I chose ‘Beaver Way’ in Centennial Woods for my Phenology project. I originally decided upon this location just by wandering the trails through the woods until I came upon an area that would be easy to identify again. The footbridge and “Beaver Way” sign immediately caught my attention as a site where there was visible human intervention. Upon further inspection, I noticed a sign (pictured on the right) that quite contradicted my original assumption. This bridge is supposedly not evidence of human intervention, but of yielding control to nature—beavers specifically. I’m interested in how the presence of beavers here will impact the stream and riparian zone surrounding it.
The path I took to the bridge is shown in orange, following a human-made trail through the woods.
Vegetation in the area:
- Red Maple https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/246653507
- Japanese Barberry https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/246653607
- Wood Ferns https://inaturalist.org/observations/246654489
- Blackberry Brambles https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/246654331
Above is a short video showing the full landscape of ‘Beaver Way’.