Hidden Pool

The stream is barely more than a thin thread after it leaves the spillway, so the fact that it grows to about twelve feet in width just a couple of hundred feet from the road surprises me greatly. There is no doubt that the sudden change in size is due partly to the constant stream of water flowing from a nearby drainage pipe, but the difference between the two parts of the same body of water is still remarkable. The pipe that feeds the small pool on the edge of the stream seems to run directly under the facilities warehouse and parking lot, and I wonder if it simply collects any water that cannot seep through the impervious surfaces of our campus’s infrastructure, or if it is the end section of a smaller stream that starts somewhere on the southern side of our campus. I am guessing that the latter assumption is the correct one, even though I have never seen any hint of a stream on that side of our school’s grounds. I was, however, unaware of the two streams that feed our lake, and so it is entirely possible that there is a part of our watershed that I do not know.  Whatever the case, it is an excuse for exploration!

The stream itself slows dramatically when it reaches the small pool, although that is probably due to the fact that its depth seems to increase at this point as well. Just a few feet further down stream, the tempo of the water picks up again as the riverbed shallows, and as the water shallows out and rambles over small rocks, it begins to make noise. The noise from this section of the stream and the constant rush of the water falling from the drainage pipe to my right are the only consistent sounds in an otherwise silent environment. Every once in while, a bird will make its presence known or a car will growl as it trundles up the nearby hill, but these noises are rare.

The only thing more perceptible than the steady gurgle and rush of moving water is the striking visual dichotomy of the landscape. If I keep my head down, and focus on the stream, all I can see is the water and surrounding flora. As soon as I look up, however, I can see the abrupt lines of the parking lot and warehouse, along with several cars and pickup trucks, perched right on the edge of the stream’s steep bank. How much do of these seemingly separate environments influence each other, for while they appear drastically different, they are clearly connected not only by proximity, but also by the water that runs from one down into the other.

The water flowing from the parking lot into the stream no doubt carries traces of pollutants, and is perhaps part of the reason that I see no signs of animal life in or around the small pool. The visible lack animals, however, could also be due to the fact that it is still winter, and perhaps as spring rolls around, I will get the chance to actually see some animals scamper about or drink from the stream. While there is currently no evidence of animal life, plant life is clearly abundant. The banks are crowded with an intense and complex tangling of brambles, vines, grasses, bushes and even small trees. I unfortunately do not recognize most of these species, but I do see the stark white of a sycamore, the lingering brown leaves of a young oak, and the fuzzy vine of poison ivy.

After today’s observations, what stuck with me the most was just how dynamic water is, and how quickly it can shape the landscape around it. The stream changes shape so rapidly after it leaves the dam, and as it falls out of the drainpipe, it carves a deep pool in the steep hillside. Its noise overpowers all others sounds in the area, and it has the ability to connect two seemingly dissimilar environments.