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An earthcache placed along the Fox River, helping to educate on the history of the region, as well as highlight the area's natural features. This earthcache has been placed with permission from the Kane County Forest Preserve. The posted coordinates will take you to an information booth, where you can pick up a map or view a larger version.
A EXPLANATION OF BLUFFS
A bluff is defined as a abrupt change in elevation due to rock or soil- effectively a type of cliff. Most bluffs border a river, or some kind of moving water.
The two main causes of bluffs in Illinois are meandering rivers and flood plains. A meander is where a river curves back and forth. Water on the outside edge of the curve moves faster, pushing hard against the riverbank. Over time, the river erodes at the river bank, removing the edges, gradually creating a wall of rock.
When a flood plain is the cause of a bluff, the erosion is much more gradual. The river may shift gradually over time within its floodplain. This helps gradually form valleys, sometimes resulting in bluffs through a similar type of erosion. This type of bluff takes much longer to form, usually several millenia.
EARTH OF THE FOX RIVER BLUFF SAVANNA
The Fox River Bluff area was at one time a savanna, or a grassland area with widely spaced trees. Savannas can exist in a variety of landscapes, from completely flat to steep terrain. The latter existed here. There are 7 types of soil:
1) Clay Soil
2) Stony Soil
3) Silty Soil
4) Sandy Soil
5) Peaty Soil
6) Chalky Soil
7) Saline Soil
In the midwest, savannas grow primarily in sandy soil, silty soil, or clay-loam soil. All are poor soils that give rise to savannas in this region. The weak soil results in primarily grass, which is able to grow using shorter roots. A few trees are able to grow deep enough roots and thrive, resulting in the savanna. Savannas in the area are categorized by the type of soil, plant type, and region:
-Eastern Sand Savanna
-Northern Sand Savanna
-Southern Oak Savanna
-Mesic Loam Savanna
-Floodplain Savanna
-Clay-Loam Savanna
This savanna was lost to time with the arrival of human settlers, who used the area as a horse pasture. Although the savanna is gone, makeup of the earth there remains the same. In recent years, there has been a community effort to restore the area to its original beauty. The bluffs' land was acquired by Kane County in the 1980s and converted into a forest preserve, to prevent further deterioration of the area. In the last decade, these efforts have involved the removal of non-native, invasive plants, such as buckthorn.
To obtain the answers to this earthcache and taking elevation readings, you must visit two information plaques. The first plaque is close to parking and the posted coordinates, but the second is deeper in the preserve. To reach the second information plaque, the most direct route is to take the northern loop trail, starting north of the posted coordinates, and then taking the Northern Loop Cutover Trail that leads directly to the plaque. This most direct route is noted with trailhead waypoints and is a .25 mile walk. Longer, more scenic routes include either direction on the full North Trail Loop (approximately .4 miles). You do not have to leave the trails.
To complete this earthcache, you must email me the answers to the following questions. Please include the name of the earthcache:
1) Prior to human settlement, this area was believed to be a savanna. What type of savanna was here?
2) What specific kind of plant are volunteers replacing the buckthorn with and why?
3) What kind of soil did this savanna use? Hint: Check by the river.
4) Why did settlers chose to live here, and what do you think are the geological effects of that decision?
5) Do you think this was a meandering bluff or a floodplain bluff? Why?
6) What is the elevation difference between the top and bottom of the bluff? This can be calculated by taking elevation readings at the 2 information plaques, and then taking the difference.
After you message me, feel free to post your log. If there are any discrepancies I'll contact you.
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This geocache is placed on Kane County Forest Preserve property with permission. Permission Issued: FR#1.
Do not place the following items in the geocache: Food items, inappropriate, offensive, explosive or hazardous materials.
Kane County Forest Preserve hours are 8:00AM to Sunset. Preserve users must not be in the preserves during closed hours.
Please stay on designated trails as much as possible.
It is the visitor’s responsibility to be aware of the policies, rules and ordinances pertaining to this preserve. For more information on preserve rules, check out website at www.kaneforest.com or contact the District office at 630-232-5980.
All Forest Preserve District of Kane County ordinances and subsequent policies, rules and regulations are applicable.
Additional Hints
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