September 2022, A Walk
On September 1, 2022, Steve took a walk from the rock wall at Claremont to the south side of the wetlands to see the new creek. Photographs taken during this walk record the different plant zones encountered on this walk.
This image shows the planned path of the walk. The walk starts at an intersection of a fence with the rock wall forming the south boundary of Claremont Greens Townhomes. The first destination is a bridge over Bronson Creek. From the bridge the walk continues to where Bronson Creek is now flowing on the south side of the wetlands. The as-the-crow-flies distance of this walk is about 375 feet.
An objective of this walk is to visit different plant zones and document the plants and features of each zone. A second objective is to observe the condition of Bronson Creek, both at a bridge over the traditional course of the creek and at the southern side of the wetlands where most of the water now flows.
This panoramic photo show the start of this walk. The red arrow show the direction of the walk. The rock wall can be seen on the left. A chain link fence, which is at right angles to the wall, is on the right. The willow tree and shrubs were planted when the homes on the south side of the wetlands were constructed, perhaps in 2013. These shrubs were small enough that I could walk around them in 2019.
Things that were observed at the start of the walk
Moss on the rock wall
Spider web on the rock wall
Horse shoe on weathered fence post
red clover (Trifolium pratense) gone to seed.
creeping buttercup (Ranunculus repens)
English plantain (Plantago lanceolata)
willow (Salix) planted for remediation
hardhack (Spiraea douglasii) planted for remediation
Queen Anne's lace (Daucus carota)
red osier dogwood (Cornus sericea) planted for remediation
willowherb (Epilobium) producing seeds
common snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus) planted for remediation
red or chocolate Arion (Arion rufus) mating. This is the first time I have seen this. Initially, I thought someone had stepped on the slug.
trailing blackberry (Rubus ursinus) a native plant. The vines run along the ground and can be a tripping problem.
After Progressing 20 Feet -- In the middle of dense shrubs
Progress is difficult going through these shrubs. A few years ago the shrubs started to touch. Now the shrubs have become one mass and it is necessary to swim. Morning dew is still covering these shrubs causing my clothing to become damp.
Walking off trail can be hazardous. This paper wasp nest was active. It was located a bit off my path. It is hard to see from some angles and could be a very unpleasant surprise. I was stung last year because of bees nesting in the ground near where I was standing. I can imagine batting my way through these shrubs right into this nest.
After Progressing 40 Feet -- Leaving dense shrubs, Entering scattered shrubs
Emerging from solid shrubs into a grassy area with scattered shrubs. Ten years ago all of this area was grass. The shrubs and trees that we see are remediation.
Plants that were observed here
ocean-spray (Holodiscus discolor) gone to seed mixed in with Oregon ash (Fraxinus latifolia) leaves.
common snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus) with dew on leaf not in direct sunlight.
Pacific ninebark (Physocarpus capitatus) seeds.
hardhack (Spiraea douglasii)
red osier dogwood (Cornus sericea) leaf and seeds
Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) with cones.
Queen Anne's lace (Daucus carota)
trailing blackberry (Rubus ursinus)
Possibly American vetch (Vicia americana) seed pod
Young bigleaf maple (Acer macrophyllum)
A native rose, possibly Nootka rose (Rosa nutkana).
One spent oxeye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare).
After Progressing about 100 Feet -- About to enter willow thicket
This is tansy ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris), an invasive plant that I have been removing from the wetlands. I thought that I had them all.
Bagged and on its way to oblivion.
Only 50 feet further to the bridge over the creek. But the way forward is blocked by dense branches. I selected what looked like the best path but soon found that I was crawling on hands and knees while branches bumped into my day pack. After going 10 feet I found that it was easier to detour to the left rather than go directly in the direction of the bridge. The nature of the plants was changing. There was less light.
Plants that were observed here
willow (Salix) that predates the remediation. The willow forms dense thickets of dead and live branches. It also forms a dense canopy that reduces the light getting to the ground.
Pacific ninebark (Physocarpus capitatus) seeds. This is on the edge of the thicket. Inside the thicket there is not enough light to support shrubs.
creeping buttercup (Ranunculus repens)
A small Himalayan blackberry (Rubus bifrons)
trailing blackberry (Rubus ursinus)
tansy ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris) leaves
Lichen on dead branches
Moss often accompanies the lichen
Small ferns. This appears to be western swordfern (Polystichum munitum).
Wild rose. These roses may grow very tall, perhaps attempting to get sunlight. Sometimes just a prickly stem going straight up is all that I see.
Crawling on hands and knees I see the bottom of a Douglas fir growing on the edge of the thicket.
Some of the lichen is on dead branches that have fallen from higher up where there is more light.
After Progressing about 120 Feet -- Encountering a natural spring
There are three natural springs in the wetland below our townhomes. Two of the springs can be recognized because cattails grow there. If you walk into the cattails the ground is soggy. This is the spring without cattails. It is typically covered with sedges. The spring produces enough water that a small creek, in places a foot wide, flows into Bronson Creek. The spring creates a gap in the willow thicket. However, the land is swampy, creating a different problem for someone on a walk.
A road once went to this spring. By crossing the spring we join the old road which goes to the bridge. Getting to the road requires finding the least muddy way through the spring.
Things that were found near the spring
Water, which tends to get covered up by the plants.
Leaves of sedge.
Perhaps the sedge is panicled bulrush (Scirpus microcarpus) based on these remains of the flowers.
This is a mystery to me. Probably a dock (Rumex).
American speedwell (Veronica americana) grows at the edges of the water.
From 120 to 150 Feet -- Walking where there once was a road
Finding the "road" in this photo is not easy. On the left is a thicket, so that is not the road. On the right is a marsh where the natural spring drains to Bronson Creek. The arrow is my guess for the road. Large trees, in various states of falling over, have grown in the road.
Things found walking along the "road".
orange jewelweed (Impatiens capensis). Only found near the creek on in the wetlands.
Hopper or leafhopper. Sucks sap from the leaves. This is an enlarged portion of the previous photo.
common ladyfern (Athyrium filix-femina)
hardhack (Spiraea douglasii). I thought that all of the hardhack was introduced during remediation. But here is one in the middle of a willow thicket.
creeping buttercup (Ranunculus repens). Invasive and found everywhere like background noise.
red alder (Alnus rubra) leaves, new and old cones.
White lichen growing on alder bark.
Spring water going to Bronson Creek.
panicled bulrush (Scirpus microcarpus)
Moss on old willow bark.
Thicket of branches.
Rotting willow snag.
Trees in various stages of decay. All of this stuff will fall. Some of it may be ready to fall if provoked. I leave the big trees alone. Be careful what you touch.
Baby Oregon ash (Fraxinus latifolia) waiting for the tree above it to fall, letting light down so that it can race to the sky.
A chain link fence post. The bridge is just ahead.
At 150 Feet -- The Hidden Bridge
This may not look like a bridge. But it is a way over the creek.
Things found around the bridge.
Standing on the bridge looking down at the creek. It is hard to see much of the creek.
The creek appears to be stagnant. There are bubbles on the surface of the water along with floating duckweed and leaves.
Looking thru willow leaves we see a metal gate that has been swallowed by foilage.
The wooden surface of the bridge has been coated with dead plant matter.
At 170 Feet -- We Break Out of the Thicket
Grass and cattails ahead. Now we can see where we are going. The new creek must be near the clump of trees in the distance.
The difficulty of getting to the new creek is finding dry ground. In the winter and spring almost all of this area is soggy. Only in late summer is this area passable without waders. To continue on to the new creek we are looking for a route on the highest ground.
Things found in the field.
This is a branch of a willow tree. Along the branch are unusual, small leaves located there the stem of a leaf connects to the branch. These things are called stipules. The most common willow in this area is Pacific willow (Salix lasiandra) and photos of it sometimes show stipules.
This willow has been planted by people working for Clean Water Services in the last few years. It also appears to be Pacific willow (Salix lasiandra).
Another small tree that has been recently planted. This may be Red Alder (Alnus rubra).
This is probably a domesticated Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) feeding on Orange Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis). The bee is hovering while extending its proboscis into the flower to suck nectar. The nectar is way down the flower and I am amazed that the proboscis is long enough.
Creeping Buttercup (Ranunculus repens). Invasive and found everywhere like background noise.
Lots of grass. Some of it will be left over agricultural grass from when this was a pasture. This might be Reed Canary Grass (Phalaris arundinacea).
This is probably Soft Rush (Juncus effusus), a native plant. The stems are round and they grow in clumps.
The seeds of a sedge. People sometimes plant decorative sedge plants in their gardens and this might be a runaway.
Clusters of Broad-leaf Cattails (Typha latifolia) can be seen.
A coyote toy in the grass.
At 250 Feet -- We See Our Destination
We have been walking thru grass and so far the ground has been dry. We can now see a clump of old willow trees that must be next to the new creek. These trees are a good destination because the willow trees are probably growing on higher ground. When near old trees I must be careful of falling branches. A massive branch has fallen but it still can fall further. I will stay clear by going around on the right side.
Things we find as we get closer to the new creek.
The ground gets very soggy and my boots have sunk into the mud a few inches. Here I am standing on a rush. This is not nice to the rush but that keeps me from sinking into the mud.
The grass has become taller and it clings to my pants. It wraps around my legs and keeps me from moving forward. Combined with the soggy ground I wonder if I will fall while carrying two cameras. I could end up as a mud ball.
We are passing the dense tangle of old willow trees. The new creek must be just ahead.
Fungus and moss growing on old willow trunk.
Moss and lichen on old willow bark.
But we can't see the new creek because of a hedge of Orange Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis). Although this plant may look like a barrier it is a fragile plant and we can push our way through.
At 370 Feet -- I Have Arrived at the New Creek
Unlike the stagnant creek that we found under the hidden bridge, there is some water movement here. Plants that we have not seen before grow in the water and along the banks.
Things that I found at the new creek.
Lots of Water Pennywort (Hydrocotyle ranunculoides) in places on the bank of the new stream.
The leaves of Water Pennywort (Hydrocotyle ranunculoides).
Possibly American Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana).
American Speedwell (Veronica americana).
This looks like a dock (Rumex) but it is unusual in some respects. Most dock is bushy with more seeds.
Orange Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis).
Back Home. Removing Seeds from my Clothing.
Equipment for this trip: Gardening gloves, sun hat, camera, knee pads, boots and garters, bag for noxious weeds and day pack containing two types of clippers and a small folding saw. Not shown: iPhone & credit card.