Hello, Everyone!
Module 2 certainly has my head spinning with so many possibilities! The videos are a big help, and I would love to have a field day to visit these areas. Would that be possible, Sam? I also have a question about the vegetation used. With us being in drought conditions, should we use vegetation that requires the least amount of water, cottonwoods vs willows vs alders?
The area that I would like to restore is in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest so we will need to get their approval. I visited the area yesterday and took these photos.
Photo #0533 shows one of the dams that was built. I have requested information on the area from a cabin owner on the pond (see photo posted in discussion board #1) who remembers the area as a child. He is pretty excited for our idea of restoring the area. I have also contacted the local museum in Whitehall to see if they have any information. Because they are closed for the season, I am not sure if I will hear from them soon.
Photo 0532 shows the whole area. It’s pretty big with two drainages at the top.
Photo 0534 shows the North Fork of the Little Pipestone Creek and the vegetation around it as it meanders through weakened areas of the dams. It is incised but with little bank erosion. During high snow levels, the area does get marshy.
Photo 0535 shows more of the vegetation such as willows and alders.
Mullin Lake and the creek below it does support fish and macroinvertebrates. Mullin Lake also has muskrats and waterfowl such as mallards and a blue heron. I have not seen fish in the upper portion that I would like to restore.
One thought I have for restoring this area to collect water for a pond is to build a variation of the One Rock Dam where the creek enters a wooded area before entering the pond below which is called Mullin Lake. The dam would have to be higher than the existing dams unless they were destroyed which isn’t feasible. There is a lot of blowdown around the area that could be used instead of rocks. Being in the Boulder Batholith, there are plenty of rocks too.
I look forward to reading your ideas and projects. In the meantime, think snow, pray for snow, but enjoy the nice weather!
Judy