Low water at the Field Station 2012

  • A stretch of gravel leading down to the water. There is a concrete pad further up the slope from the gravel

    1/20

    In 2012, we experienced extremely low water conditions, making it difficult to launch our boats at the Field Station. These images are from October.

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  • A barge that is used as a dock. The high water level is visible at least a foot above the water, and the water is below the bottom of the barge by a few inches.

    2/20

    The barge we use as a dock was mostly out of the water. The normal water line can be seen about halfway up the metal.

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  • The bottom of a barge that is used as a dock. The high water level is visible at least a foot above the water, and the water is below the bottom of the barge by a few inches.

    3/20

    The barge we use as a dock was mostly out of the water. The normal water line can be seen about halfway up the metal.

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  • A breakwall that separates the canal from the the river. At least a foot of gravel is visible below the culverts in the breakwall. There is an area of wet gravel above the current water level, as if the water level has fallen.

    4/20

    The water level is much lower than normal on the breakwall, with the waterline falling a few feet below the culverts. Normally, the culverts are partially submerged as water spills over.

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  • A stretch of gravel leading down to the water, and weeds at the waterline. There is a concrete pad further up the slope from the gravel. A barge is next to the ramp and a bridge in the distance

    5/20

    Several feet of gravel were exposed at the end of our boat ramp. The gravel continues at this slope for only a few more feet before dropping off sharply.

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  • stone and wood cribbing covered in algae peeks above the water

    6/20

    Old dock pilings next to our boat dock were exposed.

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  • The area next to a dock has a neatly arranged stone shoreline, and gravel with some shallow water.

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    Exposed gravel next to the barge.

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  • A gravel ramp at the water line extends for only a foot or two before it gets deeper.

    8/20

    The end of the boat ramp isn't too far beyond the water line. A few feet more and it drops off steeply, making it impossible to launch our boats here.

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  • mussels and algae cover exposed rocks and bricks

    9/20

    Zebra mussels and algae cling to exposed rocks.

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  • A person stands on the gravel by the waterline. The dock and concrete pad are about ten feet up the ramp. There is a line of weeds washed up about halfway between the water and the concrete pad, marking a previous waterline.

    10/20

    Kit Hastings stands on the exposed gravel at the end of the boat ramp. The water receded even further since the photo taken the day before.

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  • almost the entire shape of algae-covered stone and wood cribbing is visible above the water.

    11/20

    With the water level dropping even lower the next day, the almost the entire shape of the old dock pilings was exposed.

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  • A person stands on algae-covered stone and wood cribbing by the water. They gesture at waist level.

    12/20

    Mark Clapsadl stands on the exposed dock pilings and shows the normal water level.

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  • A person crouches on the ground next to the barge dock, putting their hand in very shallow water.

    13/20

    Mark Clapsadl at the new water line next to the barge.

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  • The entire shape of algae-covered stone and wood cribbing is visible above the water.

    14/20

    In December, the old dock pilings next to our barge were fully exposed.

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  • The entire shape of algae-covered stone and wood cribbing is visible above the water, as well as several feet of shoreline below the normal water level.

    15/20

    The area next to the barge was fully exposed.

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  • A stretch of gravel leading down to the water, the slope beginning to get steeper. There is a concrete pad further up the slope from the gravel

    16/20

    December: more of the launch exposed. No boats can be launched.

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  • A steep stretch of gravel leading down to the water. Some of the stones are grey while the ones closer to the water are brown, possibly because they are wet or covered in algae, as if they are normally covered.

    17/20

    The water was past the point where the slope of the boat ramp drops off steeply.

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  • A barge that is used as a dock. The high water level is visible at least a foot above the bottom, and the water is below the bottom of the barge by at least a foot.

    18/20

    At the lowest water, the barge was completely out of the water.

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  • A barge that is used as a dock. The water is below the bottom of the barge by about a foot and the sediment below the barge is slightly eroded and visible

    19/20

    The barge was completely out of the water and it was possible to see underneath it.

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  • A breakwall that separates the canal from the the river. Several feet of gravel are visible below the culverts in the breakwall. There is an area of wet gravel above the current water level, as if the water level has fallen.

    20/20

    The breakwall at the lowest water in December. Several feet of rocks are exposed below the culverts.

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