Carlson Oxbow
Park
Carlson Oxbow Park is a beautiful park with a long and
winding wooden
walkway to enjoy all of the indigenous and migratory wildlife. As a
cub scout
leader I have taken my scouts there on many occasions, setting a
park approved
bird house, picking up trash on Scout Clean Up Day, and a park
organized fishing
derby. Please enjoy this area as we have and remember- leave
nothing but
footprints, take nothing but pictures and garbage
(CITO!)
What Is An Oxbow
Lake?
An oxbow is a
crescent-shaped
lake lying alongside a winding river. The oxbow lake is created
over time as
erosion and deposits of soil change the river's course. You can see
how an oxbow
lake takes shape below:
(1) On the inside of the
loop, the river travels
more slowly leading to deposition of silt.
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(2) Meanwhile water on the
outside edges tends to
flow faster, which erodes the banks making the meander even
wider.
(3) Over time or a larger
event (see below), the
loop of the meander widens until the neck vanishes
altogether.
Geology:
An Oxbow Lake is the result of a long
geological/river process that is dependent on several
factors:
1.Low slope
(the elevation of the river that the “oxbow” was once a
part of is not dropping
very quickly
2.The riverbanks must contain rocks that are relatively
easily
eroded as the river cuts into its banks.
3.Time! (OR #4)
4.At times, a
larger event, such as an earthquake, flood, volcano (out west) or
dam (human or
natural occurrence) can trigger an oxbow lake overnight by
diverting water to a
new riverbed.
To Log This Earthcache please E-mail me the
answers to the
questions below:
1) By observing the Photos and visiting the
site, do you think
this Lake was formed through:
a) Time, b) Earthquake, c) Flood, d) Human- Built Dam
2) What man-made item is prominently
displayed due west of the
picture point, on the island?
3) Due to the low slope of the Oxbow Lake,
Take elevation
readings at the Wooden Walkway entrance (X2), The viewing deck (X3)
and the
picture point (X4). What is the difference in elevation between
the
points?
4) Take a picture of you, or your group
holding your GPS at the
picture point- feel free to post in your log. If in a group,
describe which one
you are.