One of the joys of taking a leisurely paddle along Ohio’s rivers is the opportunity to look at things you do not normally get to see close-up. Usually, we are on the land side of the riverbank looking down, but as we travel along the arteries of our landscape, we can appreciate a very different perspective.
While we are literally floating on top of the water, we get to see the forces of nature at work in the river itself – look for eddies, turbulence, and the clarity and color of the water itself. Examine the riverbed – rocks, pebbles, sand, fallen logs. Amateur geologists are in for a blast as they can spot different rock formations and depending on how deep the channel the river has carved over the centuries, may well be able to trace back time itself in the multiple layers of rock formations forming parts of the riverbanks – shales, sandstones, pudding rock, granites and more.
Paddling along, you become a temporary visitor to another realm of nature – living in the water are not just many types of fish but look out for eels, mollusks, insects, and amphibians. And where there are dragonflies and fish, there is bird life – swooping down to find a tasty snack. Watch for the nests in the trees and birds such as hawks and eagles, which are highly evolved, diving fast to catch their prey.
Along the banks of a river are the habitats for many more members of our animal kingdom – from frogs and toads to beavers and their famous dams, otters, water voles, badgers, dormice, rabbits, weasels, foxes and more. A riverbank hard to access for a human is a great habitat for others to make their home.
It is not just animals to watch out for, but our plants and trees – not only do many species thrive on a riverbank and in the water itself, but they are essential to maintain the structure of the riverbank, helping prevent erosion and holding it together. Willows, in particular, are known for their huge drinking abilities, fast growing limbs and intricate root networks.
All these different aspects of life on, in and around a river are often overlooked by us humans as we go about our daily lives on land, but are there to be seen and enjoyed as we paddle our kayaks downstream. And, of course, this is a wholly integrated ecosystem – each part highly dependent on every other part.
Of course, for much of our recent industrial history rivers were treated as nothing more than a dumping ground for our waste and many – notably the Cuyahoga – were declared dead at the height of industrial pollution. But due to extensive works and regulations to clean up our waterways, nature has found a way to return in abundance – which is great news for us and our flora and fauna.
Yet our industrial past has left a legacy to provide one more area of interest to examine as we enjoy life on the water – watch out for the remnants of our industrial history. Look for telltale signs of former dams, jettys, landing docks, pump houses, bridges, locks and more. Rivers are crucial to our wellbeing – enjoy the beauty and marvel at their vitality.