Originally appeared in the March/April 1977 article of "Riffles & Eddies"

The word tide in the above heading may seem to be a bit out of place in Boone County, but interpreted loosely the word tide means a periodic rise and fall of water. In the spring of the year we have such a rise and fall of water which, with a bit of poetic license, we could call "springtides" of the rivers.

When a river "tides up" or floods we generally associate it with a time of thundering torrents and vast destruction. Which does happen at times. However, a closer look at the other side of this annual event reveals that the flooding initiates a whole series of complex and interrelated happenings upon which we as nearby inhabitants rely upon for survival.

As a river or stream cuts its way through the land it forms a wide area next to the main stream which when the water overflows the stream banks accepts excess water. The extent to which this extra water spreads is called the flood plain. As is known by every farmer, the flood plain generally contains rich soil and lends itself to crop raising. The richness of this soil is not only caused by, but relies upon the river's flood waters.

At the same time these same floods often cause the river to change its course at certain points which, after the floodwaters recede, leave sections of the old stream bed isolated from the mainstream but still contain water.

These oxbows, as they are most often called, become highly fertile areas for the production of a great variety of creatures. When afforded the opportunity to sprout, hatch or be born and grow, these plants and animals all add to the diversity and quality of the flood plain. Later in the season when the stream again rises it may not overflow its banks in a mighty rush as during the spring but may provide a gentle flowing pathway between the main stream and the oxbows. It is along these pathways that these newly raised fish, frogs, and all sorts of invertebrates will travel to the main stream and thereby "restock" it to the benefit of all the inhabitants that it serves. To drain or otherwise deny the stream's access to the oxbows also denies the river's ability to "restock" itself.

While all these other things are happening this same floodplain is acting asa water recharging system in that is absorbs the excess flood waters slowly and allows them to filter into the ground and holds them to be available for use by nearby living things during drier times. This recharge system is quite important to us as we obtain a great deal more water from relatively shallow sources and with more development with, consequently, more demands for usable water, the system is becoming increasingly vital to our quality of life.

On your next walk along the Kishwaukee or one if its tributaries you might pause to reflect that the area isn't just a nice park or open space but an intricate and necessary part of the natural scheme of things.