Keller Bankston

River Impressions

The two trips that we have gone on have given me the opportunity to begin to see and experience the Wolf River and all forms of life that live along the river. We were able to see two quite different parts of the river. On the first trip to the Ghost Section we paddled through areas that seemed rather undisturbed. Along the river we were able to identify different species of plants, insects, birds, and trees while carefully maneuvering though mine fields of cypress knees through the Ghost Section. It was a challenge that I enjoyed. Trying to make it through the cypress swamp without hitting every large knee. (not a sentence!) I had seen cypress swamps countless times in southern Louisiana but I had never imagined canoeing through one.

The second trip we went on was a different part of the Wolf River. This section was closer to the city and obviously a bit more disturbed. We were able to find many interesting souvenirs one being a party ball keg from Illinois. Along this part of the river we were able to view the effects that headcutting has done to the river. Larry Smith came with us on the trip and really helped us to gain a broader understand of the river and how it has changed. Along the river Mike and I hung back with Larry for awhile and talked to him about his experiences growing up on the river as a young boy trapping animals to now and his conservation efforts he is involved with. I have really enjoyed every part of our trips to the Wolf River, from actually taking the measurements in the water to find out the channel morphology to watching Mike and Parker flip in their canoe ten times. It is the first hand lessons we learn, such as smelling the scent of apples the gyrinids give off when they are shaken that help us to understand what the Wolf River ecosystem is all about.