Soils of RI #38: Sandyhook Traditional Cache
Twohig260: I never liked this one, but I "needed" to place it in order to feel like I completed the series. I may try to set up a replacement for a few of the SoRI caches that have been archived... or maybe not. We'll see, but this one is gone for now.
Soils of RI #38: Sandyhook
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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This is the 38th 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 Sandyhook. This soil is just beginning to be mapped in RI in recent soil surveys. These soils are very poorly 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. These soils are similar to nearby Succotash soils. Sandyhook soils, however, are subject to twice daily tidal flooding and support wetland vegetation.
Most of these soils are used for wildlife habitat and recreation. Small scattered areas are used for saltgrass hay. Urban development is unlikely due to tide flooding. Native vegetation consists of saltmeadow grass, salt water grass, and spike grass. Other possible vegetation includes phragmites, blackgrass, sea lavender, saltwort, seaside goldenrod, aster, and purple gerardi.
The terrain is rated at a two because the only access to GZ is by walking along the shore of Ninigret Pond. Wading calf-deep in the water may be required depending on the tide. PI is abundant on the marsh/pond fringe. I've avoided placing the cache in areas that were heavily infested, but there is a little PI climbing the tree at GZ, so please be careful (it is easily avoidable). Please DO NOT do any bushwhacking! The CC is hanging from an obvious spot and is retrievable from the shore. Please be sure to secure the CC well and try to keep the container as hidden as possible behind the branches to keep it from view of muggles. This cache 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)
Unatzna... frr? Qhu!