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This is the 25th in a series of caches honoring the 58 different types of soils found within the State of Rhode Island. Soils were a major factor in the settling and early farming of RI, and soils continue to influence our industry, recreation, wildlife, and homes. As you complete this series, please take note of how the soil is determined in-part by the landscape position (summit, sideslope, drainageway), which in turn affects the vegetation.
The wooded area north of the URI Kingston campus is known, fittingly, as the North Woods. A good portion of this land is owned by the University, and it has been the subject of great debate. The University wanted to clear a large tract of the forest to build a parking lot, but members of the Department of Natural Resources Science and others produced a report detailing the value of the land, which included outdoor learning experiences, wildlife habitat, and water quality improvements. The university eventually built the parking lot elsewhere.
The North Woods are dominated by a soil series known as Scio. Scio soils are moderately well drained soils that formed in windblown, water deposited, or lakebottom sediments dominated by silt and very fine sand. The deeper layers of the soil are composed of sandy and gravelly materials called till that were deposited directly by glaciers 14,000 - 18,000 years ago. Once the till was deposited, the silts and fine sands were deposited on top of the till.
My guess here is that a body of water pooled up on the ice between Kingston Hill and the outwash plains to the west. Silts and very fine sands settled out of the water column, and eventually formed the soil that is here today.
Scio soils are excellent agricultural soils and are typically cleared for growing hay, corn, vegetables, fruit, and small grain. Native vegetation is northern red oak, white ash, sugar maple, black cherry, eastern hemlock, and eastern white pine.
CC is located not too far in the woods, through the "valley of ferns" (at least during the summer season). Parking is easy during school breaks, but will be horrific during the fall and spring. You need a permit to park on the street, and the police are rabid for issuing tickets. I recommend parking in the visitor lots and enjoying a nice walk through my alma mater!
CC is a duct taped container containing the usual official series description and some swag. Please be sure to rehide well!
Mad props to Blue Falcons and Mayflower2 for the FTF!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Bar bs zl snibevgr fbatf ol gur onaq PBP vf pnyyrq "Xvat bs gur Ebggra."