Huron-Clinton Marshlands EarthCache

A marsh is a wetland area that remains wet at least half of the year. Typically a marsh does not have very deep water. In the deepest marshes, floating plants with some leaves submerged take the place of algae or duckweed. The typical marsh plant has roots that grow into the ground and underwater, and its stem rises above the water. The most familiar plant is the cattail.

There are many different kinds of marshes, ranging from the prairie potholes to the Everglades, coastal to inland, freshwater to saltwater. All types receive most of their water from surface water, and many marshes are also fed by groundwater. Marshes are commonly divided into two primary categories: tidal and non-tidal. Here, this Erie Metropark is categorized as a freshwater non-tidal marsh. Non-tidal marshes are the most prevalent and widely distributed wetlands in North America. They are mostly freshwater marshes, although some are brackish or alkaline. They frequently occur along streams in poorly drained depressions, and in the shallow water along the boundaries of lakes, ponds, and rivers. Water levels in these wetlands generally vary from a few inches to two or three feet, and some marshes, like prairie potholes, may periodically dry out completely.

Marshes recharge groundwater supplies and moderate stream flow by providing water to streams. This is an especially important function during periods of drought. The presence of marshes in a watershed helps to reduce damage caused by floods by slowing and storing flood water. As water moves slowly through a marsh, sediment and other pollutants settle to the substrate, or floor of the marsh. Marsh vegetation and microorganisms also use excess nutrients for growth that can otherwise pollute surface water such as nitrogen and phosphorus from fertilizer. This wetland type is very important to preserving the quality of surface waters. In fact, marshes are so good at cleaning polluted waters that people are now building replicas of this wetland type to treat wastewater from farms, parking lots, and small sewage plants.

We are going to have you answer a few questions to be able to log the marsh cache. You will need to equip yourself with a PH test kit. These are available at pool centers, pet stores and fish supply outlets.
Please e-mail me with the following findings.
1. Go to the posted co-ords and that is where you will take a PH test to see the make up of this marsh.
2. At this location take your photo with the marsh in the background then post it to your cache log.
3. Tell me how many marsh overlooks there are along the Trapper’s Run trail. This can be done by walking the trail through the marsh. The information can also be found in the Marshlands Museum & Nature Center.