Site Description

Our site is a variable landscape consisting a slope, a flat riparian area, and a large flat upper woodland area at the slope's peak. Several trails run through the area and create a dramatic human impact, especially at a three trail intersection preceded by a bridge. There is also a gravestone for someone's pet (RIP Spot).

The riparian area of our site is quite serene. While close to the water there are dense thickets of thorned bushes, further back there are dry, flat areas which offer a great view of the whole scene, allowing you to see the slight canopy of overarching branches.

The main slope on our site is steep, making all of us grateful for the trails and steps leading up it. It's likely that back when the stream was more powerful it carves the slope into the earth. Many of the dead trees on the slope have been caught in trees below them, leaving them suspended from the ground.

The upper wooded area of our site is less disturbed than our riparian area, and is in a state of transition. While the older, larger trees in this area are Eastern White Pine, the younger trees are oaks and maples, which is what the forest "wants" to be. If left undisturbed by human impacts, and barring major climate change, this area of woods will consist primarily of Oaks and Maples, as it likely did centuries ago. We feel that this is what park managers for manage the area for; the pre-colonial conditions of the site.

Another piece of the landscape that interested us were these large, well defined holes at the top of the slope. They were too uniform to be root pulls from a dead tree, and there was no evidence of any large trees near them. We theorize that they were made by humans, but for what purpose we can't tell.

Vegetation on our site represents the variability of the landscape. In the low lying areas, there are herbaceous plants and young deciduous trees. The slope and upland areas consist of mixed hardwood forest with a few coniferous trees such as White Pine and Eastern Hemlock.

Known wildlife on our site consisted of some slugs and worms, a few birds, a salamander, frogs and several chipmunks, however due to its diversity, the area would be great habitat for many of Vermont's animals such as fisher, porcupine, and deer.

Over the weeks, we truly came to appreciate the diversity and complexity of our site.Its well defined zones give an interesting example of how much water effects an ecosystem, and the human impact on the site is both enhancing and disturbing this landscape. Our favorite characteristics of the site were the large variety of mushrooms and the strange holes we found.