Rush Creek Riparian Traditional Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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What is it about mankind that makes us think we can control the power of nature? We spend a lot of money on the task, thats for sure. Developers, cities, individuals, often try to straighten out those pesky rivers so they can squeeze in a few more houses, parking spots, whatever. Ponder this while you seek an old Nalgene bottle tied to a tree root along the banks of this sometimes beautiful, sometimes embattled tributary of Rush Creek.
Riparian corridors are one of the most important parts of the natural ecosystem, preventing floods, improving water quality, providing wildlife habitat, and much more. Arlington has come a long way in protecting them - having learned its lesson the hard way. A portion of our tax dollars now goes to fixing the problems casued by poor planning years ago. When you find this cache you will be standing in just such a spot. The cache is hidden in the roots of a tree along the banks of Kee Branch of Rush Creek, just below the (futile) efforts of a backyard owner to keep his yard form eroding away. Can't blame him, the mistake was made years ago . . . you gotta give streams room to wander, just like geocachers!
This cache should be accessed from the nearby park. Please do not park along Mayfield, the traffic is dangerous. And please be quiet . . see if you can get to the cache without any dogs barking - bonus points! Other than that, this is rather easy, with a very high probablitity of mud on your shoes. No flip flops for this one, I expect it to be a bit slippery. And do not try this one if the river is brown and flowing fast . . . danger! Wait a day after a big rainfall and the stream will be back to its quiet ways.
Please leave the bottle tied to the tree - otherwise it will be washed away when the next flood comes . . . and it will . . they always do.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Tb haqre gur oevqtr, nybat gur onax, gura fgenvtug hc jura lbh guvax lbh ner pybfr.