August 5

It was the first week in May when I had my initial encounter with Honeyoye Creek at its source, just north of Jefferson Rd. This morning, under sunny skies and temperatures in the low 70’s, I’m near the mouth of the creek as its water flows gently toward a confluence with the Pine River. Hiking along the water’s edge, I spot blossoms of Swamp Milkweed, Purple Loosestrife and Sow Thistle. Closer to the mouth, I notice the clear creek water is very shallow and barely flowing due to extreme sedimentation. Over the years, Honeyoye creek, beginning at its source, has transported excessive soil from unregulated agricultural runoff to the mouth where it formed sandbars, islets and a dam-forming deposits in the main channel. Proceeding south on a small peninsula formed by some of this sedimentation, I first notice dainty blossoms of Blue Vervain swaying in the breeze and then the head of a perching Green Heron among the leaves of a willow tree. From the tip of the peninsula, hoping to see the creek finally flow freely into the Pine River, instead I see it continue slowly past additional sediment- producing landforms as well as through an expanse of pond weeds and water lilies. This overgrowth of aquatic vegetation is caused by too much fertilizer in the water from too much cow manure spread on too much cropland, upstream. Also, this manure adds excess organic material to the water which decays, depleting the water of oxygen which can kill fish and other aquatic life. In one of the shallow pools, I observe several swimming female Mallards where one of them quacks at me before taking off. From a distance, I spot a Lesser Yellowlegs and then watch it swing its head back and forth with the tip of its bill in the water, foraging for aquatic insects, small fish and crustaceans. Like many other shorebirds, the Lesser Yellowlegs rebounded from hunting in the early 20th century but has declined again from losses of wetland habitats. While still observing the Yellowlegs, I notice another Green Heron wading nearby and catching fish. Turning around and heading back, I trudge through tall, wet grass where I see a Stinging Nettle plant displaying chains of green flowers as well as Green Bulrush displaying dark brown flower clusters. After passing a Shagbark hickory tree with its “shaggy” bark and husk-covered nuts, I approach the car just in time to see a Monarch Butterfly land on a willow branch. Before leaving for home, I take one last look at Honeyoye Creek, an important natural resource for Gratiot County.

Greetings I give

As you arrive

Nature in her glory

Verdant and alive

Finches of gold

Build their nest

Seeking thistle

No time to rest

Summer month

With no peer

Welcome August

Glad you’re here

 

D. DeGraaf