A changing landscape

After that oddball snowstorm just before my April water testing, Sunday was a very nice day to jump in the middle of the creek. I had to pick a location a few feet upstream, since that heavy snow knocked down a huge dying willow tree, which halfway took down a second dying willow tree. Both trees are now blocking the way of my easy access into the water.

In the past year or so, the creek has been changing direction. The branch on the left in this photo was just a trickle last year—that was our marshy pond where the peepers had taken up residence. The branch on the right was where the beaver dam was last year. All washed away now and the beavers have moved downstream, and the peepers too.

It is always interesting to watch the changing landscape back there, I just worry that the creek seems to move a little closer to the house every year. Our baby forest is going to have to put down some deep roots to convince the waters to stay in the back 40, not move into the backyard.