Soils of RI #36: Succotash Traditional Cache
Soils of RI #36: Succotash
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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This is the 36th in a series of caches honoring the 58 different types of soils found within the State of Rhode Island. Soils were a major factor in the settling and early farming of RI, and soils continue to influence our industry, recreation, wildlife, and homes. As you complete this series, please take note of how the soil is determined in-part by the landscape position (summit, sideslope, drainageway), which in turn affects the vegetation.
This cache is placed within East Beach, one of my absolute favorite places. The scenery here is so spectacular, the beach isn't crowded, and there are many natural features to explore!
East Beach is a geological landform known as a barrier beach. Barrier beaches separate large bodies of water from a shallower lagoon. In this case, the large body of water is Rhode Island Sound, and the lagoon is Ninigret Pond. Barrier beaches were previously mapped as "beach" or "udipsamments" (piles of sand). In recent years, however, as development has encroached upon these fragile areas, it has become clear that not all piles of sand are created equal. Thus, recent soil surveys have mapped the different areas of coastal barriers.
This cache is located within an area of the barrier mapped as Succotash soil. This newly-created soil series consists of moderately well drained soils that are on back barriers of barrier islands and spits and in low-lying areas along the coastal zone. Back barrier refers to the portion of the barrier that slopes down to the lagoon. These soils formed in wind-blown sands and/or wave deposited marine sands.
Most areas of Succotash soil are used for wildlife areas or recreation. Native vegetation includes bayberry,beach grass, beach plum, poison ivy, shad bush, arrowwood, reed meadow grass with scattered areas of pitch pine and red cedar.
Some areas are cleared and developed for beach houses. However, the sandy soils require special septic systems. In addition, these soils may experience occasional, very brief coastal flooding during major storms and washover events.
The terrain is rated at a three because it is a somewhat difficult walk from the parking area. The sand is very loose, and the inner dune area can be a good 10 degrees warmer than areas right on the beach or by the pond. I recommend walking along the pond side during warm weather, although you may have to wade calf-deep in the water in a few spots depending on the tide. PI is abundant on the dune, but the cache is placed in an area where that shouldn't be a problem. If you look at the map, you'll see that the cache is near an area known as a washover or blowout. These are barren areas of the dune where it is easy to cross from the beach all the way to the pond. Could be a night cache if you're camping. CC contains some swag and an official series description.
Congrats to kazie 359 for the FTF!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Pelvat sebz gur jnyx? Lbh'er fhpu n FNC!
Treasures
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