Mariposa Nesting Traditional Cache
ParksMakeLifeBetter: Making space for really cool and new caches.
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The Oso Creek Trail contains 5.5 miles of trails and hosts many caches. Bring Your Own Pen (BYOP) and no room for SWAG. Take time to enjoy the trail and all it has to offer.
The Oso Creek Trail and the development of the trail system have allowed many users to become exposed to the wonderful plant and animal life that exist along the tail and to experience the local eco system at work. This beautiful creek naturally flows from north of the Santa Ana Mountains and eventually joins the Trabuco Creek and ultimately flows to the Pacific Ocean. The Oso Creek Valley played a significant role as the Mission Viejo Company uncovered and preserved many rare fossils including baleen and toothed whales, long snouted dolphins, primitive sea lions, sharks, rays and a variety of bony fish along the creek bed. When the grading of the creek was completed, it was engineered to carry increased storm water; and reclaimed water lines were installed along the eastern side of the creek to move recycled water from the Upper Oso Reservoir down the Mission Viejo residential areas for landscape beautification. The creek’s edge was replanted with indigenous plants that occur along a riparian streambed including Coyote Brush, Mulefat, Mexican Elderberry, Toyon, and Willows. Over the years, the plant varieties have shifted and changed as Mother Nature takes the creek back to a more natural state. The success of the natural vegetation growth brings increased wildlife back to the creeks edge. The wildlife includes House Finch, Song Sparrow, Goldfinch, Costa’s Hummingbird, turtles, and Great Blue Herons. The Oso Creek Trail was created using both riparian and drought-tolerant plant material that is sustained with minimal irrigation. Over 60 varieties of plants were planted to create the walking garden of the Oso Creek Trail. The significant tree is the California Sycamore. This tree survives along the creek bed but is also drought tolerant and can sustain itself with some supplemental water. The City Tree, Coast Live Oak and the Olive tree are iconic trees of Mission Viejo used along the trail. The unique combination of the riparian plant material along with more drought tolerant plants creates a striking and ever-changing walking garden and ecosystem that is accessible to the user. Take the time to see if you can identify the plants and animals listed here as you walk along the trail. Additional information on all Mission Viejo Trails including information about the public art along the Oso Creek Trail can be found at http://cityofmissionviejo.org/departments/recreation/parks-city-sites/walk-hike-bike-mv. July is National Parks and Recreation Month and as a result, the Mission Viejo Recreation and Community Services Department has hidden geocaches around town to encourage people to explore parks and open spaces. Visit the City’s website to learn about other hidden geocaches and to celebrate Parks Make Life Better! http://cityofmissionviejo.org/geocaching
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Abg hc n perrx. Hc n gerr!
Treasures
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