Divide Creek Then [2004]

[The Eicher/Bracken Beaver Pond at the Height of the Divide Creek Seep]

  

 

 

 

 
 
A distant perspective of the pond's surface. Because of the scattered, intermittent and often short-timed releases of gas, it was very difficult to demonstrate surface disturbance in a still photo - particularly at any distance.  Often,, the effect of the bubbling gas made the surface of the pond appear that a light rain was dimpling it. [06-17-04]		   Occasionally, we were able to time our still-picture capture from this video well enough to demonstrate the bubbling activity. [06-17-04]

 

  

 

 

 

 
 
Just another of the same kind of well-timed close-up. [06-17-04]

 

 

  
A close-up of some of the bubbling in our beaver pond as reflected above. This was a well- established vent - about the size of a quarter. It bubbled nearly continuously, and established this visible exit point in the silty bottom near the pond's edge despite constant, slow-flowing waters..
[05-16-04]		  

 

 

 

 
 
Blackcloud stepped into the pond and slowly waded through it. This release of bubbles resulted. We lit a match to the gas and it burned, though it was difficult to maintain a flame in the breeze as well as due to the flowing dispersement of streaming gas.  [06-17-04]		   Another step through the pond and we were able to take a picture of a little closer view of the gas bubbles. [06-17-04]

 

  
           

 

     
  Frequently, gas would find routes of escape along vegetation. This is a twig sticking up out of the pond bottom. [06-17-04]  
This is the same twig, being pulled from the water. Note the release of bubbles associated with its disruption. The cone that you see was used as a gas collection device. [06-17-07]		  

 

     
         
 

Here and right: The last two pictures in series as the twig was removed. [06-17-04]

   [06-17-04]
 		  

 

 

 

 
 


Three beaver frolicking in the water (note the series of three dark humps just off-shore). Though it's difficult to tell in this picture, the well-established vent shown above was bubbling along with others just a few feet from these animals when this picture was taken. [06-13-04]

    


One of the beaver peering at the camera. [06-13-04]

 

 

    

 

       
 
Beaver tracks in the mud near where the beaver were playing in the water. [06-13-04]		      

 

         
   
Shortly after the discovery of the seep, Summerhawk endured a terrible time when few animals lived here. There was a near complete reduction in song bird activity, the beaver and ducks disappeared. The raptors had gone. As had the deer and elk. It was in fact, very quiet relative to the norm of bustling animal life. The only evident presence of life was the continual circling of turkey vultures and an abundance of hornets. Even the honey bees, bumble bees and geckos had gone.

Of note, and to my knowledge, only one brief air sample was taken at the 'main' seep area during this entire time.

Some of the decrease in animal life was also surely due to the level of human activity present in the area, including the occasional  motor vehicle. One day, in fact, as a part of remediation on the Schwartz well, a great, lumbering behemoth of a machine ground it's way into Summerhawk in order to auger holes for monitor wells. I stood on the canyon rim looking over the valley as the machine rolled just below me. A terrified bobcat suddenly dashed up out of the brush and onto the rim, watching behind it as it ran. It collided with me as I stood taking in the scene. My heart broke for this creature whose world had suddenly been turned upside down. Ours had too.

Within a couple of years however - we were completely elated to see a host of animals return to the area (though it has not yet fully recovered). This Spring, a frog hopped into the old pond and a fish leapt out of the same waters just as we were filming. As evidenced by the presence of an enlarged old pond area, the beaver are back and busy as ever. The bald eagles have yet to return. They used to nest annually on and around the surrounding cliffs, and I was thrilled to bear witness to a mating ritual in the air directly over Summerhawk four years ago. For those who do not know what such an event looks like, the two eagles fly high, high into the air, lock talons and free-fall toward the Earth, plummeting at a high speed until at the last minute they break free of one another, only to often perform the feat again.
 

    
         

 

 

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