GC15P5Z The Flow of Rivers (Earthcache) in Ohio, United States created by Trail Jogger

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Trail Jogger

GC15P5Z ▼

A cache by Trail Jogger Message this owner

Hidden : 9/4/2007

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Size: Size: not chosen (not chosen)

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Geocache Description:

For this Earthcache, you will learn to use publicly available real time information to understand how the flow of fresh river water is controlled to prevent flooding. As you will be visiting dams and streams, you might be wise to bring your camera. Dams are great for children to see and the view from the top is beautiful in all directions.

This earthcache is tagged to Columbus, Ohio, which is the site of the first streamflow measurement taken in the Scioto River that flows through town and supplies our fresh drinking water. It is not necessary to visit this location to claim the cache but is worth a driveby to see the Ohio Historical Sign and the site on King Street bridge.

The Best Dam Earthcache Photo
Deer Creek Dam

Direction of Flow

In the northern United States, water in the Great Lakes basin flows downward toward the Great Lakes and then cascades downhill 601 feet from one lake to the next until it flows out to the Atlantic ocean. Rivers in northern Ohio tend to flow in a northerly direction into Lake Erie while those in central and southern Ohio tend to flow south toward the Ohio River, which flows west to the Mississippi River, which then flows south to the Gulf of Mexico.

In central Ohio, the O’Shaughnessy Reservoir feeds Griggs Reservoir which feeds the Scioto River. Delaware Lake feeds the Olentangy River. These two rivers unite near Confluence Park in downtown Columbus. The Alum Creek Reservoir feeds Alum Creek and the Hoover Dam feeds Big Walnut Creek. These two join Blacklick Creek and unite as Big Walnut Creek in Three Creeks Park. Big Walnut flows into the Scioto River south of Columbus.

Central Ohio Dams
Alum Creek Dam (upper left), O'Shaughnessy Reservoir Dam (upper right)

Delaware Lake Dam (lower left), Griggs Reservoir Dam (lower right)

The Destructive Nature of Water - Flooding

Floods are a dangerous hazard throughout the world. On average in the United States, about 165 people are killed and about $2 billion of damage occurs each year due to flooding. The reason that so many people drown during flooding is because few of them realize the incredible power of water. One cubic foot of water weighs over 62 pounds! A mere six inches of fast-moving flood water can knock over an adult and it takes only two feet of rushing water to carry away most vehicles, including pickups and SUVs. There are two basic kinds of floods, flash floods and the more widespread river flooding, which is our concern in Columbus.

Flash floods generally cause greater loss of life and river floods generally cause greater loss of property. A flash flood occurs when runoff from excessive rainfall causes a rapid rise in the stage of a stream or normally dry channel.

River flooding is generally more common for larger rivers in areas with a wetter climate, when excessive runoff from longer-lasting rainstorms and sometimes from melting snow causes a slower water-level rise, but over a larger area. Most floods can be linked to a storm of some kind. Even when it is a nice day in Columbus, a storm may have passed to the north of us. This would cause increased river flow, which would cause the dams to swell. So dam engineers must always monitor streamgage readings in their areas to anticipate the need to raise or lower the levels of their dams.

The National Weather Service collects and interprets rainfall data throughout the United States and issues flood watches and warnings as appropriate. The first and most important factor in flood prediction is the monitoring of the amount of rainfall occurring on a realtime basis. The second, monitoring the rate of change in river stage on a realtime basis, can help indicate the severity and immediacy of the threat and can help to predict how extensive and damaging an impending flood might become.

The two most fundamental items of hydrologic information about a river are “stage”, which is water depth and “flow” or discharge, which is the total volume of water that flows past a point on the river for some period of time. These two key factors are measured at a location on the river called a stream-gaging station.

Central Ohio Streamgages
The U.S.Geological Survey streamgaging program provides hydrologic information needed to help manage the nation's water resources. The USGS currently operates a nation-wide network of about 7,300 streamgaging stations, where streamflow is monitored continuously. The program provides a continuous source of reliable and consistent water data.

Streamgage Cutaway Diagram

For this earthcache you will be visiting a combination of any three of the following flood control elements. While researching this earthcache I have personally visited all 6 dams and all 12 streamgages and am providing you with very accurate locations. You may use any other dams or streamgages that you find on the USGS site, but I wanted to give you a few accurate fixes to work with.

Central Ohio Dams

N40-09.194 W083-07.568	* O’Shaughnessy Reservoir Dam
N40-00.972 W083-05.566	* Griggs Reservoir Dam
N40-21.530 W083-04.139	* Delaware Lake Dam
N40-11.144 W082-57.994	* Alum Creek Lake Dam
N40-06.490 W082-52.921	* Hoover Dam
N39-37.345 W083-12.895	* Deer Creek Lake Dam

Central Ohio Creek and River Streamgages

Scioto River

N40-25.167 W083-11.833	* Scioto River near Prospect
N40-08.654 W083-07.303	* Scioto River below O’Shaughnessy Dam
N40-00.991 W083-05.566	* Scioto River on Griggs Reservoir Dam
N39-46.342 W083-00.458	* Scioto River near Commercial Point

Olentangy River

N40-21.321 W083-04.044	* Olentangy River south of Delaware Lake Dam
N40-06.619 W083-01.932	* Olentangy River in Worthington

Alum Creek

N40-11.009 W082-57.794

* Alum Creek Spillway south of Alum Creek Dam

Big Walnut Creek

N40-06.166 W082-53.030	* Big Walnut Creek south of Hoover Reservoir
N39-51.400 W082-57.433	* Big Walnut Creek on Reese Road

Big Darby Creek

N39-57.086 W083-16.166	* Big Darby Creek in West Jefferson
N39-42.047 W083-06.625	* Big Darby Creek in Darbyville

Deer Creek

N39-37.233 W083-12.783	* Deer Creek below Dam
N39-35.130 W083-07.278	* Deer Creek in Williamsport

To claim this earthcache, please complete Items #1 and #2, below.

(1) Take a picture of yourself or your GPS near any one dam and one streamgage.

(2) Post the location of the streamgage that you spotted then, from the US Geological Survey web page located at http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/rt, select the streamgage you found. Post the “gage height” (water depth) that you found at this streamgage for the day that you found it and comment upon any substantial difference that you observed.

Uploaded pictures of other dams and streamgages are encouraged!

THIS EARTHCACHE WAS PLACED BY A