This Earthcache is best done when the winter snows have all melted to achieve optimum results.
Background
The Alfred Bog is a domed peat bog in eastern Ontario, about 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) south of Alfred and 70 kilometres (43 mi) east of Ottawa. The bog is considered the largest high-quality bog in southern Ontario and was designated by the Ministry of Natural Resources as a "Class 1 Wetland" and an "Area of Natural and Scientific Interest (ANSI)" in 1984. It is home to rare animal species and a healthy moose population.
The wetland, primarily consisting of bog as well as some marsh and swamp, is 10,200 acres (4,100 ha) in size of which 90% is protected as a nature preserve. The bog is accessible by a 273-metre (896 ft) long boardwalk (reference point AB below).
The bog formed about 10,000 years ago at the confluence of an ancient channel of the Ottawa River and South Nation River after the retreat of the Champlain Sea. The Ottawa River used to drain melting glacial waters from central Manitoba but gradually reduced its flow and changed course to its present location. Two large bogs, Mer Bleue at the west end and Alfred Bog at the east end, formed in the former southern channel.
In the early 19th century, the Alfred Bog covered about 26,000 acres (11,000 ha), more than twice its present size, extending right to the town of Alfred. In 1806, it was described as "a thick spruce and cedar swamp with large areas of marsh". Human development of agriculture and peat extraction since then greatly reduced the bog. In the early 20th century, the Canadian government encouraged commercial peat extraction since peat could serve as an alternative fuel source to coal. A narrow-gauge railway was built to facilitate extraction as well as a separate rail siding along the Montreal-Ottawa (M&O) line for shipping.
By 1945, the bog was already reduced to 12,000 acres (5,000 hectares). As a result of the peat removal, the bog is generally between 1 and 2 metres (3 ft 3 in and 6 ft 7 in) higher than the surrounding farmland. Periodic burns and presence of drainage ditches have also changed the natural conditions of the remaining bog. Conservation efforts began in 1981 when zoning changes were proposed to allow new peat harvesting development. Since then, the protected land has grown incrementally through the purchase of parcels of land from commercial and private owners. Quite simply, once the peat has been extracted, it is gone forever.
Sphagnum is a genus of approximately 380 accepted species of mosses, commonly known as peat moss. Accumulations of sphagnum can store water since both living and dead plants can hold large quantities of moisture inside their cells; plants may hold 16–26 times as much water as their dry weight, depending on the species. The empty cells help retain water in drier conditions. Hence, as sphagnum moss grows, it can slowly spread into drier conditions, forming larger mires, both raised bogs and blanket bogs. These peat accumulations then provide habitat for a wide array of peatland plants, including sedges and ericaceous shrubs, as well as orchids and carnivorous plants.
The peat moss is commercially harvested or extracted from these bogs. The process involves digging a network of drainage ditches and settling basins so that the water drains away from the wetland and the bog begins to dry out and die. Once that happens, all surface vegetation is removed and the deposit is ready for peat production. The surface peat layer is dried by the sun and wind. The topmost layer is typically harrowed to enhance the drying process. After a few days, the dry peat layer is collected using large vacuum harvesters or other equipment, then transported to a processing facility for screening and packaging.
Logging Requirements
In order to qualify for "finding" this cache, send me an e-mail or message with answers to the following (in bold type). Do not post your reply on the cache page.
a) Proceed to the posted co-ordinates, reference point BB. This is an area of active peat extraction. There are drainage ditches (mentioned above) running east and west from the east side of Peat Moss Road. Using your GPSr, estimate the average spacing of these ditches in metres and the thickness of the peat moss currently in the area prior to harvest.
b) Proceed to nearby reference point CB where you will also see active peat extraction in progress. Looking east, explain what you see accumulated on the south side of the access road (at N45 31.222 W074 50.642) and where it originated (not peat moss).
c) Proceed to the nearby reference points DB or EB and look south. These are fields that have already been stripped of peat. Describe the type of soil that remains.
d) Explain why conservationists are working hard to protect the Alfred Bog.
After sending me your answers, feel free to log a "find". If there are questions about your submission, I'll contact you privately. Happy caching!