Drainage basins are important elements to consider also in
ecology. As water flows over the ground and along rivers it can
pick up nutrients, sediment, and pollutants. Like the water, they
get transported towards the outlet of the basin, and can affect the
ecological processes along the way as well as in the receiving
water source.
Modern usage of artificial fertilizers, containing nitrogen,
phosphorus, and potassium, has affected the mouths of watersheds.
The minerals will be carried by the watershed to the mouth and
accumulate there, disturbing the natural mineral balance.
The catchment is the most significant factor determining the
amount or likelihood of flooding.
Catchment factors are: topography, shape, size, soil type and
land use (paved or roofed areas).
Catchment topography and shape determine the time taken for rain
to reach the river, Catchment size, soil type and development
determine the amount of water to reach the river.
Topography Topography determines the speed with which the runoff
will reach a river, clearly rain that falls in steep mountainous
areas will reach the river faster than flat or gently sloping
areas.
Shape Shape will contribute to the speed with which the runoff
reaches a river. A long thin catchment will take longer to drain
than a circular catchment.
Size Size will help determine the amount of water reaching the
river, as the larger the catchment the greater the potential for
flooding.
Soil type Soil type will help determine how much water reaches
the river. Certain soil types such as sandy soils are very free
draining and rainfall on sandy soil is likely to be absorbed by the
ground. However, soils containing clay can be almost impermeable
and therefore rainfall on clay soils will run off and contribute to
flood volumes. After prolonged rainfall even free draining soils
can become saturated, meaning that any further rainfall will reach
the river rather than being absorbed by the ground.
Land use Land use will contribute to the volume of water
reaching the river, in a similar way to clay soils, only faster.
Rainfall on roofs, pavements and roads will be collected by rivers
with almost no absorption into the groundwater.
Local concern for overall quality of water in Cane Run Creek and
the entire Elkhorn Creek Watershed, prompted an Inter-county
Consortium to request assistance inventorying resource concerns and
promoting programs to protecting the Elkhorn Creek. Developing an
ecosystem based assistance plan for the Cane Run Watershed is
critical, for the majority of the watershed is the recharge area
for Royal Spring. This two county shared watershed is the primary
drinking water source for the city of Georgetown.
Currently there is an on going state funded project to clean up
and protect the Cane Run watershed. "Cleaning up streams and
protecting our natural resources are vitally important to Kentucky
and its citizens, and this project represents the kind of
stewardship necessary for the long-term interests of this great
commonwealth."
To get credit for this EC, post a photo of you (I do not accept
pictures of just a hand) at the posted coordinates and with Cane
Run Watershed marker in the background just like in the picture
above and please answer the following questions.
1. Estimate the width of the watershed at the posted coordinates
starting from the top of the high ground to the east and to the
western high ground.
2. How many watersheds in Kentucky have been selected for
restoration and management?
3. Looking at the nearby farm field determine, using your best
judgment, what kind of soil do you this water shed is on?
| Cav Scout has earned GSA's highest
level |
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Do not log this
EC unless you have answered the questions and have a picture ready
to post! Logs with no photo of the actual cacher ( human face
included) logging the find or failure to answer questions or
negative comments will result in a log deletion without notice.
Exceptions will be considered if you contact me first (I realize
sometimes we forget our cameras or the batteries die). You must
post a photo at the time of logging your find. If your picture is
not ready then wait until you have a photo.
Sources of
information for the EarthCache quoted from the Kentucky Geology
information website. I have used sources available to me by using
the library, internet, research, and asking questions to get
information for this earth cache. I am by no means a geologist.
Like most people I use whats available to me to get geological
information just like 99.9 percent of the geocachers who create
these great Earth Caches. I enjoy Earth Caches and want people to
get out and see what I see every time I go and explore this great
place we live in.