WETLANDS, NATURE AT WORK
(In Spite of Man?)

Acid Mine Water Discharge, Tar Creek

Image and Animation © G. Manders, sound generated with Data Pilot Pix 'n Tunes software

Wetlands in the area mostly run along the banks of the rivers and streams, with a few natural depression ponds. There are also the longer-existing man-made water bodies, including Grand Lake of the Cherokees and surprisingly, wetlands developing due to mine and tailings pile water discharge (runoff), subsidence and collapsing and collapsed mines.

Many of these areas are not noticeable from the main highway due to dense vegetation. There is risk of collapse in these areas and the land is difficult to cross due to mine subsidence, broken pieces of concrete, vegetation, chat and the wetland areas. Most are fenced now due to the hazards.

Subsidence

Image and Animations © G. Manders

There has been a lot of illegal dumping into streams by rural roads. In spite of man's negative influence on the area, wildlife are moving into the area, including beavers. The beavers are doing damage to manmade structures, for instance, a dike constructed to prevent flooding. Although there are some eyesores in this area due to the dumping and in areas dangerously unstable terrain, as you can see below, the forming wetlands are quite lovely.

 

Wetlands Forming Due to Lytle Creek Flooding

Image and Animations © G. Manders