Stream Walk - Field Notes of Josef Bruder
The purpose of the stream walk is to become familiar with the stream and document observations for record as well as a basis to evaluate condition. This will become a tool to coordinate the focus of the proposed spring stream cleanup project.
The following people participated in the walk:
- Walt DeWitt
- Julie Stenberg
- Hans Peters
- Laura Lynch
- Linda Bruder
- Joe Bruder
A large pond exists at the intersection of Street Road within the office park. The section of Little Mill Creek leading into the pond is channeled with gabions the length of the office park. The pond appears shallow and silted. A permanent population of geese and ducks reside in this area. During the Fall, seasonal geese crowd this pond. There are two vehicular bridges connecting portions fo the office park. Nearly all of the adjacent office park is paved, with runoff flowing to the creek.
The walk proceeded upstream. The creek is low but has a good flow. The land on either bank is naturally vegetated. The west side borders a multi-housing residential community. It maintains a broad, naturally vegetated buffer for its entire length, with two detention ponds that overflowinto the creek. The vegetation is thick and overgrown with an abundance of multi-flora rose. Along the east bank, approximately 50 yards from the bank, just past the office park, there is a large pile of tires. This is unslightly and a breeding area for mosquitos. A manhole along the east bankindicates a sanitary sewer line from upstream.
The creek meanders with bank undercuts at bends. Some floodwater erosion is also evident. However, for the most part the physical condition of the creek is good. Schools of small fish were noticed throughout. Birds are also prevalent. Fallen trees and related debrishave congested a few areas of the creek. This appears only as a floodwater restriction. A 15' length of pipe, approx. 12" diameter is laying in the creek. Very little trash was encountered. This stretch of creek is for the most part not readily accessible with minimal signs signs of pedestrian entry. A tributary with running water enters the creek from the east. As in previous portions of the creek, orange residue was noticed in the creek at the shoreline. There is also some green algae-like growth covering portions of the streambed. At two locations along the west bank, stormwater pipe from the adjacent housing development emptiesinto the buffer of land at the west bank. In turn, it finds its way to the creek. There are two detention ponds along the west side behind the residential communities. The most northerly is vegetated with grasses, trees, brush, and other wetland tolerant plants, all of which are thriving. This is a naturally complementary environment. The basin appeared dry. The spillway is constructed of concrete. The second, southern detention pond was landscaped with mowed grass. It has a concrete low-flow channel and overflow structure. The spillway is constructed of permeable paving block. It has no sensitivity to the adjacent environment and offers no habitat opportunity. It does however require maintenance (mowing). There is an apartment complex on the east side. It is quite a distance from the bank and also has a naturally wooded buffer to the creek. No stormwater piping from from that complex was noticed. The streamwalk concluded at the bridge near the Industrial Blvd. The bridge has a two box culvert crossing with some storm pipes.
As a overview, the general condition of this section of the creek appears good. It has an overall natural setting without much outside impact. There is naturally occurring debrisbut very little trash. However, of concern is the pile of tires, this is a source of a potential health hazard. Fish, birds and wildlife were present in abundance. The water quality has not been tested and minimal insects were found under rocks in the water.
END OF REPORT
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