| 6 images (7 September 2015) Here is yet another reason why active beaver ponds offer a significant positive impact to the ecological health of Pebble Creek Valley. When a beaver pond is abandoned, it of course loses its water, exposing the upstream side of the dam. It is an ideal habitat for invasive weeds. On Pebble Creek, at the formerly huge, now empty Upper Pond, the dam has been taken over by Canada thistle, one of the most invasive, noxious, non-native weeds in Summit County. This is the big upper pond, now virtually empty. When full, water covered nearly the entire lower half of the image. 
Invasive Canada thistles now cover the upstream side of the beaver dam, which of course would be under water if the pond were full. 
The dam stretches hundreds of meters across the width of the valley. 
Canada thistle flower 
|