Heckrodt Wetland Reserve EarthCache
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HECKRODT WETLAND RESERVE
Located at
1305 Plank Road (HIghway 114)
Menasha, WI 54952 (920)720-9349
Here is a link to the Heckrodt Wetland Reserve Site.
www.heckrodtwetland.com
We would like to give a big Thank You
to
Tracey Koenig
Heckrodt Wetland Reserve Executive Director
Who provided some of the information on the wetlands.
And for giving us permission to place this Earthcache
Heckrodt Wetland Reserve is one of the last vestiges of natural
wetlands on the north shore of Lake Winnebago and the
region’s only large forested wetland accessible to the
general public. Heckrodt Wetland Reserve is operated by a nonprofit
organization(Heckrodt Wetland Reserve, Inc.) The mission of
Heckrodt Wetland Reserve, Inc. is to restore, enhance, and preserve
the Reserve, to educate all people about the importance of
conserving our natural resources, and to promote the
Reserve’s recreational opportunities. The Reserve began with
a donation of land and financial support from the Heckrodt Family.
Heckrodt encompasses 72 acres and within those acres the Reserve
exhibits five wetland plant communities including hardwood swamp,
shrub-carr, shallow marsh, fresh(wet)meadow, and deep marsh. The
Reserve is a place that struggles to survive due to the development
pressures in the area. These pressures have resulted in a loss of
water quantity, reduction of water quality, invasion by exotic
plant species, reduction in resident wildlife and others. We must
recognize the importance of this resource and ensure its existence
for future generations.
Wetlands are among the most biodiverse environments in the world
.meaning it supports a large variety of life forms. Wetlands are
areas covered or soaked by surface or ground water usually no
deeper than about 6 feet. Wetlands form the area between places
always wet such as ponds and areas that are always dry like forests
and grasslands. As plant life changes the wetland is constantly
evolving. The process is called succession. Waste matter from
floating type plants such as leaves and dead stems begin to fill up
a pond. The water becomes slow moving, thick and shallow making it
possible for plants that need to be anchored to grow. Plants such
as reeds and grasses. As waste matter continues to increase the
pond gradually becomes a wetland. As succession continues a wetland
may eventually disappear and be replaced by dry ground. Several
factors may contribute to the formation of a wetland. The last
glaciers passing through about 10,000 years ago left depressions in
the ground called kettles. Kettles were also formed from melted
ice. Leaving behind the perfect place for water to accumulate.
Centuries of heavy winds and landslides may also change the terrain
leaving depressions for water accumulation. Wetlands are also
formed by overflowing river banks, changes in water level, and
heavy rains which can leave behind waterlogged areas. Soil is an
important characteristic of a wetland area. The composition of the
soil determines the type of wetland and what plants and animals can
survive in it. The soil in a wetland is almost always saturated.
Hydric is the term used to refer to wetland soil meaning it
contains a lot of water but little oxygen. Plants that thrive in
this sort of environment are those that can adapt to wet soils.
Nutrients in the soil depend on water supply. If rain is the
primary water source the soils do not receive as many nutrients as
those fed by ground water. Flood plains are very rich in nutrients,
including potassium, magnesium, calcium and phosphorus. Three main
types of wetlands are swamps, marshes and peatlands. Size, type of
soil, plants, type and amount of water supply determine what type
of wetland it is. A swamp is a type of wetland characterized by
poorly drained water, and the plant life is dominated by trees.
Vegetation in the area must be able to tolerate having their root
systems wet for long periods of time. Stagnant water causes the
decaying plant matter to settle to the bottom an area with little
oxygen. Because there is little oxygen the plant matter cannot
fully decay. This gives the swamp the characteristic of brown
stinky water. Marshes make up about 90% of the wetlands. Fresh
water marshes are found along the edge of lakes and rivers where
groundwater, streams, or springs cause flooding. Growth of reeds,
rushes, grasses and other nonwoody vegetation may look like thick
fields of grass. Wetlands made up of peat are referred to as
peatlands. The partially decayed remains of sphagnum moss and even
trees make up peat. Dead plant matter is produced and deposited
faster than the rate it decomposes. Layer upon layer of partially
decayed matter produce peatland. Sometimes over thousands of years
the build up of plant matter could be 40 feet deep. One example of
a peatland is a temperate bog. Temperate bogs are soft floating
carpets mainly made up of sphagnum moss. Why protect our wetlands?
Wetlands function as vast, solar-powered organic factories that
trap silt washed off the land. From this runoff, wetlands extract
nutrients, converting them into vital plant life that stabilizes
the soil, generates oxygen, and provides a habitat for many types
of animals. Wetlands act as a filter for our lakes, rivers and
streams. They filter out pollutants such as sewage, fertilizer
runoff composed of nitrogen and phosphorus, and heavy metals from
industrial waste. Wetlands serve as large sponges temporary storage
areas limiting the destruction of flood waters. They also help
reduce erosion. Vegetation in the wetland areas remove phosphates
and other plant nutrients from surrounding soil. This reduces the
growth of aquatic weeds and algae, which can steal the oxygen that
plants and animals need to survive. Wetlands provide permanent
habitat to many species of plants, fish, and wildlife. They are
home to many endemic and endangered species. Wetland systems are
disappearing fast and with it go many plants, mammals, and
waterfowl that make wetland areas their home.
Heckrodt Wetland Reserves
gate is open from 6:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M.
Monday through Sunday, for their Trails within the Reserve. They
also provide a very nice center with indoor pond and some live
exhibits.
Center is open Tuesday - Friday 8-4:30 P.M.
Holidays - 11-4:00 P.M.
Saturday & Sunday 11-4:00 P.M.
In order to claim credit for
this cache you will need to answer the following questions and
e-mail the answers to wiskey33
Also take a photo of your GPS at the following Coordinates.
N 44 12.511 W 088 25.127
And tell me if you were facing North or South when you took the
photo.
1. How many wetland plant communities are within the boundaries of
the Reserve?
2. Pick one of the communities at the Reserve and name two plants
that grow there.( A little research is needed here)
3. What term is used to refer to wetland soil?
Remember to send photo of GPS at listed coordinates.
As always do not post your answers in your log.
As this will cause me to delete your log.
e-mail wiskey33
A Geocache
Notification Form has been submitted to
Tracey Koenig
Heckrodt Wetland Reserve Executive Director
1305 Plank Road (HIghway 114)
Menasha, WI 54952 (920)720-9349
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)