On January 11, it was a beautiful 70-degree day.
As peculiar as it sounds to be walking directly in the stream, following Indian Creek up into its headwaters, in mid-January, this was a perfect day for such an activity.
What are the “headwaters”? The headwaters are the smaller streams, whether they run year-round or seasonally from snow melt and heavy rain, that eventually merge into the upper stretches of Indian Creek.
A majority of the headwaters of Indian Creek lie within Forbes State Forest property boundary. Forbes consists of approximately 60,000 acres between Westmoreland, Somerset, and Fayette counties. The trail systems within Forbes are extensive and allow for adventurers to piece together trail segments to create a longer, personalized hike.
The Mountain Streams Trail follows closely with Indian Creek before its ascension to the top of the mountain where it easily connects to the Laurel Highlands Trail in the Northwoods trail system.
By following the Mountain Streams Trail to the creek, it was easy enough to hop off the trail and explore the water. The natural scenery of Indian Creek was a distraction but I tried to stay focused. I like to look at the smaller details of my surroundings to see the parts of nature that are easily over-looked.
Although winter tends to be synonymous with rest and dormancy, I assure you the woods are still teeming with life. Would you like to see?
Did you know liverworts originated an estimated 400 million years ago?
This prehistoric plant is interesting. Commonly found near streams, liverwort has a unique way of staying put. Their roots are one-celled appendages called rhizoids. The thin, spindly rhizoids help hold the liverwort in place as they absorb minerals and water.
Upper Indian Creek is bountiful with liverworts. Although their roots are small, these plants are helpful in keeping sediment in the stream banks instead of eroding into the stream bed. In the upper stretches of Indian Creek, bank erosion and sediment in the creek is a concern. I was happy to see liverworts lining the stream, providing assistance as well as they can.
In the swampy floodplains of the creek, something else is bountiful and sprouting out of the soil, even in the midst of winter…
Skunk cabbage is a peculiar plant.
As one of the first plants to emerge and bloom in the spring, skunk cabbage usually makes its appearance in February/March. The purple-speckled spathe in the picture acts as a protective hood for the petal-less flower of the plant. Commonly reaching temperatures around 70 degrees, the skunk cabbage is able to emerge even in snow and frozen ground because it produces enough heat to warm the soil around it.
Skunk cabbage is aptly named for the smell that emanates from the plant. The smell of rotting flesh entices pollinators to check out the flowers. Common pollinators of skunk cabbage are species of scavenging flies (attracted to stinky, rotting flesh!), winter stoneflies, and bees.
Let’s chat real quick about the winter stoneflies. They are one of the first insects to emerge from streams, where they spend most of their life cycle, and morph into flying, terrestrial adults. Winter stoneflies are aptly named as they are one of the first insects to emerge early in winter. Their blood contains a natural antifreeze, deterring the water in their blood from freezing. These insects are one of the first to emerge in trout streams, making the nymphs an enticing meal to trout.
Just think of skunk cabbage as a nice, stinky, warming shelter for insects in late winter. When the air temperatures are still chilly, they can seek shelter in the hooded cup of the skunk cabbage flower. Next time you’re in a wet area, look around for this funky forest plant!
The woods are full of surprises if you know where to look. I was scanning the rocky beach when I saw what looked like a bone lying on the creek bottom.
A caddisfly has decided to take up residence here.
Just like our winter stonefly friends, caddisflies are aquatic benthic macroinvertebrates. That’s a mouth full.
Aquatic (found around water for a part of their life cycle) + Benthic (bottom-dwelling) + Macro (you can see them without any additional magnification) + Invertebrate (an animal without a backbone)
Folks at Mountain Watershed Association, and any watershed organization for that matter, are particularly interested in the presence of aquatic benthic macroinvertebrates. We commonly refer to them as macros.
Macros tell us a good bit about the health of our water. Aquatic insects, specifically, can give us an idea of pollution and its impact in streams. Depending on the life span of aquatic macros, they can live in the water anywhere from a few months to a few years before developing wings and becoming flying insects. This fact, combined with the knowledge that some species are less tolerant of pollution, allows us to observe the effects of chronic pollution on an area.
Caddisfly larvae are fascinating little creatures and are quite good at masonry. Of the estimated 14,000 species of caddisflies, many build their own protective houses out of whatever building materials they can find. I have seen caddisfly cases created from small stream pebbles (like the case in the picture above), twigs, bits of leaves, and even turquoise! People have taken to the hobby of creating jewelry from caddisfly cases by providing the caddisflies with gemstones to build their homes.
How do they do it?
Their salivary glands next to their mouth produce silk which is used to bind the materials together. Caddisfly cases are strong, resisting the force of water and protecting the small larvae from predators.
Macros are important to a stream. Not only can they tell us about the impacts of pollution in our water, but they are a valued part of the aquatic food chain. Some macros are “shredders”, breaking down leaves and organic materials that fall in the water. Macros also feed on bacteria and algae in the water. Regardless of their stage of development, macros are a food source for fish. As flying adults, they become a good snack for birds and bats. It seems that everything is connected in a stream ecosystem.
The headwaters are important.
As I mentioned earlier, the headwaters include small streams that flow only when there is significant rain or snow melt. It’s easy to forget these streams exist or have an impact on the overall health of our watershed when, in fact, they are significant pieces to the puzzle.
After my personal discovery of the beauty held within the upper reaches of Indian Creek I have found myself thinking about it often. How is the water quality there? What macros and fish live in that section of creek? Are there sources of pollution we should know about? Luckily, these are all questions we can eventually answer.
I hope by the end of this I’ve grabbed your attention too. If you would like to join me for a hike in upper Indian Creek, feel free to send me an email at Hannah@mtwatershed.com. I will be planning a group hike sometime soon and would love for you to come along!