Grasslands/Watershed class essay

Jul 1, 2011 at 3:02 PM by darlat

Sometimes things don't go the way we plan and expect, but usually it all works out the way it should.
We all expected to be kayaking on the Cheyenne River however, with water levels as they were, that wasn't possible. We would instead be going on Lake Oahe in a nice pontoon boat with a few kayaks along, just in case weather conditions improved.
We spent the next three days viewing firsthand the erosion the high water levels were creating and the effect that was having on the shoreline. It was an eye opening experience viewing the huge volume of water currently in Lake Oahe. It brings to life the amount of water coming through the Missouri watershed area. Picturing every little stream joining another and another until it comes together in the huge river system of the Missouri.
The area we camped on was on the north side of Agency Creek. Just a couple of years ago that bottom area was covered with 15-20 ft. high willows and young cottonwood trees. It was a paradise for birds and wildlife and now it looks like a small ocean. I've watched the landscape being swallowed up. I feel sorrow when I look at it because I know what's under it. I was thrilled to see the Bald Eagle's nest with young in it. The Orioles were also an unexpected thrill. "The Prairie is My Garden" by Harvey Dunn is one of my favorite pieces of art and I think of it whenever I'm out looking at the rainbow of plants on the prairie. I thought of it several times during our class. Late June is a perfect time to be out viewing the large variety of vegetation on the prairie.
I like to take my Kindergarten class out to do things like collect tree leaves. This year with Laframboise Island not accessable, I may try a grassland trip instead with a simplified life cycle lesson included.
I don't think we could have picked a better area to study the grassland/watershed biome even with the high water. It's also great to know there are such good people teaching the kids of our state. We truely have some lucky students!