Water, Water, Water Everywhere
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This earthcache is located in beautiful Lake Accotink Park in Fairfax, VA. There are other caches to be found in the park. The park has an array of activities to enjoy. The posted coords are the closest parking. Please come and have a fantastic visit.
Did you know you could be drinking dinosaur spit?! Yes, that’s true! Every drop of water on our planet is recycled! Each and every drop of water is part of a continuous cycle – the water cycle!
What happens to each drop of water? Water falls to earth as precipitation (rain, sleet, snow, etc.). Some drops of water fall into streams or rivers and will flow into lakes and oceans. Others land on the ground to either runoff into streams and rivers or to soak into the ground becoming groundwater. Liquid water from rivers, streams, lakes and oceans is heated by energy from the sun and evaporates becoming water vapor (gas). The water vapor rises into the atmosphere. Once in the atmosphere, the water vapor is cooled and it condenses around dust particles thus forming clouds. When the collected moisture in the clouds becomes heavy enough, precipitation occurs and the cycle continues!
The precipitation that hits the ground during the water cycle will eventually make its way to lakes and oceans, but this water has a longer journey than the drop of water that falls directly into another body of water. Water will either soak into the ground or run downhill forming streams and joining together with other streams forming bigger streams. These streams from rivers, and all of this will flow into larger rivers, lakes, bays, and oceans. A watershed is the area of land that water runs over, across, and under on its way to a body of water. All land uphill of a stream, marsh, or river is part of the watershed. Smaller watersheds can be found within larger watersheds. Watersheds come in all shapes and sizes. The Lake Accotink watershed contains sub-watersheds such as Flag Run. The Accotink Creek watershed is, in turn, a sub-watershed of the Potomac River watershed, which is a sub-watershed of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Wherever you are standing you are in a watershed!
Although seventy percent of our planet is covered in water, only a tiny fraction of that is fresh water and available for our use. The water cycle keeps that fresh water in constant motion. It is when the water flows across the land in our watersheds that it is available for our use. What we do to the land in our watersheds determines the quantity and quality of water available for us and the environment. When we build on the land, we prevent water from soaking into the ground. Building on the land also increases runoff to the streams, causing them to erode their banks and beds. The sediment from this erosion settles in our lakes and bays and chokes the creatures that live in them. When we pollute the land, the pollution winds up in the water. In all our actions we need to keep in mind the fundamental connection between the land and the water. A connection which defines the watershed.
Some other interesting information: The area between two drainage basins is known as a drainage divide. In North America a massive drainage divide known as the Continental Divide separates the water that flows towards the Pacific Ocean, with water that drains towards the Gulf of Mexico, and towards the Atlantic Ocean. Smaller drainage divides can be found throughout the world. Here on the East Coast there is a divide created by the Appalachian Mountains. Is there a drainage divide near where you live?
The Lake Accotink watershed is an urban watershed and the many impervious surfaces (parking lots, roads, roofs) through the area create huge problems in an ubran watershed. When it rains, all the water in the watershed eventually ends up in Lake Accotink. Instead of flowing across the land and being absorbed by the ground, water ends up rushing over those impervious surfaces. The water speeds up so much that by the time it reaches the streams and creeks, it is moving very quickly. It scours the sides, or banks, of the streams and creeks. This sediment then gets deposited in Lake Accotink. Sediment is any solid material that settles to the bottom of a liquid (Lake Accotink, in this case). In the past 15 years Lake Accotink has lost 20 surface acres. This loss has been caused by sedimentation or the process of sediments being deposited. The sedimentation that is shrinking Lake Accotink is due to the large amount of impervious surfaces in already built and stabilized areas. A temporary solution to this problem is to dredge of the lake. This is only a stopgap that does not address the causes that led to the need to dredge.
The Lake Accotink watershed is about 19,000 acres or roughly 20 square miles located in central Fairfax County, VA. The land in the watershed is mostly residential and commercial with parklands along the major streams. It is estimated that 10,000 tons of sediment are carried into Lake Accotink each year. That is equal to about one school bus load a day!
Accotink Park's 493 acres include a 55-acre lake, wetlands, and streams offering unique views of waterfowl and marsh life.
Facilities and activities vary with the season and include canoe, rowboat and pedal boat rentals, fishing, tour-boat rides, boat launch, bait and tackle sales, 9-green double holed miniature golf course, antique carousel, snack bar, pavilion shelters (reservations encouraged), picnic areas with grills, restrooms, playground, a 3.75-mile hiking/biking trail and 2 open play fields.
Small sailboats permitted; swimming, windsurfing and gas powered boat motors are prohibited. Virginia State Fishing License required for fishing.
Picnic areas, playground, pavillions, trails and open play fields are open daily year-round, 7 a.m. to dusk.
The posted coordinates will take you the closest parking. To earn credit for this earthcache: Make your way towards the boat rentals and cross the creek (a footbridge can be found at N38° 47.657 W077° 12.958). Look for the sign with information to answer the following questions.
1) Describe any signs of runoff and sedimentation that you see from where you are standing.
2) What happens as water runs downhill?
3a) What happens to water that hits hard surfaces?, and …
3b) What does this mean for the stream?
4) Why create a park along a stream?
5a) Should we be concerned with what we put down our drains?, and ...
5b) Do the things that we put down our drain effect the lake you are standing near? Please explain.
Finally, if you would like, please post a picture of yourself including the nearby watershed and include the coordinates of where the picture was taken in your online log.
**** Please do NOT ask the park rangers or park staff for the answers to these questions or for information about this earthcache. All of the answers are either found on the sign or are asking for YOUR opinion. The staff members are extremely busy managing the lake activities and numerous educational activities and camps at the park. Thank you for respecting all of the hard work that the park staff performs and letting them do their work. ****
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
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