MID OWL CREEK
Crow/Scott Land
Site # MY - 15
To reach this site, go 0.2 mile south of mile number 22 on U.S. Highway 87, just south of Lodge Grass, and turn east on a gravel road (the "city" dump is on the north side of this road). Drive east one mile, then turn right. There is a sign for the Murray Brown and Son Ranch here. Turn right 3.9 miles further down the road, and right again after another 1.4 miles. 1.2 miles up this road is the Murray Brown ranch. 3.3 miles past this is another ranch. Drive through the yard and take the first left past the cattle guard. Follow the fence to the north of the hay shed for 0.4 mile to a gate. Go through the gate, staying on the "main" road, skirting the hay field. The road turns right, up the creek, staying next to the field. About 0.9 mile past the gate is a large gully, 0.5 mile later a smaller one, and 0.5 mile later another large gully. About 0.3 mile past the second large gully is a large steel pipe, about 40 meters west of the road. It is about 3 meters high. Approximately 0.1 mile beyond this pipe the land slopes towards the stream, devoid of any trees or bushy vegetation, just sage and grasses. There is a lone tree on the right bank of the upstream edge of a rose patch, marking the site.
The stream at this site is incised, but less deeply than at Upper Owl Creek. The high cut bank is bare to poorly vegetated. Much slumping is apparent. Land use is entirely grazing and banks are moderately knocked down by cattle.
The edges of the water and the stream banks are not covered with thick vegetation such as Rosebud and Sarpy Creeks, but appear to be more easily eroded.
The water is slightly turbid. Aquatic vegetation is moderate. Bed and bank material are mostly silt and fine sand. However, some nearly pure clay makes up parts of the bed and bank. There are several gravel armored riffles in this reach.
Mid Owl Creek (Site # MY - 15) was surveyed 21 August 1975.