The
2.5 Difficulty rating on this cache is because of the calculations.
You will need a watch. You may also want to bring a tape ruler and
calculator. The 2.5 Terrain is because the banks are steep in
places and could be slick depending on the weather. Please be
careful when approaching the river’s edge.
The
posted coordinates mark a parking lot near the Tridge in downtown
Midland. There is lots of free parking all over this area. The
Tridge was built in 1981. It is a three way pedestrian bridge. It
marks the spot where the Tittabawassee and Chippewa rivers
meet.
History of the area
Thousands
of years ago, this area was a congregating area for Native
Americans whose settlements were located here. Archaeological
findings in this area show human activity as far back as 4000
years. This area was part of a 6000 acre tract of land set aside by
the federal government for a Chippewa Indian Reservation from 1819
to 1837. In the early 1800’s, the demand for furs brought fur
traders to Midland. By 1840 the decreased demand for furs and the
depletion of fur bearing animals brought a close to the fur trade
era. There is a plaque in nearby Whitman Park marking the site of
one of the trading posts.
A river
A
body of water that flows down a slope along a channel restricted by
adjacent banks is called a River. A River starts at a point called
its source. Along its length it may be joined by smaller rivers
called tributaries; A river and its tributaries are contained
within a drainage basin called the watershed. The point at which
two or more rivers join, is called the Confluence.
A river
confluence
A
confluence is the point where two rivers meet. Usually this is
where a tributary joins a major river. The tributary at this
location is the Chippewa River. The major river is the
Tittabawassee.
A river delta
A
river delta is a landform that is created at the mouth of a river
where that river flows into another body of water. Deltas are
formed from the deposition of the sediment carried by the river as
the flow leave the mouth of the river. Over long periods of time,
this deposition builds the characteristic geographic pattern of a
river delta.
The Tittabawasse River
The
Tittabawassee River is a river which flows in a generally southward
direction. The river rises in Roscommon County. From there it flows
through Gladwin, Midland, and Saginaw Counties. It is a major
tributary of the Saginaw River.
The Chippewa River
The
Chippewa River is a river which flows south and east. The river
begins in Isabella County and flows through two different lakes in
Isabella County, Lake Isabella and Coldwater Lake. The river then
flows east into Midland County where it joins the Tittabawasse
River. The river is named after the Chippewa people.
To log this cache
At
the following coordinates, determine the flow rate of the river.
You can do this by marking off a set distance (I suggest 10 feet),
toss a stick in the river upstream, and time how long it takes for
the stick to travel through the marked distance. Divide the
distance in feet by the time in seconds and you get the flow rate
in feet per second. Make sure you use the same sized stick at each
location.
The width of the river at each location is also given.
1. Tittabawassee River upstream (203 ft across) N 43 36.710 W 84
14.938
2. Chippewa River upstream (166 ft across) N 43 36.627 W 84
15.025
3. Tittabawassee River downstream (200 ft across) N 43 36.669 W 84
14.790
If
there are people sitting/standing/fishing/etc at any of the
locations, just find another place where you can calculate the flow
rate for that part of the river.
From the Tridge, look down into the mouth of the Chippewa River.
Try to find any evidence of a river delta
forming.
Email the answers to #2, #3, and #4 to me from my profile page. Do
not post the answers to #2, #3, and #4 in your log.
1.
Post a picture with your log of you and your GPSr with the Tridge
in the background.
2. Email me the flow rates for each location.
3. Compare the flow rates at each location. Can you explain why
each is faster or slower than the other?
4. What kind of evidence could you find of a river delta
forming?
This cache was developed with permission from The Midland County
Parks and Recreation. Thank you for allowing this
cache.
For your safety, please do not attempt this cache if the rivers are
frozen or flooded.
Congrats to foxgallagher for the FTF
I have earned GSA's highest achievements:
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