Vernon Springs Mill Pond Traditional Geocache
looking4gems: Changing things up here!
-
Difficulty:
-
-
Terrain:
-
Size: 
(micro)
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
Located across the Turkey River from the Prairie's Edge Nature Center, campground and bike trail.
This Howard County Park features a low head dam, mill pond, boat ramp, picnic shelter and sitting benches. This is an easy park and grab. Container is now a matchstick. This tends to be a popular area for fisherman and boaters during the summer, so stealth may be required, though you will be a ways away from most.
Due to the drowning danger of low head dams as well as their blocking fish travel the Iowa DNR recently completed a unique pilot project here. The typical graceful mill pond dam is no longer visible. They brought in large limestone blocks and terraced the stream from the top of the dam to the bridge below. Smaller rocks filled gaps and now you essentially have a wide fish ladder with small cascades and shallow pools. The result is very effective during decent water flows. Yes the dam is still there but filled in behind it and hidden by all that rock, plus the rock helps to stabilize that ageing structure.
Heavy snow may close this parking area but the wide plowed shoulders on the road do provide ample space.
Congrats to SnarfyDog on being the FTF
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)