Spring Valley Lake EarthCache
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Welcome to the Spring Valley Wildlife Area. This wetland
area is full of wildlife and plant activity especially during the
Spring and Summer.
Geology and History of the area
The topography of the Little Miami River Basin, including Caesar
Creek, is characterized by rocky gorges and narrow valleys
separated by extensive sections of bottomlands. The nature of soil
types and vegetation relate to events that occurred thousands or
even millions of years ago. Alterations of the drainage system and
the formation of many of the scenic features of the valley can be
traced to the Kansan, Illinoian and Wisconsin periods of
glaciation.
The foundation of the area consists of layers of flat, sedimentary
bedrock formed from the effects of these glaciers. Below the
present-day soil surface lies a solid bedrock that can range from
being only a few inches below the surface to over 400 feet below
the surface. The last of these glaciers that affected southwestern
Ohio was the Wisconsin glacier. The Wisconsin glacier left the area
much as it was found by early settlers.
Around 14,000 years ago the last of the Wisconsin Glacier ice left
Ohio and the current landscape and climate developed.
What Is a Wetland?
Although wetlands are often wet, a wetland might not be wet
year-round. In fact, some of the most important wetlands are only
seasonally wet. Wetlands are the link between the land and the
water.
Generally speaking there are four categories of wetlands: marshes,
swamps, bogs and fens.
A marsh is a wetland frequently or continually filled with
water. Marshes can be found on the coast and inland, and can be
either freshwater or saltwater. Characterized by grassy, soft
vegetation that grows in the soggy soil conditions, marshes can be
one of two types -- tidal or non-tidal. Found along coastlines,
tidal marshes are most prevalent on the eastern coast of the United
States and in the Gulf of Mexico. Non-tidal marshes are the most
common type of wetlands in North America and occur along the
boundaries of streams, rivers, ponds and lakes. Water is generally
only a few inches or feet deep with soil that's extremely
mineral-rich and organic. Non-tidal marshes host vegetation like
lily pads, cattails, and reeds as well as a varied sample of animal
life, including muskrats, otters, blue herons and blackbirds.
A swamp is any wetland dominated by woody plants and several
feet of water. The Everglades in Florida is one example of a swamp.
As with most wetlands, swamps function as flood protection and
nutrient removal. The saturated ground and standing water form a
black, thick and nutritious soil, providing a favorable
environment for water-tolerant shrubs and trees. Fittingly, then,
there are two types of swamps -- shrub swamps and forested swamps.
The difference between the two swamps simply is the type of
vegetation present. You will often find shrub swamps and forest
swamps adjacent to each other. Shrub swamps are swamps filled with
lower, bushy vegetation such as willow, dogwood, swamp rose and
mangroves. Forested swamps host trees like red maple, pin oak,
tupelo, cypress and willows. They play a vital role in the survival
of wetland-dependent animals, like ducks, snakes and otters.
Bogs receive most of their water from precipitation, rather
than runoff or floodwaters. Their spongy, mossy floors contain
fewer nutrients than a marsh or swamp. As the moss decomposes, it
forms acidic peat. Acidic peat will burn for a very long time, and
people harvest it for fuel. This peat is also very low in
nutrients, and only specially adapted creatures may call a bog
home, like salamanders, dragonflies, snakes and carnivorous plants.
Found mostly in the northeast U.S. and Great Lakes regions, bogs
are also an excellent area to grow cranberries.
A fen is similar to a bog, except that a fen receives its
water from the ground rather than from precipitation. The water
that feeds a fen is actually water from melted glaciers. As the
glacier melts, it deposits sand and gravel into the soil,
preventing its runoff from permeating into the soil. Instead, it
flows sideways and picks up minerals and sediment as it travels.
This means a fen's water is much more rich and nutritious than a
bog. Therefore, fens host a diverse community of plants and
animals. Wildflowers, deer, turtles, butterflies and even fish may
find a home in a fen. Fens are rare, found primarily in the
northern hemisphere in areas with low temperatures. It can take up
to 10,000 years for a fen to form naturally.
Why Do we need Wetlands?
Long regarded as wastelands, wetlands are now recognized as
important features in the landscape that provide numerous
beneficial services for people and for fish and wildlife. Some of
these services, or functions, include protecting and improving
water quality, providing fish and wildlife habitats, storing
floodwaters, and maintaining surface water flow during dry periods.
These beneficial services, considered valuable to societies
worldwide, are the result of the inherent and unique natural
characteristics of wetlands.
Your visit
The beginning waypoint will lead you to an observation deck in the
middle of the wetland. From the parking area where the bird blind
is located, walk to the trail with the orange barrier in front of
it. Follow the trail straight down the small hill until you reach
the boardwalk. Several hundred feet in front of you will be the
boardwalk. During our visit we heard many frogs and saw many birds
in the area. This location is very popular for bird and wildlife
viewing. Once at the observation deck you will have a wonderfull
view of the wetland area around you. As this is an active wildlife
area, please be aware that during the months from September thru
January active hunting may be taking place.
Extreme caution should be used during those times. Once at the
deck, you can perform requirement #2 below. Then hike back to your
vehicle and drive around the wetland to the second waypoint. Here
you should find an Ohio Historical Marker that has information
about the bird species that have been spotted here and other
information including requirement #3. At either location you can
peform the requirments for #4.
Important reminders
Please email your answers to requirement 1-3 below to our email and
post in your log the picture you take for requirement 4.
This is an active wildlife area and hunting is allowed during
Ohio's hunting seasons.
All wildlife areas are closed to all activity other than hunting,
trapping, and fishing from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. September 1 through May
1 and from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. May 2 through August 31.
Now on to the logging requirements for this
Earthcache:
1) Based on your observations and the definitions above What type
of wetland is this?
2) From the observation deck area - measure from the boardwalk just
before the deck the distance from the top of the wood to the water
level.
What is that distance on the day of your visit?
3)According to the sign at the second waypoint - how much (in
percentage) of the state's orginal wetlands have been
destroyed.
4) Finally - take a photo of yourself and gps with the wetland in
the background at either location - THIS OF COURSE IS
OPTIONAL.
 Hunting in
area - use caution |
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Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
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Treasures
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