Ayum Creek Estuary EarthCache
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This cache is located in the Ayum Creek Regional Park Reserve.
An estuary is a partly enclosed coastal body of brackish water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea. Estuaries form a transition zone between river environments and maritime environments and are subject to both marine influences, such as tides, waves, and the influx of saline water; and riverine influences, such as flows of fresh water and sediment. The inflows of both sea water and fresh water provide high levels of nutrients in both the water column and sediment, making estuaries among the most productive natural habitats in the world. Most existing estuaries were formed during the Holocene epoch by the flooding of river-eroded or glacially scoured valleys when the sea level began to rise about 10,000-12,000 years ago. (Wikipedia) Ayum Creek Estuary was likely a braided delta with estuarian flora before the mill was built. Experts believe that the benchland was built for the mill site and other mill activities. The pond with log surround and flood gate was likely used for log sorting. The flood gate was used to hold the water in the pond during low tide. In addition, the creek was routed eastward by a wooden wall. Habitant Acquisition Trust and other conservation groups have protected Ayum Creek Estuary and now it is a spawning stream for wild coho and chum salmon, as well as steelhead and cutthroat trout. It anchors the southern end of the Sea-to-Sea Greenbelt, a vision of wildland belt that Vancouver Island residents have almost completed. Ayum Creek stream flows through mixed forest and riparian habitat to a small but biologically rich estuary in the Sooke Basin. This property is now a park reserve with CRD Parks. Components of this project are species inventory, invasive species removal (scotch broom, blackberry, ivy), and native species planting. (HAT) To log this cache, please email me the answers to the following: 1. At the coordinates, estimate the width of the connection between the estuary and the ocean. 2. What is the purpose of the concrete barriers? 3. What is the purpose of the wooden logs and poles along the shoreline? 4. Estimate the width of Ayum Creek at its widest? You can log your find after you send me the answers and I will contact you ony if there are issues with your answers. Have fun. Congratulations tooniegar, FTF!
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