Friday, April 28th was the wettest day of the year, with rainfall measuring 1.53 inches. It was badly needed as we are in a moderate drought, according to the US drought monitor. We also got strong gusts of wind, of up to 38 miles per hour. That, we did not need.
On Saturday, I headed into Rock Creek Park to see if the rainy, windy day had any impact. I found some damage almost immediately – Grant Road was closed and a crew was out clearing a downed tree that had fallen across the roadway.
The trail was littered with leaves and small branches and a few runners and hikers were out.
The water level at Joyce Bridge was higher than I had seen of late, and you can see the difference too, in this graph from the U.S. Geological Survey.
This stone hut houses U.S. Geological Survey creek measuring instruments.
Heading south along Black Horse Trail, I passed hikers who warned me of downed trees blocking the trail.
I took a circuitous path through a maze of broken trunks and branches.
When I got to the trail on the other side, I heard voices behind me. I turned around to see two hikers that had gone straight through the thicket of branches. They had found a way.
After I that, I lost myself in the beauty of Rock Creek Park in spring. The sound and view of the Rock Creek rapids were mesmerizing.
I heard the song of a wood thrush, the state bird of DC.
And at the horse corral, buttercups bathed the field in yellow; a beautiful sight.
Rock Creek Park always has wonderful surprises if you take the time to look and listen.
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Green Eyeshades says
Glorious view of the horse corral covered in buttercups. Gotta go see for myself!
Green Eyeshades says
Birds are very happy in the west end of Soapstone Valley near the trailhead at Albemarle St. NW.
They can hear themselves singing, because the Stream Bed Bypass Pump is off today.
Also, all the Giant Yellow Machines and trucks are gone. So no diesel engines or clanging boulders.
Doesn’t look like the stream bed rehab is finished at the F-117 Outfall or in the rest of Site One.