Let Mother Nature arrange rocks in streams

RIVERS — Rock balancing has been taken to fascinating levels of art form by some enthusiasts.

But biologists warn rock stacking when taken to extremes can be harmful to wild creatures, especially around lakes and rivers.

Here’s a post from the National Park Service that specifically details the ramifications in the Ozarks, but the argument applies everywhere — just the names of the creatures change from region to region.

Please don’t do this. Yes it looks cool, but why do you get to decide what the scenery should look like? Leave that to Momma Nature.

If you pick up almost any rock in the river, you’ll find life attached to it. There will be caddis flies, snails, mayfly larvae, eggs of various creatures, all of which will die when exposed to air.

Also, our beloved and very rare Ozark hellbender lives under rocks and needs this habitat undisturbed.

Stacked rocks would be an awesome addition to your garden, but in the rivers, not so much. Thanks!