Year-end storm: Valley Crossing
12/31/05 Peter
"Here also the entire riparian zone was submerged and
part of the channel, with rapid currents among alders.
The high water
level (mud with ripples, debris lines) went up to the edge of the
logging road parallel with the river on the N side....highest I've ever
seen. A thick deposit of silt (over 20 cm deep) covered the extensive
ground that was emergent; most of the road leading down to the low-flow
channel was still under deep water (dog swimming depth). The partly
buried willows planted by Matrix of Change will be very happy!
Most of
the large debris (logs, limbs) was coming from the Wheatfield Fork, even
earlier in the morning; little debris in the South Fork upstream from
the bridge.
(If RWQCB wants indisputable field data about the actual
reach of the "riparian zone" or "floodplain", now's the time to collect
the data! Thick mud right up to the high water mark.)
Still can't see
any hint of the main channel bed, but I'm sure it's totally rearranged.
Some of the alder riparian forest was restructured...some trees blown
out, some ground scoured, some thick debris deposited."
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