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The coords will take you to a wheelchair friendly boardwalk at a unique stands of cypress wetlands are located within the forest. Here you will learn about the EARTH at this Earthcache.
Welcome to Tate’s Dirt of Hell Earth Cache. The posted coords will bring you to an area of The Tate’s Hell State forest with a very unique bit of soil science. How can you tell this little patch of forest has something unique about it? The trees have a story to tell about the earth they are living in and you will also need to do a little bit of field work too.
First a little history of this area as best described by the Division of Forestry web site:
Tate's Hell State Forest is one continuous tract of land comprising over 202,000 acres. Conquering this wet and seemingly unproductive area for timber production was the focus of the timber industry from the 1950's to early 1990's.
During the 1960's and 1970's, the hydrology was substantially altered in an attempt to establish extensive tracts of pine plantations and to enhance the production of pine timber. These alterations involved the construction of roads and associated ditches, followed by the planting of large dense stands of slash pine that were fertilized with phosphorus and nitrogen. The network of roads has increased public access to the area, making it a popular location for local residents to hunt and fish. To protect the Apalachicola Bay from severe freshwater run-off, the state began purchasing the majority of the property with Conservation and Recreation Lands (CARL) Program funds in 1994 and has continued to purchase additional lands
Natural Features
The natural resources found on Tate's Hell State Forest are very diverse due to the unique and various natural community types. At one time Tate's Hell State Forest supported at least 12 major community types which included: wet Flatwoods, wet prairie, seepage slope, baygall, floodplain forest, floodplain swamp, basin swamp, upland hardwood forest, sandhill, pine ridges, dense titi thickets and scrub. Currently, the forest contains approximately 107,300 acres of hydric communities such as wet prairie (contains a vast diversity of plant species), wet Flatwoods, strand swamp, bottomland forest, baygall, and floodplain swamp. Past management practices have disrupted the function of the natural ecosystems on Tate's Hell State Forest. The restoration of these ecosystems is a primary objective of the Division of Forestry.
Many species of wildlife make their home on the forest. Those with confirmed sightings on Tate's Hell State Forest that are currently listed as threatened, endangered or species of special concern are: bald eagle, Florida black bear, gopher tortoise, and red-cockaded woodpecker. Rare plant species living on the forest include: Thick-leaved Water-willow (Justicia crassifolia), White Birds-in-a-nest (Macbridea alba), Florida Bear grass (Nolina atopocarpa), Chapman's Butterwort (Pinguicula planifolia), and Small-flowered Meadow beauty (Rhexia parviflora).
Hydrologic Feature
The predominant hydrologic feature within the state forest is Tate's Hell Swamp, which drains toward Apalachicola River and Bay. The River and Bay are designated as Outstanding Florida Waters (OFWS), and are the highest priority water bodies under the Northwest Florida Water Management District's SWIM Program. The Apalachicola River is designated for recreation and propagation and maintenance of a healthy, well balanced population of fish and wildlife.
Apalachicola Bay is a State Aquatic Preserve with designated uses such as shellfish propagation and harvesting. Tate's Hell Swamp plays an important role in the function of the marshes in the upper bays south of the forest that serve as nursery areas for Apalachicola Bay. The Tate's Hell Swamp tributaries to East Bay include Cash Creek, High Bluff Creek, Rake Creek, Whiskey George Creek, Juniper Creek and Doyle Creek. The New, Ochlockonee and Crooked Rivers are the major rivers that adjoin the state forest. Numerous other creeks flow throughout the forest including such named creeks as: Alligator, Bear, Cow, Deep, Fish, Gully Branch, Graham, Sunday Rollaway, Pine Log, Roberts, Sanborn, Sandbank, Trout, Womack, and two Juniper Creeks. There are no lakes, however several ponds have formed in old pits and numerous natural shallow ponds occur throughout the forest.
The Tate’s Dirt of Hell Earth Cache questions and task:
Please answer all questions by sending an email via our profile page, please do not post the answers on your log even if encrypted!
On your way from the parking area to the posted coords you will see an info sign. Read all of the info to learn the answers to the following questions.
1) In what year was a restoration project undertaken to restore the natural hydrology of theDwarf Cypress swamp in this area?
2) These Cypress Trees grow to only about 15-feet even though they could be around 150 years old. What is the soil feature that is thought to be responsible for these dwarfs?
3) What other soil feature is evidenced by the many carnivorous plants that call this area home?
***** Please email me the answer, do not post in your logs.*****
Because doing soil borings is a no no, your optional task is to go to the posted coords and take a picture of you and your GPSr with the top of the Dwarfs heads at the same level as your head and post it with your log.
The Legend of TATE'S HELL...
A tale that has been told for many years recounts how Tate's Hell Swamp got its name. Local legend has it that a farmer by the name of Cebe Tate, armed with only a shotgun and accompanied by his hunting dogs, journeyed into the swamp in search of a panther that was killing his livestock. Although there are several versions of this story, the most common describes Tate as being lost in the swamp for seven days and nights, bitten by a snake, and drinking from the murky waters to curb his thirst. Finally he came to a clearing near Carrabelle, living only long enough to murmur the words, "My name is Cebe Tate, and I just came from Hell!" Cebe Tate's adventure took place in 1875 and ever since, the area has been known as Tate's Hell, the legendary and forbidden swamp.
Additional Hints
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