Cold Water Creek

The banks of snow on the edges are about to fall, it=f the weather warns be sure to use right bank to access water. This is because the sun hits right bank and you can see solid ground.
The algae is incredible. It is growing in strange patterns and in perfect circles. I will investigate the algae under the microscope to identify species. The area the algae is growing looks like there is a geological formation and a stump decomposing, potentially feeding the algae. There were tracks that look like a muskrat coming out of the water on left bank. The snow is pack so very easily and safe to move on.

The site is safe overall, the sample must be taken from right bank because when accessing the sample area, the snow bank escarpment can not be seen. The right bank receives more sunlight so the snow is pack and the grass banks of the creek can be seen to access safely.
Odour: Decomposing/Rotting.
There were deer tracks and two mallards on the creek, a male and a female. This is my first sightings of wildlife on this creek, besides a beaver. The aquatic vegetation, not sure what it was. Will look up, pictures include the vegetation. There is some incredible algae in the cold water that looks like it is growing in formations like fungus up walls. The algae are perfect circles, very strange observation. Will look into it further, and the species type.

THE TERRAIN IS VERY UNSAFE. THIS SITE CAN NOT BE ACCESSED WITHOUT PROPER GUIDANCE. The terrain is snow covered with approx., 1 meter of snowpack. The left and right banks snow escarpments are hard packed, and unstable. The water is flowing under left bank and has created an overflow approx. a meter wide. The area is unsafe for anyone to enter unless you are trained in snow and ice readiness, survival, ad safety awareness and working near water in winter. ONLY GO WITH KIKI. She is certified.
There was approx. 1 meter of snow pack. The snow was firm. No sign or sound of birds. There was green alive Canadennis milifollia in the stream.

Snow started melting. Park the vehicle on Old Garden River Rd and put some traffic cones in front as well as at the back of the vehicle and if possible turn on the flashing lights of the vehicle for safety. Snowbank is melting so be careful while climbing on. Use big grab pol to grab a water sample.

The left and right bank of creek are suspended on both sides retain water - easily break. Sample minimal 4 feet away from bank by the tree stump. The snow is cold and high. The snowpack is approx 11.25 inches deep. There is snow escarpments on left and right bank. Be careful.

The water temperature was colder than other sites but the meter did not drop even after 5 minutes. DO measurement was taken but the comparison chart said 11 although when changed in a different direction its looks 9. Using the steps given having it face on it would be 11 but in actual closer to 9 shown by aquatroll. The site was moved approximately 10 m upstream from a culvert.
Dead grass blocks seeing the path- watch steps.

There is very alive algae feeding off what looks like iron but its coming out of a stump of sorts. See photos. There is a few patches of algae and Elodea canadennis. The rocks are slippery by the site. The vegetation is still high and burrs get on everything.

Water was low and the flow of the water has visually increased towards the culverts. There is some algae that is growing and an aquatic plant I am not familiar with. It would be beneficial to know someone who we can ask about algae species. Watch your step through the vegetation and by the sample location. The rip rap is slippery and some are unstable.

The grass around the culvert is down and the woody debris has been removed that the beaver had built up in May. Now the culvert is pulling in water at a faster rate. The water is surging because of the two culverts not because of water level. Watch your step through the vegetation and look for unstable walks and uneven ground.

There is large amounts of healthy algae upstream approx 4 metres from the sampling locations. Pictures were taken underwater for PWQMN - use these to identify algae species. Watch your step through the high vegetation.