Stillwater's Watershed EarthCache
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Welcome to Boomer Lake. This Earthcachebrings you to a very beautiful, and peaceful part of Stillwater! I have created some devious terrain caches in the past, but this park is beautiful and I made this one family and handicap accessible.
** CONGRATS TO SSHELLE ON FTF!!! **
To help paperless Geocachers the logging requirements are placed at the beginning of the cache description:
At the coordiantes is a plaque and on it will be the answers you will seek!
1. How many acres is the drainage area?
2. How many acres is the water surface area?
3. What is the height of the dam?
4. What is the volume of fill?
5. What is the date of the bottom of the plaque?
6. What type of wildlife do you see?
** While it is not a requirement, I would request you post a picture of you, or your GPS, with the lake in the background. This way others can enjoy your adventure too!
Boomer Lake:
Boomer Lake is one of my favorite lakes in the Stillwater area. In 1988 the lake was drained for repairs of the dam and construction of a new road (Lakeview) and bridge over the lake. After five years, the lake was opened and it was estimated it would be eighteen to twenty four months before the basin refilled. The lake actually filled in just thirty days of heavy rains.
Once you arrive at the lake, enjoy the 3.2 mile concrete trail around the lake or there is even a boat ramp for your use if you like to fish or boat around the lake. The park also has a great frisbee golf course too.
What is a Watershed?
A watershed is basically an area of land that drains to a water feature such as a river, creek or lake. As the rain falls, the soil will absorb most of the water until it becomes saturated. When the soil can no longer hold the water, it becomes run off and will flow towards creeks, rivers and lakes. Why do we need a Watershed?
The soil, sand and rock found in the ground acts as a filter or sponge for the rain and surface water. Contaminants from roads, oils, pesticides re mixed with the rain water and absorbed into the soil. As the contaminated water filters through the soil, sand and rocks, it purifies the water so that when it reaches the ground water (the underground rivers) it has less contaminates to pollute the rivers and lakes that it flows into.
In urban areas, where there is more concrete and asphalt due to roads and parking lots, water cannot be absorbed into the soil as easily and quickly runs into the sewers and from there into creeks, rivers and lakes which is a major cause of pollution. Urban planners are now beginning to understand the importance a watershed to control the pollution of rivers and lakes near urban areas.
Many watersheds disguise themselves as ponds and small lakes. A healthy watershed will support fish and other wildlife and an abundance of vegetation. A well maintained watershed can provide a peaceful habitat, become a recreational area with boating, hiking, fishing and picnicking or become an educational nature center. Just like Boomer "Lake".
Additional Hints
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