CNF-11 Sugar Maple Traditional Cache

NOTICE: This geocache will be archived and removed in early June to make room for some new geocaches to be published soon.

Crosswinds Marsh Nature fest 2019 Series
Nature Fest is a nature-oriented event that featured live entertainment, nature crafts and games, face painting and free canoeing. This cache is one of a series 12 geocaches, launched during the event, with each one featuring a native plant or tree which can be found in Crosswinds Marsh Nature Preserve. A link to all 12 of the caches may be found HERE.

In the cover of the cache you will find a three letter code. Record this code for entering into an online form for registration for a commemorative collectible for those that complete the series. The link to the form is found HERE.

Sugar Maple
The sugar maple is a species of maple native to the hardwood forests of eastern Canada and the northern parts of the Central and Eastern United States. Sugar maple is best known for its bright fall foliage and for being the primary source of maple syrup. The sugar maple is a deciduous tree normally reaching heights of 80–115 ft. A 10-year-old tree is typically about 16 ft tall. When healthy, the sugar maple can live for over 400 years. The leaves are deciduous with five palmate lobes. The basal lobes are relatively small, while the upper lobes are larger and deeply notched. In contrast with the angular notching of the silver maple, however, the notches tend to be rounded at their interior. The fall color is often spectacular, ranging from bright yellow on some trees through orange to fluorescent red-orange on others. Sugar maples also have a tendency to color unevenly in fall. In some trees, all colors above can be seen at the same time. They also share a tendency with red maples for certain parts of a mature tree to change color weeks ahead of or behind the remainder of the tree.

The Crosswinds Marsh Nature Interpretive preserve is providing a replacement wildlife wetlands for habitat that was removed by the Detroit Metro Airport expansion. Crosswinds Marsh Wetland Interpretive Preserve is one of the largest man-made wetlands in the country. It was built to replace the wetlands that were paved over to expand Wayne County's (the McNamara terminal). Wayne County, The area is managed by the Wayne County Parks.

Crosswinds Marsh Rules
No fires
No bikes / ATVs / personal watercraft
No swimming or ice fishing
Dogs must be leashed
No alcohol or illegal substances
No camping
Fishing in designated areas only
Collecting of plants & animals prohibited
Park only at N 42 05.744 W 83 26.552
All Geocachers must follow the above rules.
Crosswinds Marsh is open from DAWN to DUSK. Admission is free.

This cache has been placed with the permissions of Wayne County Parks. Permit CNF19-11 has been submitted and is on file at the park office.