First visit to site was April 24 from 12 noon to 1pm. Sunny day with minimal wind and temperature around 13 degree Celsius.
The site is an approximately 60 m long and 10 m wide (will measure upon next visit) section of Pincher creek, which runs through the town of Pincher creek. The section is has a foot bridge at its west end and a drain pipe at its east end. The north side of the creek has a steeper grade, several large rocks along the waters edge and thin trees, bush with large areas of grass cover. The area ends at the foot path. The south side of the creek has several large willows, a gentler grade and a recent heavily pruned section. The creek flows through narrower at the beginning and then widens towards the foot bridge and has several pooled deeper areas. I will take a meter stick to measure depth on the next visit. The next visit I will make an effort to identify more of the plants in the area, as of this date there are still no leaves on the trees.
This section is just past a large area with retaining walls and before another area with retaining walls and appears to have a natural flood plane. The north side is steeper. The south side has evidence of changing water patterns from probably seasonal variations in flow. Most of the trees on either side are wrapped a few feet up with wire mesh detergent. This could be for the local deer or could be to keep beavers out of town. There are several deer trails present, though likely these are also followed by people.
On the south side in the Willows there are large collections of broken branches *likely from wind, that could possibly become nesting sites for birds.
Several trees on the north side has possibly signs of disease or infestation. Leaves were found on the ground of the south side that were heavily dotted (from last season) could be disease or part of decomposition or bugs. (possibly cause of the heavy pruning?)
One tree on the west end of the north side has a large bored hole, likely man made, but could become a home for birds.
Water in the creek is clear and the bottom is rocks and brown mud and algae. Likely will change a lot in the coming months. I expect the flow will rise as well as the melt has yet to significantly begin from the mountains. Pincher creek is a tributary of the old man river that begins just west of here in the Rocky Mountains. No fish or minnows were seen this day.
No birds were seen this day in the site. One identified spider and several wasps were seen.
Possible questions are:
Will there be significantly different vegetation on the north and south sides? (different tree groups and different slopes)
Is this stream home to fish? what kinds?
Does the water level change in the spring and does that effect the the foliage?
What birds will nest here? Will birds be attracted to the natural branch collection areas (broken branches in the tree)
Is there an infestation in this area?
