The Fontenelle Forest wetlands were under up to 12 feet of water
for the entire summer of 2011. The
wetlands were officially closed and the access road to them was blocked off.
The entire area was off limits to boat traffic and flooded tracks forced the
railroad to close. I managed to hike
down from the hills above the wetlands on trails that hadn't been used for months.
The trails to the wetlands were overgrown. Spider webs crossed the trail every couple of
feet. I stopped to photograph a Red Spotted Purple butterfly
on the side of the trail.
When I reached the railroad tracks, I found that the
wetlands had become a tranquil lake. The
distant trees looked like the shore but the trees were actually standing in
feet of water.
The two story viewing stand that looked over the lake was now surrounded by it and
nearly level with the water.
The distant view was beautiful but a closer inspection
showed death and destruction. There were
deer bones on the tracks. The deer may
have been a victim of the flood.
Several Turkey Vultures were on the tracks waiting for victims of the flood to float by.
A large snapping turtle lay dead in the grass along the side of the tracks. It had apprently slipped on the grass trying to get to land and the thick grass had prevented it from turning back upright.
A Barred Owl watched me as I hiked back home.
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