Rice Lake EarthCache

During the late 1800's, Rice Lake was a popular duck hunting and fishing spot and covered about 6 square miles in area. It was more a marsh or bog than a lake; rather shallow and mildly acidic. As a way to make the land more valuable and to create additional tax revenue, the owner approached the county to drain the lake and use the muck that remained for farming. In 1916, the lake was drained to the south at county expense and the Rice Lake Drain became the headwaters of the Rogue River.

What remained was a large area of muck. Muck is created by the gradual accumulation of the remains of water-loving vegetation. Water retards the complete oxidation of the organic matter by preventing the air to come in contact with these vegetative remains. In acid deposits such as was found here, the water preserving influence is augmented by the soil acids, which prevent the somewhat sterile muck from becoming infected by the organisms that cause decomposition.

The Rice Lake muck farms grow specialty crops of onions, carrots, beets, and mint. Muck is often hyped as a miracle soil, capable of vast yields, which does not hold up in reality. It is prone to problems, such as the fact that it is very light and windbreaks must be provided to keep it from blowing away when dry. It can also catch fire and burn underground for months. Oxidation removes a portion of the soil each year so it becomes progressively shallower. When some muck farms became unprofitable, they were reclaimed for wildlife preserves. The Seney Wildlife Refuge in Michigan's Upper Peninsula is a example of a reclaimed muck farm that failed and was reclaimed as a Civilian Conservation Corps project during the 1930's.

1. What is the width of the water surface of the Rice Lake drain?
2. What year was the Rice Lake pump station built?
3. What does the pump station protect?