My Mother and The Mazarn River

My mother is the kind of person that is always looking toward the future. I have always viewed my mother as someone who washes away the previous troubles in an effort to create a new life. Because of this, it did not surprise me when my mother told me that her favorite place is the river. The Mazarn river to be exact.

The Mazarn river is the home of a vast group of organisms, including mussels, insects, and fish that dot the river with bright colors. When my mother and I go to this river, she teaches me of different fish species and the ecosystem surrounding us. She explains of how there are over 200 species of fish in Arkansas. That the native freshwater mussels are the group of organisms that are being extirpated the fastest in North America but no one knows why. These mussels have funny names such as the Arkansas fatmucket, monkeyface, spectaclecase, and my favorite, the warty pimpleback. Along with the mussels are other invertebrates, there is an enormous diversity of insects below the surface which we find on the Mazarn river. She talks about how these insects are biological indicators, describing the river to be in good or poor condition. We find caddisflies beneath the rocks that weave cases out of one pine needle or glue together a case from small pebbles. Like the mussels, these insects filter water through their bodies to get the nutrients they need. If the water is dirty from pollutants or siltation, their soft bodies die. Their presence in the river we swim in, tells us the river is healthy and there are no major impacts occurring upstream of where we live.

She knows all the technical jargon but she also plays in the river like a kid. She loves the playful water striders that dance across the river. We sense the aura of life and beauty surrounding us. The cool water and towering trees calm the soul. The leafy trees cast a pleasant shade onto the river.

On a hot day, the refreshing water is a relief to the stifling Arkansan heat. The sun beams to the earth making the crisp water even more refreshing. You can smell the heat rising over the rocks, baking the soil to where it cracks and yearns for water. The Mazarn river is clear, the pebbles and moss are visible as soon as your eyes hit the river. The pebbles and rocks found in the Mazarn River vary in many colors and sizes. Some are a deep reddish color with a smooth coat while others are rough and a bright white color. These variations create a rainbow of textures and colors beneath the surface.

On many summer days, my mother and I would visit the river and collect rocks. We would notice the beautiful characteristics of each unique rock, then throw them back into the water. This would create a ripple that would extend all the way to the other side of the river. Moss grows on many of the rocks, it moves slowly with the subtle, smooth current. Sometimes snails would be hiding in the moss, something my mother explains to me with her great knowledge of habitats.

The Mazarn is very close to our house. There have been countless times when my mother has walked down the steep trail to go to the river. The trail is now familiar from when we first moved here. The trail is narrow and surrounded by trees and river cane. There is one interruption in the trail which is a ditch carved out by the river and long, hard rains. Oftentimes, the ditch is muddy and slippery from continuous rains. This ditch becomes an obstacle to the river.

The trees bend over the river, their roots crawl into the river’s edge soaking up the cool water into their bright green leaves. The birds soar over the water, creating a peaceful tone. They sing and call to each other as if they are giving thanks for the life supporting river.