To Log This Cache, Answer at least one of the following(*NOTE-Again, due to the storm damage, a Photo (with your GPS in it, if you can) can be used as proof of your visit instead of the required question/answers*):
1): Based on your direct observation, name One of the zones that lie before you at the cache location._________
2): Estimate the width of the island at the cache point. _____ .
3): Estimate the height of the waves crashing on the beach. Wave height is measured from the top, or “crest” of the wave, to the "trough", or lowest part between the waves.___________________.
4): Determine whether the water is moving into the inlet creek or back out into the ocean. Which is it? ___in ___ out.
5): At the cache location, do you see primary dunes, secondary dunes, or both? ________.
6): How many different plants can you see in the dunes at the cache location? ____.
7: The distance from the cache location south to the actual end of the island, or “point”, varies with the tide - From your observation, tell me your estimate of how far away the point is. OR, IF YOU CAN, WALK out to the point and, using your GPS, tell me the exact distance you are from the cache location.(This can be posted in your log.) ________.
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From MyTopo Maps on geocaching.com page:
Today we are going to do an Earthcache to learn about BARRIER ISLANDS.
This Earthcache is located on Pawleys Island, which is a barrier island found on the South Carolina Coastline, about 12 miles above Georgetown, S.C. For those vacationing along “The Grand Strand”, it is around 25 miles below Myrtle Beach. Litchfield Beach is right above Pawleys, and Surfside and Garden City Beaches, which are just above Murrells Inlet, are only a few miles away.
P a w l e y s I s l a n d
Barrier islands are found along coastlines all over the world. According to the Nature Guide to the Carolina Coast by Peter Meyer, which I used for much of the information found here, South Carolina has 35 barrier islands along its coast.
Barrier islands like Pawleys are located parallel to the mainland, separated from it by, in this case, an inlet creek and tidal salt marsh, as can be seen on the map above. As the tide “comes in” (moves towards high tide), the water from the ocean flows in at both the north and south ends of the island, thereby filling the salt marsh that is between the island and the mainland. When the tide turns and “goes out” (moves toward low tide), the water flows out of the inlet at both ends. This cache is located at the south end of Pawleys.
Barrier islands protect the mainland. Since they are completely exposed to the ocean, they take the brunt of winds, tides, and waves as well as storms, and, of course, hurricaines. Due to this, they act as a “barrier” between the ocean and the mainland. Stopping waves is one of the main ways barrier islands protect what is behind them.
Note the difference in the water roughness and wave action in these two photographs that I took, one of the ocean from the beach front, and the other of the inlet creek located behind the island.
Barrier islands are dynamic environments, as they are constantly being eroded and built back up. Development by man, especially if the protective dunes are removed, can hasten this erosion as it interrupts the natural cycle of damage and repair. But barrier islands are popular vacation spots, and more and more are being developed.. However, they are actually fragile, constantly changing ecosystems that are important for coastal geology and ecology. Development poses great dangers to these ecosystems and has also greatly increased the risk of damage to the land itself.
A BARRIER ISLAND has up to 6 distinct ZONES. Starting with the oceanside they are: 1) OCEAN BEACH, 2) PRIMARY DUNES, 3) SECONDARY DUNES, 4) MARITIME FOREST, 5) SALT MARSH, and 6) TIDAL or MUD FLATS / INLET.
1) OCEAN BEACH: This is where the Barrier Island serves its greatest purpose of protecting the mainland from the action of waves. Waves are swells of water that are pushed up by the wind. When a swell nears land, in this case the beach front, as the ocean bottom rises the bottom of the wave is slowed faster than the top. This causes the wave to "roll up" and then crest over. Waves are very efficient movers of sand. Standing at the cache location, if you look to your left towards the ocean, you will see waves crashing on the beach. Way out in front of you (south to the point) you can see where the waves entering the inlet decrease in size. Now, if you look to your right towards the inlet creek, notice that the waves are not crashing on the mainland shore side of the inlet. The barrier island has reduced the waves’ energy and thereby protects the land behind it.
2) PRIMARY DUNES: The primary dunes are the first row of dunes fronting the ocean. They protect everything behind them. Dunes develop when winds blow sand in from the beach. The sand then accumulates around something that slows the wind, such as plants. The plants growing on the dunes help stabilize the loss of sand with their root systems. However, there are very few plants that can survive on primary dunes, due to the high heat, salt spray, and constant wind. 
Sea Oats and Beach Grass are the most suited to this environment. In the spring, Beach Grass and Sea Oats are hard to tell apart. During the summer and early winter though, Sea Oats become the most conspicuous plants you see growing on the sand dunes. They are a very recognizable plant that evokes in many the essence of being at the beach. The long stems with seed pods at the end resemble oat stalks. They grow from underground roots called rhizomes that are buried under the sand. Winds shift and swirl the sand, but these roots help stabilize the dunes to keep them in place, thereby helping keep the barrier island itself in place. Both Beach Grass and Sea Oats are very salt tolerant. As is the case on Pawleys,it is usually unlawful to pick or have sea oats in your possession; also, walking or climbing on the dunes themselves can be illegal and carry a hefty fine. Many think the main reason not to climb on the dunes is because they are endangered, but it is usually because to do so can greatly damage the plants and therefore the dunes themselves.
3) SECONDARY DUNES: Being further from the beach, secondary dunes are older and have a larger amount of vegetation growing on them. You will find many more varieties of plants present on them, as they usually have much less exposure to the harsher conditions present on the nearby primary dunes, thereby allowing less hardy plants to thrive.
4) MARITIME FOREST: Maritime Forest is usually present only on wider islands, or only on the wider parts. Some can be seen in the middle area of Pawleys Island as you travel to the cache. 
These trees develop behind the primary and secondary dunes. Trees that make up a maritime forest are hardy varieties like Laurel Oak and Live Oak that are able to withstand the constant wind and salt spray from the ocean. The effect of the salt spray is usually very noticeable. Trees growing very near the ocean develop with a very distinctive “wedge” shape - very low on the ocean side and much higher on the side away from the ocean. This is due to the stunting of the tree’s growth from the constant salt spray it is continually exposed to. Go to the coordinates N 33° 24.004 and W 079° 08.337 and look to your right, (up the inlet creek away from the point), on the far side you can see some of the trees showing this unique growing pattern. Even though these trees are not on the island, they are still affected by the winds and salt air. While there are trees displaying this feature on Pawleys, they are located on private property inaccessible to the general public.
5):
SALT MARSH: Salt marshes are usually found in the protected waters between the barrier island and the mainland. Grasses such as Spartina Grass predominate. The grasses in a marsh are usually exposed at low tide, and covered at high tide. These grasses stabilize the marsh much like the dunes are stabilized by Sea Oats and Beach Grass. Salt marshes are some of the most productive areas on earth. Scientists estimate they are responsible for up to 95% of all commercially valuable fish and shellfish found in our oceans.
6) TIDAL or MUD FLATS / inlet: These are the broad, flat 
muddy expanses that can be seen at low tide. They are covered at higher tides. At low tide you can see a lot of the life that is hidden when the tide is high. Mud snails and oysters are present, as well as fiddler and hermit crabs.
**NOTE:again, If you can, Please UPLOAD A PHOTO with you &/or your group WITH your GPSr IN THE PHOTO if possible(*This can count as your proof of visit*).
OR, Please NOTE, you may do the following OPTIONAL REQUIREMENT in place of one of the 3 questions: There is a sign pertaining to RIP CURRENTS. Tell me (again, in your e-mail) what the bottom 2 words on the sign are.
Permission for this cache has been granted by P.M. of Georgetown County Parks and recreation.
Happy Caching!,.............* * * * * FTF HONORS GO TO....bobandia!!! * * * * *
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| I have proudly earned the Geological Society of America's highest level: |
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