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KCWATERS - LINE CREEK is the first in a series of Geocaches highlighting access to urban waterbodies within the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, and raising awareness of water quality.
KCWaters- Line Creek
This is the first in a series of Geocaches highlighting access to urban waterbodies within the Kansas City Metropolitan Area.
Line Creek is a major waterbody in one of several watersheds north of the Missouri River. The Line Creek Watershed is an approximately 20 square mile area in southwest Clay and southeast Platte counties. Line Creek is fed by three major tributaries: East Fork of Line Creek, Old Maids Creek, and East Creek. Line Creek flows from just slightly north of Barry Road all the way to the Missouri River. The area east of Line Creek above its confluence with East Fork Creek is relatively undeveloped. The north area adjacent to Line Creek is extensively developed primarily with single family and multifamily residential uses. Stormwater enters Line Creek as overland runoff from fields, gullies, and cross streets. Line Creek flows south for another half-mile before the confluence with Old Maids Creek. The topography in this area is relatively flat. This area is developed and undergoing more residential development. Most of the water in this area enters the stream as runoff from roads, parking lots, roofs, and neighborhood yards.
Line Creek Park is the ninth largest park in Kansas City at about 150 acres, the Park hosts three baseball fields, a football field, and soccer field, as well as a 34,000 square foot family recreation center comprised of an ice rink an outdoor swimming pool (currently not in operation). Additionally, to the north of the facility resides the Kansas City Northern Railroad, a 16-gauge miniature railroad that operates on weekends to the delight of children of all ages.
The Line Creek Valley was once home to the Hopewell culture thousands of years ago. The Hopewell were the second earliest historic Eastern Woodland inhabitants and existed from roughly 500 BC to 800 AD. The culture is characterized by the construction of enclosures made of earthen walls, often built in geometric patterns, and mounds of various shapes. Visible remnants of Hopewell culture are concentrated in the Scioto River valley near present-day Chillicothe, Ohio, however the Hopewell extended along the valleys of such great rivers as the Illinois, Ohio, and Mississippi. The most striking Hopewell sites contain earthworks in the form of squares, circles, and other geometric shapes. Many of these sites were built to a monumental scale, with earthen walls up to 12 feet high outlining geometric figures more than 1000 feet across.
Research suggests the Kansas City Hopewell culture originated due to a migration of people from the Lower Illinois Valley areas. Archaeologists have divided the Kansas City Hopewell into three phases based on radiocarbon dates and changes in projectile point styles and ceramic decoration. These phases include The Trowbridge Phase (A.D. 1-250), the Kansas City Phase (A.D. 250 – 500), and the Edwardsville Phase (A.D. 500 – 750). Distinctive Kansas City Hopewell lithics include broad-bladed, corner-notched projectile points and sub-triangular, contracting-stemmed points in addition to blocky end scrapers, drills, gouges, celts, axes, and utilized bladelets. Diagnostic Kansas City Hopewell ceramics include large, stone tempered ceramic jars with a sub-conical base. Exterior surfaces are plain, and rims are decorated with a variety of designs including cross-hatched incisions, rocker-stamped marks, or lip notches.
To access the Cache, turn in towards the Line Creek Community Center off of Waukomis Drive. You can continue driving past the turns for the Skating Rink and the Train to the end of the road and park in the grass. Follow the low water bridge over the Creek and follow a path to the west (not so easy to see in Summer) which will eventually veer south to follow the Creek.
This cache is difficult during the summer months, but easier during the fall and winter. There is LOTS of ragweed along the trail so be forewarned. Additionally, the trail has lots of tripping hazards and should not be attempted if you have difficulty on uneven surfaces. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO APPROACH THE CACHE BY FORDING THE CREEK IF THE WATER IS UP...TAKE THE TRAIL...a quarter of a mile even though it seems longer.
The cache should contain swag specific to the creek, and as indicated is part of a series in the metro area. There is a first to find baggie, a travel bug, and a collectible unique to the cache. Please email if you take the last item related to KCWaters.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
rawbl gur 'snyy gura urnq hc n uvyy naq ybbx gbjneqf fbzrguvat ovt gung gbbx n snyy.