This Earthcache will take you to a Praire
grassland area that contains a
Ephemeral
Wetland
Ephemeral Wetlands may also be referred to as ephemeral
ponds, seasonal ponds, temporary ponds or vernal pools.
Ephemeral Wetlands are depressional wetlands that temporarily
hold water in the spring and early summer or after heavy rains.
These depressions are a result of Glacial sculpting activity. This
area of Northeast Indiana is the wide border between the Prairie
and Savanna types of topography. Periodically, these wetlands dry
up, often in mid-to-late summer. They are isolated without a
permanent inlet or outlet, but may overflow in times of high water.
Ephemeral Wetlands are free of fish, which allows for the
successful breeding of certain amphibians and
invertebrates.
Snow melt and spring rains fill Ephemeral Wetlands, providing
breeding habitat for many amphibians and aquatic invertebrates. The
developing larvae provide an important food source for migrating
birds
By mid-summer the wetland begins to dry out and the
surrounding upland habitat becomes critical for the newly emerging
amphibians
By fall there are very few traces of the once productive
wetland. This dry phase eliminates fish and completes the life
cycle for invertebrates like Fairy Shrimp whose eggs require a dry
period to hatch in the spring.
Many amphibians over-winter in the surrounding upland habitat
during the winter months.
In order to log a find on this virtual
Earthcache, you must upload a photo of yourself holding your GPSr
at the sign at the coordinates at the time of your online log
posting, and also answer the following questions in an email to the
cache owner:(NOTE: THESE REQUIREMENTS HAVE CHANGED. SEE GREEN TEXT
BELOW
1. What annual method does the park use to
manage the Prairie Grasslands?(Info on sign)
2. This prairie area is roughly circular
in shape, and is surrounded by upland forest. What is the
approximate diameter of this prairie/wetland? (Use your GPSr and
walk around the trail until you are opposite the
sign).
***********************************************
NEW DATA PROVIDED BY
BLUEGILLFISHERMAN:
Your EarthCache has been muggled. It's
gone.......never thought I would be able to say that. They have
installed a drain tile across the open area, east-west, following
the lowest contour. Culverts beneath both side of the graveled
trail. The sign is gone, only a picnic table there. Water flows
west to east. Since I've been here, they've installed a shelter
with restrooms, sooper-dooper play area with some high dollar
equipment. Paved lot...the works.
They did set up another wetland area to
the southeast near Bass Road. A new control culvert beneath the
road determines the maximum water height. Currently ~ 150 feet
across.
New sign with
different info, just at the northwest side of wetland spot Sign
coords: N41 05.398 W85 13.318
SO GO THERE, TAKE PIC OF YOURSELF AND
TELL ME WHAT'S ON THE SIGN!! TELL ME THE % OF WETLANDS IN INDIANA
THAT ARE GONE
This Earthcache was approved by the
GSA
Click above for more earthcache
information.
***********************************************
GAG PHOTOS NOT ACCEPTED
|
Support the Troops
|