This earthcache is located in Sleeping Turtles Preserve North, off Border Road where the bridge crosses the Myakka River in Venice, FL. Spanning over 200 acres, the individual sections of Sleeping Turtles Preserve North extend out both North and South of the dividing roadway, each offering two loop trails that are intersected by a variety of smaller well marked cross trails allowing a great variety of length and direction to your hiking.
Trails are improved areas – primarily hard packed sand – through old growth oak hammocks, pine forest flatwoods, and wetland areas. Most areas are through tree canopy, keeping them shaded and friendly on hot sunny days. Each main trail loop winds approximately 1.5 miles with stretches offering beautiful views along the Myakka River. Adding various cross trails can create hikes up to several miles throughout subtropical jungle-like growth of ferns, orchids, various mosses, and bromeliads.
Myakka River
The Myakka River starts off as a narrow tea-colored stream at the Manatee/Hardee County line and meanders 66 miles through manatee, Sarasota and Charlotte counties before emptying into Charlotte Harbour. The Myakka was designated as the state's only "Florida Wild and Scenic River" by the Florida State Legislature in 1985. The act provides for preservation and management of the 34-mile portion of the river within Sarasota County.
The Myakka River is considered a blackwater river and is a rarity within Florida.
A blackwater river is a river with a deep, slow-moving channel flowing through forested swamps or wetlands. As vegetation decays, tannins leach into the water, making transparent, acidic water that is darkly stained, resembling tea or coffee. Most major blackwater rivers are in the Amazon River system and the Southern United States. The term is used in fluvial studies, geology, geography, ecology, and biology. Not all dark rivers are blackwater in that technical sense. Some rivers in temperate regions, which drain or flow through areas of dark black loam, are simply black due to the color of the soil; these rivers are black mud rivers. There are also black mud estuaries.
Blackwater rivers are lower in nutrients than whitewater rivers and have ionic concentrations higher than rainwater. The unique conditions lead to flora and fauna that differs from that in whitewater.
pH
The pH of river water is the measure of how acidic or basic the water is on a scale of 0-14. It is a measure of hydrogen ion concentration. U.S. natural water falls between 6.5 and 8.5 on this scale with 7.0 being neutral. The optimum pH for river water is around 7.4. Water's acidity can be increased by acid rain but is kept in check by the buffer limestone. Extremes in pH can make a river inhospitable to life. Low pH is especially harmful to immature fish and insects. Acidic water also speeds the leaching of heavy metals harmful to fish.
A number of animals and wildlife call the Myakka River home including West Indian manatee, wood stork, bald eagle, and swallow-tailed kite
Logging Requirements
To log this EarthCache, go to the posted coordinates along the trail. You will require a pH test strip for freshwater or a waterbottle to take a sample home. You will find an information sign about the Wild and Scenic Myakka River. If the sign is missing, look for the answer to question # 1 in the write up.
Send the answers to the questions listed below to my email address skyecat@me.com
- Name two of the protected animal species that can be found in and around the river?
- Using a freshwater pH test strip (available at a pet or aquatic store) test the pH level of the water. What is the pH level? Is this a healthy river? What evidence suggests this may be a healthy river or not?
Note: If you cannot reach the river from this spot, proceed along the trail to the secondary location listed and take a water sample. If you forget to bring a test strip, you can take a small sample of the water and test it at home. A small water bottle will do. Also a previous finder, "Floridafinder2" has left some test strips for anyone to use at Coords are 27 7.457N and 82 21.071W
Photo’s are not required but are always welcome