This wetland was created to solve a problem.
The problem is stormwater.
When it rains the water is often absorbed and filtered by trees, plants, and the ground. Stormwater is the water runoff from rain storms that falls on impervious surfaces such as roads and parking lots etc. As it runs off these hard surfaces it picks up pollutants like pet waste, vehicle fluids, and sediment from errosion. These pollutants eventually get carried into nearby Lower Creek, and eventually flows into Lake Rhodhiss, which is the drinking supply for the City of Lenoir.
This wetland has been designed to treat this stormwater by providing a series of natural filters built out of rocks, pools, and carefully selected and strategically placed plant life to create a man-made wetland that simulates a natural filtration system. It is a carefully balanced ecosystem that also creates a home for local birds, fish, frogs, and other animals.
To log this earth cache, you must perform the following:
1) Provide answers to the following questions from the informational sign:
- What is the purpose of building this wetland in an 'L' shape?
- What is the purpose of the forebay?
- How are mosquitoes controlled?
2) **NOTE: There are reports of protective geese nesting in the area - please feel free to skip this step if the geese are present. I don't want to see anyone get hurt.*** Use your GPS to measure the length of the "berm" in the middle of the wetland. This will involve you walking its entire length (Don't worry, its not that far, and you will likely see lots of wildlife along the way).
3) This is optional: Please post a picture of yourself, or your GPS, with an interesting feature of the wetland in the background.
Please send your answers to the cache owner, and do not put them in your log. Any logs containing answers will be deleted immediately. Feel free to log this cache once you've sent me your answers, and I will contact you if there are any issues.