Williams Lake River Valley Earthcache
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D/T are set due to: 1. 3 km long walk each way (maybe longer if gates are closed) 2. Some estimating required, 3. Requirements to upload and describe a geological feature - evidence the valley is changing 4. Post a photo of you or your GPS clearly showing you got to the posted coordinates.
Glacial deposits from huge ice sheets are the main feature of the Williams Lake River Valley. These deposits are exposed in many areas where the valley wall has given way to gravitational forces or along stream cut banks where water erosion exerts its influence. As ice retreated from the area in a South Easterly direction, the Fraser River was dammed and a lake formed that covered the entire Williams Lake area. This glacial lake had water levels up to 2500 ft. (760 m) above present day average sea level. Near the top of the valley sides there are deposits rich in shells that provide evidence of the former glacial lake. Over the years since the glacial epoch, Williams Lake River has eroded away significant amounts of glacial sediments and redeposited them as fluvial sands and gravels. As you walk the nearly 3 km to the earthcache site, you will see that the Valley has undergone tremendous changes over the years, and continues to change today. The Posted Coordinates should bring you to a sign explaining more about the geology of the Williams Lake River Valley (sign may be removed) The sign will help you answer these questions, but in case the sign is ever gone, you can use your own observation skills to collect the answers: LOGGING REQUIREMENTS: POST IN YOUR LOG HERE: 1. A Photo or Detailed Written Description of one of the ways the Valley continues to change today. The Valley is 12 km long, so please be original and tell about a location that others have not commented on or posted a photo of yet. 2. Give your estimate of the depth of the Valley just beyond the posted coordinates (one of the deepest parts). It may be helpful to compare against a multi-story building, each story being 10 ft high. 3: Prove you were there by uploading a photo of yourself (or your GPS for the camera shy) at the posted coordinates showing some geology of the valley. This replaces the previous verification questions which no longer work. Other information about the area: The Williams Lake River Valley is deemed to have growing conditions that are more favourable than the surrounding area making it of considerable ecological interest. The river valley starts within the City of Williams Lake as a narrow green strip draining from the north end of Williams Lake. West of the city boundary, the valley is at its widest. As it nears the Fraser River, the Valley narrows with high spectacular cliffs rising over 150 metres with deep gullies on each side. A variety of trees, shrubs, flowers and grasses are found in the valley. The highest diversity of plant communities and species are found where the valley is at its widest. Here large black cottonwoods are abundant and represent one of the few, northerly areas near Williams Lake where large specimens of this species remain. Other areas of the valley boast very attractive open parklike areas of Douglas fir and white birch. Within the river valley, large changes in plant community composition occur over short distances due to the effects of slope, aspect, microclimate, soil materials and drainage. For example, marked floral changes are evident between the moist valley bottom and the sunbaked south slope of the north valley side. These dry south slopes are frequently inhabited by sumac and rabbit bush shrubs that are generally uncommon to the area. Both shrubs, however, are more typical of the Dry Interior Zone south of the Cariboo. The bird life in the valley is extremely diverse because of the wide range of habitats including running water, shorelines, marsh, low brush, tall deciduous and coniferous trees, standing dead trees, clay banks and open grasslands. Most of the 252 species of birds found in the Cariboo region can be seen in the Williams Lake River Valley at one time or another. In fact, several birds not thought to occur in the Cariboo region were first sighted in the Williams Lake River Valley. These include the wood duck and winter wren that have since been found in other areas within the region. Interesting birds of prey such as the pygmy owl and goshawk live in the valley year-round. Several species such as the common goldeye, belted kingfisher, great blue heron and dipper (water ouzel) overwinter in the valley because sections of the river have fast running water that remains open, even during severe winters. Many other wildlife species are found in the river valley especially in the western end away from the City of Williams Lake. In this remote part of the valley signs of mule deer, black bear, bobcat and moose can be seen. Muskrats, mink and beaver live along the river with foxes denning in the upper valley sides. Concerns that sewage effluent from the City was causing a depletion of dissolved oxygen in the water resulting in the death of the salmon eggs and fry lead to the sewer line you now see along the trail. All visitors are urged to be cautious and travel in groups. The area has natural hazards and children/pets are at risk from natural elements; the occasional bear, cattleguard, rockfall and meandering trail network means that common sense is a requirement. Please avoid the private land and railway tracks. Enjoy your visit to this very special place. The Rotary Club of Williams Lake with an alliance of six additional funding partners including; the City of Williams Lake, BC Heritage Trust, Green Gold Grants BC/Canada, Williams Lake Indian Band, BC Forest Service and the Cariboo-Chilcotin Economic Futures commissioned the preparation of a resource management plan for the Williams Lake River Valley that focuses on developing recreation and trail activity uses. Our best estimate is that the land here is owned/managed by the BC Forest Service. Gathering the information does not require stepping of the well maintained recreational trail/service road. Only authorized service vehicles are allowed on the trail/road. Expect about a 3 km walk to the Earthcache site. This is a popular area for geocachers so there are a number of geocaches and letterbox hybrids along the route to break up the walk. - taken in part from the Williams Lake River Valley Trail Study prepared by NordicGroup International
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