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Leviathan? Yup, Natives Called It Poison Creek Traditional Cache

Hidden : 5/27/2012
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
2 out of 5

Size: Size:   small (small)

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Geocache Description:


Leviathan is a sea monster referred to in Biblical texts. In Demonology, Leviathan is one of the seven princes of Hell.
The Leviathan is threatening to all with upheaval in the waters of chaos.   At the Leviathan Mine the approximately 22 million tons of sulfur ore-containing crushed rock at the mine are responsible for contaminating the Leviathan and Aspen Creek, which join with Mountaineer Creek to form Bryant Creek which ultimately empties into the East Fork of the Carson River. During excavating operations at Leviathan (1953–1962), a certain company whom we'll not mention turned the original mine into a 50-acre (20 ha), 400-foot-deep (120 m) pit, and removed approximately 500,000 long tons of sulphur. During this time period acid mine drainage began contaminating Leviathan Creek......accidentally of course. Contact with contaminates from the mine can result in both cancerous and non-cancerous health effects depending on where, when, and how long the exposure occurred. Arsenic poses the most significant health risk to exposed individuals via contact with contaminated surface water and sediment. Other risks for exposure include eating fish, plants and wild game collected near the site and dust inhalation of sediment near the mine, and or eating animals raised near Leviathan. In general, avoiding contact with mine tailings, surface water, and sediments in Leviathan, Aspen, and Bryant creeks, as well as the River Ranch Irrigation channel will reduce contaminate exposure and therefore reduce health risks. Site clean up began with the 1983-1985 formation of the Leviathan Mine Pollution Abatement Project by the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board (LRWQCB) which was built in an effort to mitigate acid mine drainage. The State of California acquired Leviathan in 1984, and the California State Water Resources Control Board gained jurisdiction the over the property. The Leviathan Mine Pollution Abatement Project consisted of building drains beneath the pit to capture contaminated water and making evaporation ponds, filling and regrading the pit, and separating uncontaminated surface water from AMD groundwater. Results of the project include the discovery of unknown acidic springs and accidental AMD discharge directly in to Leviathan creek via a drain line.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Perivpr Va Gur Ovt Ebpx

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)