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Low water at the Field Station 2012

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

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

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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.

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.

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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 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.

A breakwall that separates the canal (fore) from the the river (back). 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.

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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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Old dock pilings next to our boat dock were exposed.

stone and wood cribbing covered in algae peeks above the water

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Exposed gravel next to the barge.

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

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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.

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

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zebra mussels and algae cling to exposed rocks

mussels and algae cover rocks and bricks

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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.

A person stands on the gravel by the waterline. The dock and concrete pad are about ten feet up the slope.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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The area next to the barge was fully exposed.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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 about a foot.

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

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

A breakwall that separates the canal (fore) from the the river (back). 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.

Great Lakes Center

Buffalo State • 1300 Elmwood Ave • Science and Mathematics Complex 319
Buffalo, NY 14222 • Phone: (716) 878-4329 • Fax: (716) 878-6644

greatlakes@buffalostate.edu

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