with minimal to no tracks visible, near silent trees with only one high pitched chirp coming from a small bird in the brush and a single brown squirrel in a decaying tree stump. The valley has a steep grade slope upwards that dramatically changes the terrain from lush, well-established greenery, to grasslands and eventually desert approximately 50 meters in elevation from the base.
The area I have selected to study is 2 acres total radiating out from the creek bed and up both sides of the valley. The creek bed is mostly a rock base with sediment at the base of the waterfalls but it does not continue down the creek. The edges of the creek are quite steep as spring flooding erodes a deep scar that it left nearly empty by this time of year. Immediately surrounding the creek is grass, bamboo, and medium sized shrubbery with many types of berries visible. Scattered amongst this is a variety of medium and large trees of varying types.
A few I was able to form an educated guess towards their type were Pine, Birch, willow, maple and poplar. The area is located in the city center directly next to the hospital. It is surrounded by busy streets on each side that are not visible from the trails or audible due to the deep valley and brush positioning in relation to the trails. I made my first observation at the site at 13:00hrs, the temperature was 11 degrees C with a gentle breeze. The skies were completely cloud covered.
I made many interesting observations during my first trip to the site; the most prominent in my mind were as follows. Does the lack of sediment and the narrowness of the creek bed along with the seasonable variability in water levels affect spawning of fish in the area? I also noticed a randomness to tree type and placement and was curious if these were planted intentionally to add appeal to the area and if so, does this adding of biodiversity in the area create more interest for animal population, or does it drive them away due to creating an abnormal habitat for them? Lastly, I noticed a lack of debris in the creek. There were no sticks or blockages in the water, which struck me as an unexpected finding as a lake is what feeds the creek via a waterfall. Does the potential cleaning out of the creek for aesthetic purposes contribute to the lack of animal inhabitants?
