COLT STATE PARK PATH EROSION
Erosion can be defined as the loss or substantial alteration of vegetation and soil structure, due in part to the concentrated pressure of people. (source) This erosion often occurs slowly over time, but more heavily concentrated in areas with significant foot traffic.
HOW EROSION WORKS
Erosion happens after weathering causes the soil or ground to loosen and be transported typically by either wind or rain. Other man-made reasons such as foot traffic may further speed up the erosion process as well. For this particular Earthcache, you will be visiting two areas where erosion is prevelant on a path down to the water.
PREVENTING EROSION
While erosion may not be stopped entirely, there are ways to slow down or prevent land from eroding away, such as wooden barriers and fences. When you visit this area of the park, ask yourself if any sort of barrier could prevent this path from eroding away even more, or if another man-made object could prevent this as well.
GEOLOGICAL REASONS FOR EROSION
Erosion can be caused by many geological factors, with the most common being water. Continuous rainfall or traveling of water over one specific period can lead to the carrying away of sediments and the wearing away of soil in an area. This often takes many years.
Another common factor for erosion is wind. In this circumstance, wind blows sediments from one place to another, leading to a particular area being slowly worn down over a long period of time. Like water erosion, this is often a lengthy process.
LOGGING REQUIREMENTS
Send answers to the following questions through either the messaging feature or via email. Failure to send answers may result in your log being deleted. If answers are being sent for multiple users, please state who there are for in your message or email.
You will need to visit two areas in Colt State Park where erosion is very prevelant and obvious. These two stages are very close to one another. Note that this is a well traveled path, so please be courteous of other people on the path as you complete the answers.
Stage one/posted coordinates
1. What geological reason do you believe are leading to erosion in this area? What evidence do you see that would support this?
2. What do think could be added to prevent further erosion in this area?
Stage two
3. From near this spot you will be able to see a significant difference in height between the eroded path and the nearby embankment. Estimate the height difference from what you would consider the lowest part of the eroded path with the edge of the embankment. Is this height higher, lower or about what you had expected prior to coming to the area?
4. Why do you think there is more significant erosion in this section than around stage one?
From either waypoint
5. As proof of visit, please upload a picture of yourself, your GPS, phone or evidence of some kind that you actually visited the area. If you are in someone else's photo, please say so in your log. Failure to provide physical proof of visit may result in your log being deleted.
You can log a find prior to sending in answers, but please have at least one member of your geocaching party do so in a timley manner. Hope you enjoy!