By mid February, as the jet stream begins to oscillate and the sun creeps northward, alternating periods of cold and mild weather occur across the Heartland. During the warm interludes, Pacific storms often drop heavy rains on the frozen ground; augmented by snow melt and unable to penetrate the hard soil, this copious precipitation immediately drains into the numerous tributaries of our larger streams and rivers, eventually leading to floods.
March brings longer periods of mild weather, more frequent rains and a more rapid rate of snow melt. As the higher sun takes a toll on the frozen ground, the upper layer of the soil thaws and, saturated with precipitation, turns to mud; farmers and early spring hikers know these facts all too well. Of course, the production of mud uses only a fraction of the precipitation and the majority flows into our stream channels, increasing the flood risk as the month progresses. It is not until mid April, when leaves unfold across our woodlands, that the absorption and transpiration of excess moisture by trees and shrubs helps to ameliorate this seasonal pattern.
Though a hassle for hikers, farmers, travelers and those who live on floodplains, the wet fields, temporary pools and swollen streams are vital to the migrant waterfowl and shorebirds that stream northward during this season of mud and flood. Once again, we come to realize that nature is not in the business of pleasing humans and that we must learn to adapt to her cycles.
