Stillwater Prairie Wetlands EarthCache

Note: This is an Earthcache, meaning there is no physical container to be found.

The posted coordinates will take you to an overlook of the wetlands where you can use informational signs and observation to complete this Earthcache.

Stillwater Prairie Reserve is open 8 a.m. until dusk. Information about the park can be found on the link using the related web page. Leaving the trail is not needed to do this cache, please stay on the trail and follow all park rules.

Wetlands are areas which have water covering them at some point during the growing season, contain plants adapted to thrive in a flooded environment, and have hydric or water saturated soils. Today, the Earth's surface is only about 6 percent wetlands. Wetlands are home to endangered species since many animals rely on these environments for habitat.

Today in Ohio only 2% of our natural wetlands remain. The project that created what you see before you was done in order to increase that number.

Vernal pools are seasonal depressional wetlands that occur under the Mediterranean climate conditions of the West Coast and in glaciated areas of northeastern and midwestern states. They are covered by shallow water for variable periods from winter to spring, but may be completely dry for most of the summer and fall. These wetlands range in size from small puddles to shallow lakes and are usually found in a gently sloping plain of grassland. Beneath vernal pools lies either bedrock or a hard clay layer in the soil that helps keep water in the pool. A floodplain or flood plain is an area of land adjacent to a stream or river that stretches from the banks of its channel to the base of the enclosing valley walls and experiences flooding during periods of high discharge forming a wetland until the water level of the stream or river lowers.

To get credit for this Earthcache, you will need to e-mail or message me (If doing as a group I prefer you have one send answers for all) the answers to the below questions (Do NOT post answers or spoilers in your log).

1) Wetland's sustain more life than any other ecosystem.
What are the functions of a healthy wetland?
2) Wetland's are often called "Nature's Water Purification System".
How do wetlands clean the water?
3) Observe the water of this wetland.
Does it appear stagnate, flowing, does it have a "bad" smell.
4) Estimate the width and length of the water.
5) Observe the geography the area surrounding the wetland and determine if this wetland would be classified as a vernal pool or is a result of flooding.
6) Optional photo of the wetland to see how it changes over time.