This picture shows the portion of Lilly Branch watershed that goes underground through a culvert.
The one thing that struck out to me was how secluded the culvert was. Because this was so well hidden, I was surprised when I first came across this portion of the creek. Aside from its location, I was also surprised to see the area surrounding the culvert. It was very unnatural. The creek loses its natural aesthetic when it flows between the concrete. Since the area is surrounded by trees, it is difficult for light to shine on the creek. As seen in the picture, the dim nature of this area makes it difficult for some plant life to grow.
This picture made me think about how hidden this culvert was. If I didn’t wander into the woods, I would’ve never stumbled upon it. This picture reinforces the idea that most of the watershed is out of sight. Just because it’s difficult to spot, it doesn’t mean it’s insignificant. People with limited knowledge about the watershed may not see the importance of this culvert and the area around it.
When I look at this photo, I feel a sense of responsibility to maintain the watershed. Even though this portion is out of sight, it brought to my attention that most of the watershed here is hidden. The watershed’s importance does not diminish because it is difficult to spot.
I think this picture conveys the hidden nature of the watershed. It shows that parts of a watershed may be difficult to find, but we should be aware that our actions can affect the health of the watershed.
