Meanwhile, ... Upstream...

While the ephemeral waterfall is a mad torrent of roaring water, the main sinkholes of Wodehouse Creek, 2.5 km (1,6 mi.) upstream have overflowed and flooded, creating the ephemeral Wodehouse Lake.  The water at the next bridge upstream is at least 18" higher than I have ever seen, and the backed-up lake extends nearly 4 km. along the creek.

This is the view down the lake, from the first upstream bridge.  Check the elm tree in the distance and compare it to the photo below taken only two weeks ago, after the stream had opened up, but before it started to flood.

I find it fascinating to stop by here, only 2 sideroads away from our place, to watch the water levels fluctuate at this time of year.

Turning and looking north, this is the view, as the typically narrow little creek is now a lake 200 yards wide, and probably 10 feet deep here at the bridge.   Check that tall tree on the left and compare it to below, again taken two weeks ago.

This little creek, which eventually flows over that ephemeral waterfall, has to be one of the most dynamic, changing drainage systems in Ontario, if not Canada.  Such a unique pattern of change, simply because all the water at this time of year can't fit down the sinkholes.

Meanwhile, in case you haven't heard, we woke to minus temperatures and a fresh 3" of snow, a fairly typical event for mid-April here, but the subject of a lot of moans and groans today!  But the white snow served to highlight the numerous little temporary streams flowing downhill in the neighbourhood.  This ditch will be dry again til next spring in a few weeks.

All the little (and big) wetlands are flooded with run-off, this one along another stream nearby.  Wetlands will retain water longer than the open flooded ditches, contributing to creek flow later through the season.

Another temporary stream just down the road - in this case draining into another smaller flooded sinkhole you can see in the background.  This sinkhole does not feed a waterfall, but flows entirely underground, feeding a spring that bursts out of the rocky cliff about a half a mile to the east.

A wild time of year for water draining across the landscape, and a wilder year than normal, given our excessive snowfall that all needs to melt!