Walking Tour

Welcome to Brook Lake!

Brook Lake, also known as the West Hylebos Wetlands, is located in Federal Way, Washington.

Above is the map of our observation site! There are 19 different stations with a brief description for you to learn and explore. Please enjoy!

Station 1: BIG LEAF MAPLE

Big Leaf Maple

The Big Leaf Maple (Acer Macrophyllum) is one of the most common, yet one of the most magnificent trees we have here in the Puget Sound area. As it’s common name would suggest, the Big Leaf Maple is characterized by its very broad, lobed leaves, usually split into five lobes. The Big Leaf Maple is a deciduous tree, meaning that it is a broad-leaved tree, and loses its leaves in the fall. These trees are native to this area and grow all over the Pacific Coast from Southern Alaska to Southern California. Big Leaf Maples are everywhere around the Puget Sound area and you can easily identify them. To help remember the shape of the leaf, just think of the Canadian flag, which boasts a Big Leaf Maple leaf. However, if their leaves haven’t fully grown in the early spring, look for their flowers, which dangle off of the branches and resemble yellow green grapes. Maples also have seeds called samaras, which you may have seen before. They are winged seeds that look like helicopter blades and they whirl to the ground. The Big Leaf Maple flower is edible, just in case you get hungry. Can you spot any other Big Leaf Maples from this vantage point?

Station 2: PLANTS IN GRASS AREA

Grass area

One of the many great bonuses of our observation site that many people might overlook is its abundance of grassy areas. Natural sites in urban areas are often restricted trails and hikes and even if there are parks with grasslands, they are usually mowed and manicured. Brook Lake is an excellent example of how grass can play an essential part in increasing biodiversity and biomass. We didn’t fully appreciate these grassy areas at first when we were learning about trees and shrubs but when we transitioned to invertebrates and fungi and even birds, we found ourselves with our noses in the grass. Grassy areas are excellent places to look for a wide range of beautiful wild flowers, mushrooms, and arthropods. You should watch your step as you walk around in the tall grass, not only for flowers and mushrooms but as you get closer to the lake, you can spot frogs hopping all over the place. Tall grasses are also great places to look for birds, although probably not at close range. There are a variety of birds around this area that hop around in the grass looking for food. A lot of people might not think that looking in the grass is a good place to look for biodiversity but it’s a great place to start!

Station 3: ANIMAL BEHAVIOR IN MARSH AREA

Marsh area

To the average person, this part of the tour might seem less attractive. Marshy areas tend to be very muddy, dirty looking, and can even smell because it is shallow still water. Even though it can be gross and unappealing, this marsh is overflowing with wildlife, pun intended. Marshes are excellent habitats for reptiles like frogs, toads, turtles, and salamanders. On any given day you can find little frogs hopping near the marshes. On warmer sunny days, you can spot painted turtles or red-eared sliders basking in the sun on a rock or a log. Marshes also make great homes for birds. Marsh wrens, Red-winged Blackbirds, Cowbirds, and many other birds find their nesting grounds in marshes. If you are lucky, you can even spot a Great Blue Heron that fishes for food in this area, wading around the marsh. There are also Northern Shovelers at Brook Lake, which use there wide bills to shovel through the marsh for food. Marshes are also great places for a variety of plants to grow. Giant cattails (Typha), Horsetails (Equisetum), and Skunk Cabbage (Lysichiton Americanus) are a few examples of water loving marsh plants. Marshes may seem uninviting but it might be fun and enlightening to venture into one. Just don’t forget your boots.

Station 4: LAND USE

Brook Lake

Here is the beautiful centerpiece of our observation site. Brook Lake is just one small portion of the much larger West Hylebos State Park, which is a wildlife refuge, ecological and hydrological conservatory, and a nature trail. Brook Lake is home to hundreds of species of moss, lichen, fungi, plants, trees, fish, birds, mammals, reptiles and other living species, but we will get more into those details as we continue our walking tour. Brook Lake is a small portion of the 120-acre West Hylebos State Park, which contains a staggering amount of biodiversity. Brook Lake is a crucial part of the park because it provides a wide range of habitats for different species of plants and animals. Just in this small range there is a lake, a marsh, a fresh water stream, a grassy area, and a forest area. Because of this range of habitats, there is a huge amount of biodiversity in and around Brook Lake. From the tiny invertebrates that crawl through the grass to the monumental Douglas firs and Sitka spruces, there is so much to explore in this area. Brook Lake is a wildlife sanctuary and is a conservatory protected by the city of Federal Way.

Station 5: SPRUCE TREES

Sitka Spruce tree

The Sitka Spruce tree (Picea Stichensis) is another very common coniferous tree species here in the Pacific Northwest. Spruce trees can be found almost everywhere in the Puget Sound area but they are most prolific on the Olympic Peninsula, more specifically, the Olympic Coast. One of the interesting weather and climate facts about Washington State is that the amount of rainfall varies as you move across the state. This is contrary to what most people believe about Washington. The air picks up moisture from the Pacific Ocean and makes its way into Washington and as the air rises as it crosses the Olympic Mountains, it drops record amounts of precipitation. The Olympic Coast receives ~140 inches of rain a year! The Sitka Spruce love moisture so they thrive along this coast. You can easily determine if a tree is a Spruce just by touching the needles. If the needles are extremely stiff and they hurt as you wrap your hand around the branch, it is most likely a spruce. Just remember that “spruces are spiney.” You can also spot Spruces by their potato chip-like bark. Spruces also sprout new branches in the spring and you can tell the new leafs from the old leaves because the new leaves are a bright green-blue color. They sprout out of what look like little baby cones and grow out at a fast rate and look like long fingers. Can you tell which leaves are new and which are old?

Station 6: ECOLOGICAL INTERACTION

Pond behind the lake

One of the awesome added bonuses of our observation site is that it has both still fresh water, like Brook Lake, and moving fresh water. Near the back of our observation site, hidden behind the lake and some trees, there is a stream that runs through the forest. Right where the trail ends, a fallen tree has dammed up the stream and created a little reservoir. Observing this small pond was a lot like observing tide pools. There are a lot of little creatures swimming around in the pond but it is hard to reach so I could not tell if there were small fish or tadpoles. The pond is a great place for animals and plants that need clean fresh water. The lake is a source of fresh water but since there is no water leaving or coming in, the water quality is often very low. This pond has still water but the stream provides a constant inlet and outlet of water, which allows the water quality to remain fresh and clean. There are also salmon that run through this stream so this pond provides an excellent resting place for salmon making their journey upstream. Can you spot any signs of fish or other wildlife near this pond?

Station 7: GEOLOGY/GEOMORPHOLOGY

Stream

As I mentioned at the previous station, there is a fresh water stream that runs through the state park. The stream provides fresh clean drinking water for the wildlife that live in the park, such as deer. It is also a source of water for the plants surrounding the stream. It is also a salmon breeding grounds. On April 15^th, a group of students teamed up with a wildlife conservation group called EarthCorps and released salmon into the Hylebos Creek. This is an annual event and it serves to conserve and maintain salmon populations in this area, as well as educating young students on salmon life cycles. The salmon released by this team of students and conservationists are thriving in the wetland stream system. Streams are very important for biodiversity because they act as corridors for fish and other wildlife. They also serve as channels in the water cycle and collect precipitation runoff. Not only is the Hylebos Creek stream important for the ecosystem and its biodiversity, but it is a beautiful place to enjoy nature. Wildlife is naturally drawn to water so you are sure to spot some sort of animal if you are patient and quiet enough. Do you see any signs of wildlife near the stream?

Station 8: LADY FERNS

Lady Ferns

One of the most amazing yet overlooked plants in all of history is the fern. Ferns are a family of plants that have existed three hundred and sixty million years and had little to no genetic change. Ferns are low growing plants and have wide long reaching leaves called fronds, which are each divided into smaller leaflets, according to their species. Ferns have neither seeds nor flowers, but if you look underneath a fern frond, you will find spore pods through which they reproduce. Our observation site has a number of different species of ferns. One of the most common species of ferns across the Pacific Northwest is the Sword Fern. You can identify them through their jagged leaflets that resemble little blades and are dark green. Our site also has a lot of Lady Ferns, which have rounder, more delicate leaflets and are a bright green. The last species of fern at our observation site is the Deer Fern. The Deer Fern looks very similar to the Sword Fern but instead of having sharp, jagged leaflets, they are very round and interconnected at the base, all the way down the frond. Can you identify these different species of fern? 

Station 9: BIRDS

Wetland and Forest area for birds

Brook Lake is home to a wide variety of birds. There are a number of different ways to identify a bird. If you cannot see the bird or the bird is in a tree and hard to spot, try to listen for it’s call or song. Listening and practicing birdcalls is a fun and educational way to spend a sunny afternoon. It is always a good idea to have a bird field guide to help identify a bird if you can see it as well. There are more than one hundred bird species that frequent Brook Lake including woodpeckers, warblers, sparrows, and great blue herons. If you are unable to spot any other birds, you are sure to at least see the different ducks that live at Brook Lake. There is a family of mallards as well as a few gadwalls that I have seen a few times. Mallards and gadwalls look very similar, especially the females, but an easy way to distinguish the two is by looking at their epaulets. Mallards have blue-green epaulets and gadwalls have white epaulets. There are also Northern Shovelers in this area as well and you can identify them by their large wide bills, which they use as a shovel to look for food. Since West Hylebos State Park is mostly a marsh, there are a lot of marsh living birds near Brook Lake. Red-winged blackbirds are birds that nest in marshes and you can spot them from time to time. Do you hear or see any birds?

Station 10: LICHENS/FUNGI

Lichens growing on tree branches in the forest

Lichens and mushrooms are fundamental parts of an ecosystem. Lichens are symbiotic organisms consisting of a fungus and a photosynthetic partner. Lichens can be hard to spot because they come in a variety of different forms. They can be in crustose form, which, as its name suggests, is paint like and crusty. It can also come in foliose form, which looks leafy and has a definite topside and bottom side. Lastly, it can come in fruticose form, which looks branched. Lichens grow can grow in almost type of environment, even the world’s most harshest places. Lichens can grow on tree trunks, branches, soil, shrubs, rocks, and even in water. The most common lichen found at our observation site is Old Man’s Beard, which hangs off of tree branches and can resemble moss. Some lichens, such as Dragon’s Skin lichen, are very important in the ecosystem because they act as nitrogen fixers. Other types of fungi, such as micorrhizal fungi, are parasitic fungi that have symbiotic relations with trees by providing more surface area for water intake and photosynthesis. There are 37 different types of lichen and 30 different types of fungi at West Hylebos State Park. Can you find or see any lichen or fungi?

Station 11: TURTLES

Large log in the lake

Here in Brook Lake, We spotted Painted Turtles (Chrysemys Picta) on logs in the lake. These turtles are a part of the pond turtles in the family Emydidae and the western part of the four subspecies. Although there were ecological disturbances, fallen trees became convenient for water animals, used as a perching area for these Painted Turtles. Painted Turtles bask on these logs for warmth, which can be seen in this area during the spring and summer. In this station, the lake is quite small; therefore, many of the Painted Turtles are huddled up on one or two logs. As for food, they forage for various types of food from insects to plants to seeds. Being food for animals such as a raccoon, Painted turtles defend themselves by kicking or urinating, but here in Brook Lake, we never encountered this before, therefore cannot provide further self discovered observations. Visiting this station, you will not be able to observe these turtles as well because they are pretty distant from the water edge. Using binoculars will help see them and other water animals in the lake. People visiting Brook Lake during the winter will not be able to see them at all because Painted Turtles hibernate until around February when the weather gets warmer.

Station 12: THIMBLEBERRY AND SALMONBERRY SHRUBS

Thimbleberry and Salmonberry shrubs

Our observation site is home to many shrubs, especially to the Thimbleberries and Salmonberries. Thimbleberries known as the Rubus Parviflorus and Salmonberries known as the Rubus Spectabilis are native to western North America, hence they are seen everywhere, from forests to roadsides. Brook Lake is a deciduous forested wetland meaning that Thimbleberries and Salmonberries are present here. Thimbleberries have distinct soft leaves that are different from other plant leaves, sometimes called the toilet paper of the forest because they are so incredibly soft. As for Salmonberries, their flowers are very distinct having a bright pink/purple color with five petals. Thimbleberries grow berries that are much larger than raspberries once ripened in the summertime, but in our observation site, we were more intrigued by the Salmonberries because of their large, bright, orange and red berries. Matured in late summers, berries on the Salmonberries are seen everywhere, here in the moist areas of Brook Lake, unlike the Thimbleberries. We were able to observe the growth of the Salmonberries and even try them. The taste was very similar to a raspberry, but had a more of a tangy flavor and contained more seeds. Unfortunately, we were not able to see any berries from the Thimbleberries, but were able to see their flowers bloom. Here in this area, these shrubs are always seen together; therefore, we dedicated this site for these two shrubs.

Station 13: SKUNK CABBAGE

Skunk Cabbage in the wetlands

The Western Skunk Cabbage known as the Lysichiton Americanus are one of the three types of Lysichitons. In Brook Lake, skunk cabbages are seen near the stream because they are known to grow in wet areas and swampy areas. The name was given to them due to the fact that they have an unusual odor to them, giving off a “skunky” aroma. The unique thing about these cabbages is that they have a flower that grows in the center, which can be seen during the springtime. The flowers on these cabbages are yellow and are the ones that give off the smell. Although this station is too damp for close observations, they can be seen from afar, because of its smell and large leaves. This station was mainly dedicated to Skunk Cabbages because they are only seen along streams and of the odor it emits around here. The smell is so distinct, you identify this area strictly as the Skunk Cabbage field. The odor from the flowers draws in certain insects, which are their way of reproducing.  Because Brook Lake is an area part of the Hylebos watershed, you will be able to see many speicies growing around this moist area next to the stream.

Station 14: RED ALDER TREE 

Red Alder tree

 The Red Alder Tree (Alnus rubra) is a deciduous broadleaf tree that is native to the Pacific Northwest area. They are the most common native hardwood in the Pacific Northwest. These trees can grow to heights of 50-120 feet high. The Red Alder gets its name from the red colored bark. The leaves of the Alder are serrated and have a distinct point at the end. The alder grows catkins, which are 3-6 inches pine cone-like attachments that grow throughout the year. There are female and male parts to the alder tree. The male catkins are red and dangle while the female catkins are cone-like ovals. This tree grows beside the Douglas fir, western hemlock, grand fir, western redcedar, and the Sitka spruce. They are very unique and valuable to a forest because they are nitrogen fixers, which allow alders to grow in nitrate poor soils. When they set the nitrogen in the soil, they are able to prepare for a coniferous woodland area. Their pollination process consists of wind-dispersed seeds that quickly distributes along the forest. They are fast growing trees and can grow well by the water and boggy areas. This alder is found right next to the lake. The soil is extremely moist and it grows next to plants that are susceptible to extremely moist environments. An easy way to identify an alder is by its spotted bark. The alder has white spots on its bark. Another way is by the oval pointed shaped leaves. However, the most distinguishable feature of the alder is the catkins. Can you spot an alder with spots? 

Station 15: ECOLOGICAL DISTURBANCE

Nurse Log

Thirty years ago, this tree fell. However, it did not go to waste. This tree became a nurse log and housed many different species. This log decayed which allowed an ecological facilitation to new growth. They provide shade and support to other plants. They also provide new growth plants to receive water and protect them from diseases while obtaining a massive amount of nutrients. This nurse log allows a special fungus called Mycorrhizae to grow and provide enough surface area for other plants. This fungus has a symbiotic relationship with the roots of land plants. This association is an important component for soil life and soil chemistry. Birds benefit from these nurse logs because they provide areas for perching, forging and nursing. Mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and invertebrates find refuge in the cavities of the nurse log. Some species feed on the decaying matter of the nurse log, while fungi and mushrooms can flourish on these logs by breaking down organic matter to release nutrients needed for the ecosystem. The logs can store energy and fix nitrogen. They can also lessen soil erosion. The nurse log in the picture had many different species on it. They nurse baby big-leaf maple tree, sword fern, moss, worms, and many other things. It is easy to identify a nurse log, all you need to do is find a broken dead tree.

Station 16: INVERTEBRATES

Soil and dirt where ants live

This area is covered with invertebrates, especially ants. The type of ants that could possibly infest this area would be carpenter ants and thatching ants. Carpenter ants are found in moist areas. This area often gets lots of rainfall and is a perfect environment for the ants. The carpenter ants usually infest homes, but can live outside as well. They forage on the ground in low vegetation areas and usually forage at night. Thatching ants or Formica obscuripes are the ants that build mounds of small sticks and conifer needles. I am certain that there are thatching ants here because of the massive conifer tree population in the area. They are basically harmless, but can spray formic acid. We saw these ants crawl between the small sticks carrying and foraging things for food and their homes. These ants are black and are quite large and are often found in groups. It is unlikely to just see one ant in an area like a spider, but these ants usually cover an area like the pile of sticks above. These ants are good at removing tree pests and help protect forests. Colonies can have up to 35,000 ants. Look carefully as you walk through this station. You are likely to find the ants below your feet or even crawling up your leg!

Station 17: VINES

Trailing Blackberry vines

In this station, we can find many different shrubs tangled together. Not only can we find shrubs, but also vines. The vine shrub found in this area is the trailing blackberry. They are part of the Rosaceae family. The blackberry is native in the Northwest from the Cascades to the Pacific Ocean and is likely to spread covering the ground. They are a deciduous vine or evergreen low-growing vine and they can grow up to 0.50 feet high and spread very quickly. They grow black colored berries that feed primates and birds in the area. They are valuable in the forests because the berries attract birds. When in season, people who visit this area enjoy berry picking because the vast majority of this vine produce fruit that grow very quickly.  Their flowers are white and the leaves are lobed and double serrated. The petals on the flowers are distinguishable compared to other berry trees because of the narrow petals. They grow in dry to moist areas and tolerate droughts. Trailing blackberries can thrive easily in soil that is naturally fertile, easily worked, and holding moisture; especially when they are being planted. The stems on this plant can grow very wide and they are covered with thorns, which can be easily detached. 

  

Station 18: FLOWERS

Mixture of Creeping Buttercups and Lesser Periwinkle flowers

There are plentiful flowers in this station that mainly consists of periwinkle flowers and buttercup flowers. Both of these flowers grow very close to the ground, also known as ground covering plants. To begin, the lesser periwinkle flowers are very distinct because of the purple colored petals and being very small in size. They are evergreen herbs that have creeping stems growing very large in length. Lesser periwinkles thrive in condition like partial shaded areas; they can grow vigorously in moist environments and even survive droughts. The violet-purple flowers are five-lobed and can sometimes produce white flowers. The leaves of the lesser periwinkle are a rich dark green color and glossy. The leaves are the part of the plant that is evergreen. Moreover, another flower plant in the area are the Buttercups which mainly dominate this area. The creeping buttercup is invasive covering in this area. Buttercups can be a problematic plant in such areas because they over grow and compete with other plants surrounding them. This plant can tolerate very wet and poor soil. The buttercup has stolons, which are creeping horizontal plant stems that take over the roots of a plant to form new plants. The flowers of this plant usually have five to ten petals that are glossy and yellow. 

Station 19: EVERGREEN

Evergreen trees. Specifically the Douglas firs

This area showcases the beautiful coniferous trees of Brook Lake. The type of coniferous or evergreen trees that are scattered throughout this area is the Douglas fir. An evergreen simply means that the tree does not lose its leaves or change colors in any season. Conifers are simply cone-bearing seeds plants that are woody. There are mostly conifer trees and few shrubs. The Douglas fir, Pseudotsuga menziesii, is an evergreen conifer native to the pacific North West. It has “pseudo” in its Latin name because it is not a true fir despite its common name. True firs can be found under the genus, Abies. These trees can be found in coastal regions and is the second tallest conifer in the world! (First being the redwood) It is quite easy to identify this tree because of its distinct features. The trunk of the tree has deep furrows or trenches within the bark. They also have cones that are shaped like the tree; they are cone shape and are brown in color. You can often find western hemlocks beneath Douglas fir trees because the western hemlocks are shade tolerant. These trees need sun and are very shade-intolerant. The bark is hard and the leaves are needle-like. These trees are common for Christmas trees which are the easiest way to identify them.