STANDING WATER

Rex Burress

While much of the country is obsessed with political elections in early November 2016, there is another political upheaval in progress in North Dakota near the Standing Rock Indian Reservation. Indians versus oil pipeline.

Since there are many standing rocks, in fact, nearly any mountain is a sort of standing rock, I was trying to find out what particular rock the Sioux had selected. Even Google didn't elaborate. There is a well-known isolated standing rock called Devil's Tower in Wyoming among rocky landmarks.

We have some prominent standing rocks in the Oroville Centennial Garden: basaltic columns from Table Mountain sit upright to add some colossus to the lovely landscape design! Keith Sheehan of “Moss Rock Trucking” in Oroville knows all about standing rocks! There are Sheehan standing rocks all over Oroville—and some kind of standing rock all over earth.

Of equal interest is the issue of “standing water” at a potential “Sites Reservoir” reserve in northern California. Lake Oroville is essentially a reservoir to hold water for usage, but the more enchanting word 'lake' is the title. Below the Lake Oroville dam is another dam impounding water in a widening of the river named the Diversion Pool. Defining water containment is determined by size in a receding order: Lake Oroville, Diversion Pool, Glen Pond, rain puddle.

Although there are natural water impoundments, most standing water is created by manmade alterations to the land and building dams. Earth moving equipment is the main tool for changing the landscape, sometimes a debatable process, but often the alterations can produce side-benefits for the outdoor lover. Nature is adaptable in that seeds and growth and floods can cover the scars of earth. That is plainly apparent around Lake Oroville where plants and trees have filled the landscape between trails. Park protection is the preserving factor.

Teichert Pond in Chico and the fishing ponds in River Bend Park in Oroville are water-filled rock quarries, dependent on overflow from streams, and in Oroville, seepage through the gravel from the adjacent Feather River keeps them full.

I have found a rich nature refuge around the Diversion Pool area that has been torn asunder by man- diggings in the past, first by the gold mining destruction in the 1800's, and then by the dam-building devastation a century later. For years since retirement I have clamored around the pool seeking out nature subjects to work into art, or continuing with nature interpretative walks and writing. The Feather River Nature Center and the Lake Oroville Visitor Center has been a boon for me. Now at 83, I'm trying to hold my own with shorter skirmishes afield.

If the Diversion Pool is a fortunate side benefit for park users, Glen Pond is even more of a favorite place. The pond was created when a railroad dam cut off Glen Creek, and now it is kept full by the adjacent Diversion Pool seepage. In the surrounding Blue Oak Forest I have seen bobcat, mountain lion, coyote, fox, turkey, and any number of birds. I was resting on the shore once and a turkey flew across the pond and landed a few feet from me, thoroughly surprised! He eased away slowly, picking at seeds, pretending I wasn't there, feeling foolish no doubt, and then burst into a run down the path!

The early morning encounter with Canada Geese was special, too. As they lifted off and flew over my head, drops of water was showered on me! Such are the joys of recreated habitat.

In the Missouri countryside, every farm has a small pond to store water for summer, just as farm houses have cistern wells near the kitchen. Those ponds were a boon to a landlocked boy prowling the woods and water for outdoor wonders to fulfill my hunger for understanding nature. The Missouri Department of Conservation was intent on teaching youth about wildlife and offered a Nature Knight program that local game warden Sid arranged for me. I was well-supplied with field guides to complete my certificate. My interest eventually led to a refuge naturalist job at Oakland's Lake Merritt. Watery nature has led the way. Hallelujah!

“Many drops make a bucket, many buckets make a pond, many ponds make a pool, many pools make a lake, and many lakes make an ocean.” --Percy Ross

“It's hard for the modern generation to understand Thoreau, who lived beside a pond but didn't have water skies or a snorkel.” --Bill Vaughn