Naturalist leads program exploring creatures in creeks

Children and adults splashed and stomped into a creek at Oak Mountain State Park to explore what was hidden under the surface on Saturday morning. They had come for a program called Lake Stomp, but because the lake at the park had already been stirred up, they traveled to a creek nearby instead. 

"Carefully pull up rocks and look on the bottom side of it, and you will be able to find some creatures," naturalist Emily Cook explained to the kids. "Submerged rocks will have more underneath them than the ones are not."

As the kids and adults alike overturned rocks, Cook helped them identify what they were seeing, using their findings to also teach them more about the creeks.

Damselflies and dragonflies lay eggs in water with up to 15 molts before they hatch. If you find them, Cook said, you know a stream is healthy because they like clean water. Salamanders serve a similar purpose.

"If we see a lot of them, it's a good location," Cook said.

Program participants also uncovered crayfish, which is semitolerant of polluted water, so it is not necessarily as strong of an indicator of the creek's health. Some will adapt to different pollution levels.

As the Lake Stompers continued to explore under rocks, Cook identified casing of a caddisfly that protects its soft body and taught them about different varieties of snails.

The park offers Lake Stomp once a year, but Cook said they are hoping to do so more often in the future.