Clinton River Watershed - George George EarthCache
Clinton River Watershed - George George
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What is a watershed? A watershed is an area of land that drains into a lake or river. As rainwater and melting snow run downhill, they carry sediment and other materials into our streams, lakes, wetlands and groundwater.
Have you ever said to yourself, “Where does all that rain (or melting snow) go when it washes down the drain in the parking lot? There are many avenues the water can take on its way to its final destination but it will eventually end up in the nearest lake, stream or wetland. Some of the water will soak into the ground and replenish a stream or lake and some of it runs “overland” into a creek, drain or river. All of it is part of a watershed.
Did you ever wonder just what a watershed is? A watershed is another word for a river basin. It's an area of land that catches precipitation that flows into a particular body of water. A watershed includes the waterway and the land that drains to the waterway. The State of Michigan has four Great Lakes Drainage Basins – Erie, Huron, Superior and Michigan – and each is made up of watersheds. Each watershed is separated by a hill or a ridge. These hills and ridges in Michigan were formed courtesy of glacial activity about 20,000 years ago.
The Clinton River Watershed covers most of Macomb County, the eastern half of Oakland County and a small portion of southern end of Lapeer and St. Clair County. The land that drains into the Clinton River, and eventually into Lake St. Clair, consists of 760 square miles. The Clinton River’s main branch runs for over 80 miles and includes over 1000 miles of streams and creeks. Riverfront parks dot the banks of the Clinton River and its tributaries and people enjoy fishing, canoeing and boating on the watershed’s waterways.
Like most urban rivers, the Clinton River faces challenges every time it rains or the snow melts. Urban development in the watershed results in higher river flows than in natural settings. The water running off our lawns, driveways and roads makes its way into the waterway. The water carries oil, fertilizers, pesticides and other pollutants as it travels its path in the watershed.
The Clinton River Watershed Council is dedicated to protecting, enhancing and celebrating the Clinton River, its watershed and Lake St. Clair. The council coordinates efforts of government, businesses and the community to improve water quality and promotes the river’s resources. The Clinton River Watershed Council provides watershed education and programs like Adopt-A-Stream, Clinton Clean-Up and Stream Leaders.
Learn more about the Clinton River Watershed Council at www.crwc.org.
To complete this earthcache you will need a pH kit, a camera, a container to hold water and about 10 feet of line. While it is possible to get to the edge of the Harrington Drain and the Clinton River to get water samples, it will be much easier – AND SAFER – to use a container attached to a line. You will not need a big sample so a container between 8 and 16 ounces should be sufficient.
The posted co-ordinates will take you to footbridge in the George George Memorial Park in Clinton Township. This bridge straddles the Harrington Drain which is part of the Clinton River East Subwatershed. The Harrington Drain begins near 14 Mile and Hayes, meets up with the Sweeney Drain near 15 Mile and Garfield and merges with the Clinton River in the park. Not only does it carry water which eventually ends up in Lake St. Clair it once was nemesis to golfers on the Hillcrest Golf Course.
To claim credit for your earthcache you must do the following:
1. Take a picture of yourself and your gps unit on the footbridge while facing the direction of the drain’s flow. Post the picture with your log.
2. Take a pH reading from the Harrington Drain at or near the footbridge. Email me the value you get to the nearest tenth.
3. At N42 35.474 W82 54.172, you should be able to find a spot to get close enough to the Clinton River to get a sample in your container. Use the pH test strip and determine the pH of the river’s water. Email me the value you get to the nearest tenth.
4. Visit the Clinton River Watershed Council at www.crwc.org. Click on the “Programs” link and email me the three watershed activities the CRWC has listed. Take a few minutes and explore the information available.
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