Date: October 07, 2025, 06:45 AM CT
Subject: Horses, River/Creek Levels, and Landscapes
Conditions: Water: low, Wind: calm, Light: overcast, Temp: 67°F
I’m spending the next 12 months within a two- to three-mile loop on the Jacks Fork River corridor to build a four-season portfolio—landscapes, river scenes, and the wild horses in their natural environment. The goal is simple: to show change over time and tell a real story of a place, not just take one lucky or pretty photograph. This expands on my announcement from October 5, 2025.
Introduction
No fine art photos today. Strictly environmental work and checking the status of the river, creeks, and fields. The water levels in the river and creeks are currently extremely low, having trended downward for some time.
Due to a lapse in government funding, the majority of USGS websites will not be updated except to provide important public safety information ( www.doi.gov/shutdown), making my on the ground updates more important than ever.
Congress didn’t pass FY2026 appropriations (or a temporary extension) by October 1, 2025, so under the Antideficiency Act agencies must stop non-excepted work until a funding law is signed. Funding expired at 12:01 a.m. EDT on October 1, 2025 after a partisan impasse over spending; the shutdown is ongoing. (Source: Reuters)
All images and text on timlaytonfineart.com are the © of Timothy P. Layton and Tim Layton & Associates, LLC 2000-2025. Please review the copyright notice if you would like to use any of the images or text.
Field Summary
- Access/footing: dry; Crowd level: none
- Time on site: 3 hours 17 minutes.
- Safety/stewardship: Picked up trash along the riverbank (fishing bait containers, beer and soda cans, old rope, and a juice pack).
Subject Variables
Horses
- Presence/count: No horses found today. The grass was still 6 to 8 feet tall in the main fields next to the river and has been since June. I have never seen the fields in this condition in the ten years that I have been tracking and following the wild horses. I am unclear why this is happening, and I am sure it is keeping the horses out of the area because I have not found them in this area for several months now.
An overgrown field is mostly tall, old grass and weeds. It smothers new growth, lowers forage quality, and hides hazards—so it’s unhealthy for the land and unappealing to wild horses.
- Old, rank grasses = high fiber, low protein; horses prefer short, fresh regrowth.
- Thick thatch blocks the sun and water from the soil, reducing plant diversity and vigor.
- Dense cover hides holes, rocks, and predators; poor sightlines make horses wary of their surroundings.
River/Creeks
- Jacks Form River Level: low (2.12 ft. avg with a trend down); Clarity: clear; Surface: smooth
- Big Shawnee Creek: very low, clear, smooth.
- Little Shawnee Creek: very low, clear, smooth
- Change since last visit: N/A
Jacks Fork River Level
Landscape
- Fields: Overgrown and in poor condition.
- Sky: overcast with mist and light rain
- Seasonal cues: The first hint of fall colors is starting to emerge.
Observations on Change
- Since October 1, 2025: The river level has continued to trend downward, and the current levels are very low. The bank erosion is very evident in numerous places along the river where I am checking. The fields where the horses tend to graze frequently remain drastically overgrown since June, and no sign of the horses.
Personal Note
I’m concerned about the heavy overgrowth in the main river fields. Since early summer, tall, rank grass has taken over, and horse sightings have drastically dropped. That’s a problem because overgrown fields don’t meet the horses’ needs—and they avoid them.
Forage: Tall, stemmy grass is high fiber and low protein. Horses seek short, fresh regrowth.
Field health: Thick thatch shades the soil and sheds rain, cutting vigor and plant diversity.
Safety: Dense cover blocks sightlines and hides hazards/predators, so horses stay away.
All images and text on timlaytonfineart.com are the © of Timothy P. Layton and Tim Layton & Associates, LLC 2000-2025. Please review the copyright notice if you would like to use any of the images or text.
