Green Herons and flooding at Holcim Wetlands east of Florence

[SeEtta Moss]

Though Fremont County didn't get the extensive damage and flooding as northern areas of the state did, we received some amazing amounts of rain that caused some flooding.  I got just over 6 inches at my home in Canon City (annual average moisture is just over 13 inches) and areas to the east got similarly large amounts.  I drove to Holcim Wetlands yesterday and found it quite flooded with the trail entry that goes under the RR bridge under about a foot of water.  I met up with an employee of Holcim and accompanied him into Holcim Wetlands via an alternative route (I am on the citizen advisory board for Holcim).  The wetland pond was almost bankful and much of the wetland vegetation was under water.  The Arkansas River which is adjacent to the wetlands (which are obviously in a previous river channel) blew right through the trail on the west and north sides in several areas flooding the wetlands pond.  And Hardscrabble Creek that runs on the east side of the wetlands overflowed the trail on the east side of the wetlands and poured water under the trail into the wetland pond also. 

I did see 3 Green Heron but few other birds (1 Great Blue Heron, small flock of Blue-winged Teal and a couple of DC Cormorants).  I have uploaded photos I got of one of the Green Heron onto my Birds and Nature blog as well as photos of the wetlands and trail.

The trail suffered extensive damage and it will take some time before they will be able to get the heavy equipment in to fix the blow outs.  It will also be some time before the water goes down under the RR bridge and the remaining mud dries up for entry.

SeEtta Moss

Canon City
Personal blog @ http://BirdsAndNature.blogspot.com
Blogging for Birds an Blooms Magazine @ http://BirdsAndBloomsBlog.com