Withrow Springs EarthCache EarthCache
Withrow Springs EarthCache
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Withrow Springs State Park, tucked in the hills of the Ozarks, is just a few miles from the heavily traveled Highway 412 yet visitors to the region often miss the beauty that this park has to offer. Hiking trails, a cave, & wonderful views of War Eagle River name only a few. There is parking available just a few feet from the spring, however unless you are a registered guest staying in the campground, this area of the park is closed from 10:00pm - 6:00am
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Probably the most unique feature here is the parks namesake, Withrow Spring which is one of Arkansas largest springs
The stratigraphy of the Springfield Plateau is primarily alternating layers of sandstone, shale, and limestone. Formed in between the Batesville Sandstone and the Chattanooga Shale is the thickest and most extensive layer of the Plateau known as the Boone Limestone.
Withrow Springs, located north of Huntsville in Madison County Arkansas is the namesake for the State Park that is its home.
Formed near a mapped fault in the middle of the Boone layer, the spring is one of the regions longer systems. It drains an extensive basin resulting in a large base flow and discharge.
Since springs in the middle Boone are typically perched water tables emerging above a non-permeable chert layer, high discharge springs are normally uncommon in this layer of the plateau.
This spring is unique because it has formed at the edge of a fault. While most faults in the Springfield Plateau fill with clay and debris to become no-flow zones, ground water upstream from Withrow flows down-dip until it is forced to the surface as it hits the impermeable fault boundary resulting in the flow of water that you see emerging from the mouth of the cave. |
The information provided here was obtained through a report furnished by the State Park and was written by Matthew Covington & Adam Schaffer in Association with the University of Arkansas. The report, titled "Survey of Two Joint-controlled Cave Systems in the Boone Formation of NW Arkansas", Details a survey of the cave in 1999 by a team which included the authors. There is very little geological information available about this marvelous Earth Science feature.
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In order to claim this EarthCache you must send the answers to the following questions to me via email.
My address is Mr.GeoZee@Gmail.com
Once you email your answers, please log your find. There is no need to wait for a reply as incorrect answers or logs without answers will be deleted.
1.) Using your GPS Unit, record the elevation at the given coordinates.
2.) The flow rate of the spring changes based the amount of groundwater from recent rainfall. Estimate the flow rate of the spring. One way to do this is to float a stick or leaf in the water and record it time/distance of travel.
3.) The temperature of the water at the discharge area does not fluctuate much. Estimate the temperature of the water during your visit.
While optional, I would appreciate if you would please take a photo of yourself and/or your team from the somewhere along the spring or creek & upload it with your log. - Please be careful to not give away the answers by making them visible in your photo.
Spoiler logs will be deleted
~ As with any EarthCache the point is for you the cacher to learn something new about the area. ~
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Developed with the permission and cooperation of Withrow Springs State Park
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This EarthCache was developed by a member of
The NorthWest Arkansas Cachers
that has proudly earned the following designations
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Additional Hints
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