Floodplain Forest and Meadow

Floodplain meadow along Deerfield
Trip leader Brain Yellen displaying fine sediments along nature trail

Following the trail upriver from the confluence, you arrive at a broad, flat floodplain forest and meadow. The flat topography of this side of the river is quite different from that of the east side, which has steep banks and a fair bit of bedrock in this stretch. 

The presence of these contrasting landscape features mean that during floods, the river will spread out over the flat ground to the west.   

Evidence of this seen in fine sediments found along the trail. These have been deposited during Tropical Storm Irene and other flood events.  Dig into these sediments most anyplace along the trail and you will see how sandy the soil is, largely devoid of large rocks.

The next stop on this tour is at Black Brook, where it enters the Cold Rive a few miles west on Route 2.  To continue the tour, walk back to you car, drive upstream along the Cold until you come to Black Brook Road on the left. 

Floodplain meadow along Deerfield
Trip leader Brain Yellen displaying fine sediments along nature trail

Following the trail upriver from the confluence, you arrive at a broad, flat floodplain forest and meadow. The flat topography of this side of the river is quite different from that of the east side, which has steep banks and a fair bit of bedrock in this stretch. 

The presence of these contrasting landscape features mean that during floods, the river will spread out over the flat ground to the west.   

Evidence of this seen in fine sediments found along the trail. These have been deposited during Tropical Storm Irene and other flood events.  Dig into these sediments most anyplace along the trail and you will see how sandy the soil is, largely devoid of large rocks.

The next stop on this tour is at Black Brook, where it enters the Cold Rive a few miles west on Route 2.  To continue the tour, walk back to you car, drive upstream along the Cold until you come to Black Brook Road on the left. 

Floodplain meadow along Deerfield
Trip leader Brain Yellen displaying fine sediments along nature trail

Following the trail upriver from the confluence, you arrive at a broad, flat floodplain forest and meadow. The flat topography of this side of the river is quite different from that of the east side, which has steep banks and a fair bit of bedrock in this stretch. 

The presence of these contrasting landscape features mean that during floods, the river will spread out over the flat ground to the west.   

Evidence of this seen in fine sediments found along the trail. These have been deposited during Tropical Storm Irene and other flood events.  Dig into these sediments most anyplace along the trail and you will see how sandy the soil is, largely devoid of large rocks.

The next stop on this tour is at Black Brook, where it enters the Cold Rive a few miles west on Route 2.  To continue the tour, walk back to you car, drive upstream along the Cold until you come to Black Brook Road on the left.