West Souris Watershed EarthCache
-
Difficulty:
-
-
Terrain:
-
Size: 
(other)
Related Web Page
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
This unassuming looking bridge is one of two narrow channels that drain a large area in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. The other channel is a similar bridge, 1.3 km north of this location. These channels are the start of Plum Creek. It is unique that this system can hold such a large amount of water until Plum Creek can drain it, sometimes taking longer than a year to do so. Answer questions about the water flow to claim the earth cache.
Do not report in the log, but send a message to the cache owner. To claim this cache, answer three questions.
1. What is the width of the channel under the bridge? (in paces or yards),
2. What is the width of the water stream under the bridge today? (in paces or yards), and
3. Is the water under the bridge look to be flowing or still or frozen over?
This water system is known to Convervation Manitoba as the West Souris Watershed, shown on the associated link. Pipestone Creek flows 120 km from Saskatchewan (the area around Wawota and Moosomin) to fill Oak Lake. Oak Lake is only 8 km NW of this bridge. The outlet of the Oak Lake dam feeds the marshy area immediately NW of here called Plum Lakes. Plum creek flows for 35 km and empties into the Souris River in the town of Souris.
Pipestone Creek is a low gradient stream draining 3,684 square kilometres of aspen parkland in the south-eastern corner of Saskatchewan. It flows into Manitoba, entering Oak Lake and forms part of the Souris River Basin.
Oak Lake is 5.6 km x 7.0 km and is generally 5 to 6 feet deep in a normal year and can rise 2-3 feet on a wet year. The area of this lake is approximately 15 square miles or 9600 acres. Plum lakes can also hold a considerable amount of water. Flooding takes a long time to subside - During the spring flood of 2014 water was high in Oak Lake all year and did not recede much until later in 2015. Plum Creek ran constantly for more than a year.
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)