Riparian Reserve in Clinton County, Ohio EarthCache
Riparian Reserve in Clinton County, Ohio
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This earthcache is located at the Dr. Nathan Hale, Terrel-Hanagan Riparian Reserve. The idea for the earthcache arose out of the many questions that I have gotten about my two traditional caches placed in riparian reserves. Many people want to know just what a riparian reserve is, so I thought it would make a great educational earthcache.
What is a Riparian Reserve?
First, the term "riparian" refers to the banks of a natural waterway. A "riparian reserve" is a buffer of land on either side of a stream, creek, river, or other waterway. This strip of land (often called a "riparian corridor" for its shape along a waterway) is allowed to grow naturally with native vegetation including grasses, sedges, mosses, flowers, shrubs, and trees. These riparian reserves then act as a buffer between the waterway and whatever is on either side (often crop land, grazing land, or developed land). Runoff from any of these adjacent lands is filtered through the soil and root systems of the riparian reserve, and these same root systems stabilize the banks. By providing a buffer zone around the waterway, a riparian reserve protects water quality and preserves and improves habitat for plants and animals. The natural curves of the waterway (preserved by not artificially straightening it) and woody debris within the streambed help to slow the velocity of the flowing water which reduces erosion. In addition, the buffer lands hold much rainwater and runoff water allowing it to slowly trickle down to replenish the underwater aquifer. The diagram below shows various zones of a riparian reserve and the benefits of each.
Diagram Credit: Maryland Cooperative Extension, University of Maryland,
The above description has been distilled from these sources:
Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay. (1996, January). Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay White Paper: Riparian Forest Buffers
Maryland Cooperative Extension. (1998). An Introduction to the Riparian Forest Buffer.
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service. (1966). Riparian Forest Buffers.
Logging Requirements
Earthcaches are placed in order to give people an educational experience. For this earthcache, you must complete the following three tasks (and a fourth optional one if you wish). You will need to hike the trail from the parking area and follow it along the creek. All answers must be e-mailed to the owner. Please do not post answers in your log. If you fail to e-mail your answers to me or if you post answers in your log, I will be forced to delete the log (and I really don't want to have to do that).
1. As you hike the trail, observe this riparian reserve. Please tell me aspects of this riparian reserve that match the descriptions of a riparian buffer explained above.
2. Identify one tree that you observe in this riparian reserve. Research the growing conditions for that tree, and explain why it thrives in a riparian buffer habitat.
3. Describe the makeup of the riparian buffers on each side of Cowan Creek (comparing it to the zones in the diagram above). Hypothesize (given what you have learned about riparian buffers) whether you think the buffer makeup is appropriate. Whatever you hypothesize, explain why you believe so. {Note: your actual hypothesis is less important than your reasoning based upon what you know of riparian buffers}.
4. {Optional} Post a photograph of something that interested you along your hike.
Thanks for visiting this earthcache, and I hope that you now enjoy and understand this riparian reserve even more!
Congratulations to Captainwilly for his milestone 100th earthcache find!
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Treasures
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