Pocahontas Resource Protection Area EarthCache
Pocahontas Resource Protection Area
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This earthcache is located in Pocahontas State Park. From Route 10, take Beach Rd for 4 miles, the park will be on your right. The RPA demonstration project is located at Swift Creek Lake to the left of the boat launch. Parking fees are required for admission to Pocahontas State Park.
Park Open Dawn to Dusk......
What are Resource Protection Areas?
Resource Protection Areas (RPAs), or buffers, are the "corridors" of environmentally sensitive land that lie alongside or near the shorelines of streams, rivers, and other waterways. In their natural condition, RPAs protect water quality. RPAs filter pollutants out of stormwater runoff, reduce the volume of stormwater runoff, prevent erosion, and perform other important biological and ecological functions. The components of an RPA include:
- Tidal wetlands
- Tidal shores
- Non-tidal wetlands connected by surface flow and adjacent to tidal wetlands or tributary streams
- A 100-foot buffer landward of the above features
In Chesterfield County, RPAs are located adjacent to the James and Appomattox Rivers, to the Falling Creek, Lake Chesdin and Swift Creek Reservoirs, and to the 469 miles of perennial streams (streams that flow all year long) throughout the county. The James and Appomattox Rivers are tributaries to the Chesapeake Bay. All of our streams are tributaries to these two rivers.
What happens if Resource Protection Areas are not properly managed?
Because RPAs are so close to water bodies, disturbing them allows more pollutants to enter our waters and, eventually, the Chesapeake Bay. Stormwater runoff picks up and carries oil from roads, soil from construction sites, fertilizers and pesticides from farms and lawns, harmful bacteria from pet and farm animal wastes, and trash. In many areas, stormwater is one of the leading causes of surface water pollution. In addition, if RPAs are inadequately managed, or if there is no protected stream corridor, other impacts such as stream bank and channel erosion, habitat destruction, and a reduction in the stream's biodiversity.
Riparian Buffer Demonstration Area
This riparian buffer was established here at Pocahontas State Park along Swift Creek Lake and utilized native hardwood seedlings, planting tubes and weed mats. This type buffer is usually utilized in a more rural setting.
In order to log this earthcache.....Please email your answers to the following questions found on the informational sign at the above coordinates to me(Do Not post answers in your log or it will be deleted) Feel free to go ahead and log the cache prior to the email :)
1. Listed on the information sign in pictorial form....What are three(3) critical functions that this RPA does to protect the nearby lake?
2. Of these Three(3) critical functions....Which one do you feel is the most important reason this RPA was developed in this particular area and why?
3. What characteristic of the seedlings was selected to maximize the pollutant removal process and whom provided these seedlings?
Please post a picture of you, your group or GPS with the buffer in the background(Please try to keep any answers on the sign hidden from view).......(Optional)
Thank you for visiting Pocahontas State Park.....Hope you learned a little more about what is being done to protect our environment!!!!!
References:
1. County of Chesterfield - Dept. of Environmental Engineering
2. Wikipedia
Additional Hints
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