Grand Rapids Gage Station EarthCache

This earthcache is designed to show how today’s rivers are regulated. The above coordinates will take you to a USGS Gage Station. USGS is the United States Geological Survey. These gauging stations are used for water resources, specifically the Grand River in this case. The station here is continuously measuring the depth and the amount of flow of the river.

It is very important to monitor and control the river’s flow for several reasons. First is the control of flooding or at least the warning of flooding. Since the rivers flow is regulated by damming, these gauging stations relay the information to do this regulating. Another important reason for this gauging and regulating of the river is to limit erosion of the river banks. Although erosion will always take place it can be held to a minimal. Ground water also depends on these regulated flows. Ground waters include some small lakes, marshes and wetlands.

The Grand River is the longest river in Michigan at about 260 miles. It begins in the wetlands and small lakes of north eastern Hillsdale County. The river is fed also by 8 other rivers that connect along the way. The Grand River watershed includes 9 counties before running into Lake Michigan.

To view in real time the flow and height of this river click here. This is also where you will find some of the information you will need to log this cache.

To log this cache we ask you to complete the following. All that should be posted with your log will be a photo. All answers should be e-mailed to us and not posted in your log. Go ahead and log your find at the same time you're sending your email answers. We reserve the right to delete find logs that haven't emailed their answers.

1. At the posted co-ords look at the waterline of the river. E-mail the approximate distance from the waterline to the walkway.

2. Go to the USGS website and look at the water level and the water flow charts. E-mail us the flow rate and the water lever the river was at the time of your visit. With this site reporting in real time it should be easy to see the time frame that you were here.

3. While logging your find please post a picture of yourself/team on the walkway with the gage station in the background.

This cache was a fun way to work with our good friend Rattrak. We have put together two of the same type of cache on either side of the state, visit Tim's here: Moravian Gage Station. I would like to thank him for this opportunity!