Marshall Hawthorne Pond Earthcache EarthCache
Marshall Hawthorne Pond Earthcache
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The posted coordinates will take you to the south end of the Marshall Hawthorne Pond whereby you will find a municipal sign that will impart to you some knowledge about the area. Use this information to answer SOME of the questions we require below. Other questions may require further basic reading to obtain the answers you'll need to appease the CO's and claim your "smiley"
The water cycle describes the continuous movement of water on, above, and below the surface of the Earth. The mass of water on Earth remains fairly constant over time but the partitioning of the water into the major reservoirs of ice, fresh water, saline water and atmospheric water is variable depending on a wide range of climatic variables. The water moves from one reservoir to another, such as from river to ocean, or from the ocean to the atmosphere, by the physical processes of evaporation, condensation, precipitation, infiltration, runoff, and subsurface flow. In doing so, the water goes through different phases: liquid, solid, and gas.
The Water Cycle
With regards to the urban water cycle, many immediately think about the traditional water-cycle concepts taught in schools – evaporation, condensation, and precipitation. However, the water cycle also includes two important concepts often overlooked – infiltration and runoff. More importantly, given the development in human communities, our water cycle has been altered in numerous ways, but most especially in infiltration and runoff. In urban communities, rain hits concrete and pavement and is collected into storm waste water systems. The rain no longer soaks into the ground to recharge groundwater reservoirs. Water may be brought to communities via aqueducts and leave those communities through sewage or storm water systems. The water cycle looks quite different in these communities, and it is important to be aware of those key differences.
Storm water is rainwater and melted snow that runs off streets, lawns, and other places. When storm water is absorbed into the ground, it is filtered and either replenishes aquifers or flows into nearby streams and rivers. However, in developed areas, impervious surfaces such as roads, sidewalks, and roofs prevent precipitation from naturally soaking into the ground. Instead, the water runs rapidly into storm drains, sewer systems, and drainage ditches which can cause downstream flooding, stream bank erosion, habitat destruction, and contamination of streams, rivers, and coastal water.
Urban Runoff Model
Both Detention Ponds and Retention Ponds are unique practices utilized by urban settlements to manage storm water.
Storm Water Model
For example, a Detention pond, or “dry pond,” is a low-lying area that temporarily holds water until the water drains to another location. It is not filled with water all of the time. A detention pond is generally used for flood control when large amounts of rain and storm water runoff could cause flash flooding if its not dealt with properly.
Detention "Dry" Pond
A Retention pond holds a specific amount of water indefinitely. The pond is designed to have drainage leading to another location to keep the pond from overflowing during heavy rains, but otherwise the pond is intended to always be full. You’ll frequently see these types of ponds near commercial properties or within subdivisions, often with decorative fountains in the center.
Retention Pond
These particular ponds within Saskatoon, were constructed as part of a storm water management project created by the City of Saskatoon. For the residential inhabitants that surround these lovely ponds, it surely makes for a lovely neighbourhood stroll.
Please send your answers to the questions below to the Cache Owners and refrain from posting them in your “Found It” log.
Questions
- If a Detention pond is usually empty, where do you think the drain would be located? Near the top or near the bottom of the basin?
- If a Retention pond is usually full, where do you think the overflow would be located? Near the top or near the bottom of the basin?
- If a Retention pond holds on to water without releasing it until it overflows, what added benefit does it provide in terms of solid contaminants / sediments?
- In the wintertime, if some of the local residents wanted to get a good game of shinny going, where in the pond may be the best place to arrange the game to avoid getting wet from stepping through a potentially brittle layer of ice?
- What man-made structure lies about 60 feet due East of GZ?
- Based on the amount of water in Marshall Hawthorne Pond, which type of pond would this be – retention or detention?
- Optional – take a photo of yourself or your party with your GPS/iPhone in hand and the pond in the background.
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)
Treasures
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