Metro Beach Vernal Pond EarthCache
-
Difficulty:
-
-
Terrain:
-
Size: 
(other)
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
This earthcache is located in Metro Beach, A Huron-Clinton Metropark. A Metroparks permit is required: $5 daily pass, $25 annual pass, $15 Semiors. For general info please call 810-227-2757 or 800-47-PARKS, or visit www.metroparks.com. All park rules and regulations apply. Park in parking lots only. Check the Metroparks website for park hours.
The posted coord's will take you to the nature center, a good statring point for this Earthcache.
WHILE DOING THIS EARTHCACHE YOU MUST STAY ON THE NATURE TRAIL AT ALL TIMES EXCEPT WHEN DIRECTLY BEHIND THE NATURE CENTER.
Now some information first:
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION OF A VERNAL POND
A vernal pond is a contained basin depression lacking a permanent above ground outlet. It fills with water with the rising water table of fall and winter or with the meltwater and runoff of winter and spring snow and rain. Many vernal ponds are covered with ice in the winter months. They contain water for a few months in the spring and early summer. By late summer, a vernal pond is generally (but not always) dry, (hence the name “vernal,” which is derived from the Latin word for spring). Vernal ponds, otherwise known as ephemeral wetlands, do not contain fish yet provide critical habitat to wood frogs, spotted salamanders, fairy shrimp, and many other species.
VERNAL POND SIZES AND TYPES
Vernal ponds range in size from the very small to the very large. Some ponds would fit in your living room while others might have a surface area over an acre in size. All are relatively shallow and dry periodically (usually annually) or are otherwise free of fish. A typical pond might be 30 feet by 100 feet long and 3 feet in depth. Ponds might be found in low areas of a forest, in the floodplain or a river or stream, within a vegetated wetland, in an open field, between coastal dunes, in abandoned quarries or natural rock formations and other areas where water might pool.
Now for the requirements to log this Earthcache. You will have to answer five questions.
For the following questions, DO NOT post these answers with your log post! E-mail me the answers.
1) First go to N42* 34.634 W082* 48.128. You will now be behind the nature center at the one end of the pond. You will need to answer five questions here:
Is water in the pond or not? How deep you think the pond is? How long do you estimate the pond to be? How wide do you estimate the pond to be? And does the length of the pond run from North to South or East to West?
Now a nice picture of you or your team would be great.
2) Now go to N42* 34.642 W082* 48.179. You can get to this point by following the nature trail. STAY ON THE TRAIL!!! DO NOT CUT THROUGH THE WOODS ALONGSIDE OF THE POND!!! At these coord's, you will find a number post nearby. Please post a picture with your log of you or your team next to the number post with the vernal pond in the background.
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)