All I wanted to do was put out a simple cache. Go to get permission from a Corps of Engineers Natural Resources Specialist, and that’s when we run into issues…. All my fault! I asked if he had any information on the work they do; well, four caches later to show off this place, here we are…
This gentleman and his partner load me up with these “storyboards”; status reports to the higher-ups, and a couple brochures they put out. I was kinda surprised by all these facts; I mean these guys take care of the dams so we don’t have floods and lose everything, right? Well, yea, but, oh ye of small sight! There’s so much more than slowing the flow!
- These folks bring in hundreds of elementary school kids each year for classes, working with the local Farm Bureau, MWCD, AEP and others.
- Bringing together scientists to do a “BioBlitz” identifying insects, vegetation and other wildlife; 10 county records this year, including 105 different insects (skin crawling!?) and 18 species of Dragonflies!
- Further development of the vernal pool to increase the diversity of wetland habitat
- Pollinator project - if the bee barn is open, I would recommend looking in! It is freaking cool! If it’s locked, leave it alone!
- The woodland trail
- Wildlife shelters, nesting options
- Oh, and just all those other rivers/creeks/dams and their areas in SE OH
You can easily see these folks rock, and they do it for all of us, not themselves! Generations from now they will be looking back and thanking them; take a second and do the same!
This is a dawn-to-dusk only cache, and has been placed with permission by the US Army Corps of Engineers, specifically one of the rockingest Natural Resources Specialist/Wildlife Biologist/Wetland Scientists you will ever meet! If you see any of the crew from the project office, take a second and say hi and thanks; they are all wonderful peeps. Be courteous, obey the rules and let’s keep the area nice for us all.
What is going on here at the posted coordinates? I personally was surprised about the bird statistic on the information board! Note that number.
N40° 09.xxx' W81° 50.yy1’, where
xxx = Multiply the number relating to birds by the number of legs a bee has and add 128.
yy = Number relating to birds -2.
Here you find a larger container all ready for trading. The CoE has generously thrown in some swag to kick start it, and those cumbersome TB’s should fit well.
Hope you enjoy this simple outing and use it as an excuse to chase the caches showcasing other areas of Wills Creek and all it has to offer!
***. The CoE has asked for some pics of folks finding these caches for a storyboard, or status report. It would be really great if the first few finders would include some pics, but not required at all!