A Healthy River Earthcache EarthCache
A Healthy River Earthcache
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The Slocan River flows out of Slocan Lake which lies nestled between the Goat Range and the Valhalla's in the mighty Selkirk Mountains. The river runs 37 miles to its confluence with the Kootenay River between Castlegar and Nelson.The Slocan River is a tributary of the Kootenay River and is therefore considered part of the Columbia River basin.
A riparian zone or riparian area is the interface between land and a river or stream. Riparian zones are significant in enviromental management, and civil engineering because of their role in soil conservation, and the influence they have on grasslands, woodlands and wetlands. In some regions the terms riparian woodland, riparian forest, riparian buffer zone, or riparian strip are used to characterize a riparian zone. The word "riparian" is derived from Latin ripa, meaning river bank.
Riparian zones may be natural or engineered for soil stabilization or restoration. These zones are important natural biofilters, protecting aquatic environments from excessive sedimentation, and erosion. When riparian zones are damaged by construction, agriculture or silviculture, biological restoration can take place, usually by human intervention in erosion control and revegetation.
Riparian zones dissipate stream energy. The meandering curves of a river, combined with vegetation and root systems, dissipate stream energy, which results in less soil erosion and a reduction in flood damage. Sediment is trapped, reducing suspended solids to create less turbid water, replenish soils, and build stream banks.The vegetation also contributes wood debris to streams which is important to maintaining geomorphology.
The Slocan River is a stable river system by virtue of its lake-headed nature, with an abundant water yield. It has 10 to 12 minor tributaries and one major tributary, the Little Slocan, which is also lake-headed.
Human settlement,agriculture and harvesting along large sections of the river have reduced shade, raised water temperature and reduced sources of large woody debris.
Which has accelerated runoff, increased erosion and constant sedimentation.The Slocan River is a small river, with occasional rapids, in a rural setting.As you look at the Slocan River today, try to determin if this section is healthy.
To Log this earth cache;
Please email (do not post answers on the cache page) the cache owners with the following information;
From GZ
1)Estimate distance to the instream reef
2)Which side of the river is eroding faster here, closer side or further side from GZ
3)Give an example of stabilizing eroding banks
Additional Hints
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Treasures
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