Liberty State Park Freshwater Pond EarthCache
Liberty State Park Freshwater Pond
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Waypoint 2 of 10 on Going Coastal’s NY-NJ Harbor Estuary EarthCache Discovery Trail in Liberty State Park, caches developed by Going Coastal, Inc. (www.goingcoastal.org) as a special project in affiliation with Groundspeak and support from the NY-NJ Harbor Estuary Program and the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission
NOTE: THIS AREA MAY HAVE LIMITED ACCESS DUE TO DAMAGE FROM HURRICANE SANDY
The NY-NJ Harbor Estuary Earthcache Discovery Trail is meant to help visitors develop a better understanding of the Estuary, make connections between earth and environmental science, and foster stewardship.
The cache is a freshwater pond and surrounding wet meadow. The habitat was created during remediation of contaminated soils from the site. About 71% of the Earth's surface is covered by water. Only about 1% of the Earth’s water is freshwater. The water cycle is the driving force supporting the pond. The sun causes the water in the pond and harbor estuary to evaporate into the air forming clouds. The clouds precipitate, releasing the water in the form of rain. The storm water fills the pond. The rain also flows off the surface of the surrounding land into the pond, called stormwater runoff.
Soil is naturally permeable or porous allowing water to infiltrate to underground aquifers to store as groundwater. Trees and plants absorb some of the water in the soil. Paved roads and parking lots form an impermeable or watertight surface so that water travels as runoff over the surface of it. (visit link)
The ecosystem of the freshwater pond is made up of biotic and abiotic components. Abiotic factors are nonliving things, such as sunlight, water temperature, water level, and dissolved oxygen. Living things called biotic factors such as aquatic plants, insects, bacteria and amphibians also affect it. When the abiotic and biotic factors are in balance, the pond can support a healthy ecosystem.
The pond is habitat to organisms dependent upon each other and fresh water. The plants are known as producers in the ecosystem. Consumers you may see are snails, frogs, turtles and flatworms to name a few. The loudest consumers are various species of frogs and toads, attracted to the pond by the reflective surface of the water. Amphibians and reptiles thrive in the pond. In addition, birds such as egrets, ducks, and birds of prey use this area as a source of food and water. (visit link)
There is a great variety of wildlife that can be observed throughout the year at the pond. It is a prime habitat for many resident and migratory bird species. These birds not only rely on the pond’s ecosystem for their life but also participate in the intricate and fragile system that makes life possible at all levels.
What makes water “fresh”? Take a moment and try to remember the first time you tried to open your eyes while swimming in the ocean. Your eyes stung, right? Now think about the time you opened your eyes in freshwater, did they sting? The reason freshwater doesn’t make your eyes sting is because it is characterized by having a very low saline content, saline is salt and salt is what made your eyes sting.
Logging Activities:
1. Is the ground you are standing on permeable or impermeable? What will rainwater do when it falls to the ground here?
2. Observe the pond and what takes place in and around it. What is the water level of the pond? What abiotic factors affect today's water level? Please include the date of your visit.
3. (Optional) Draw a topo map of this area around the pond. (POST TO YOUR LOG)
To log a find on this earthcache, email the cache owner (DO NOT POST IN YOUR LOG), unless instructed otherwise. Use your GPS device to locate the next cache - GC2T1FV. (visit link)
Remember, to upload a photo and let us know in your log ways we can improve the trail.
To reserve a field trip for your class, please contact the educators at the Nature Interpretive Center at (201) 915-3409. Geomate Jr. GPS units will be provided for your group for your high-tech exploration of the geology and ecology of Liberty State Park. Additional resources are available online at www.goingcoastal.org (visit link)
Data Sources:
• US Geological Survey (visit link)
• (visit link)
Name and Type of Land
Liberty State Park
200 Morris Pesin Drive, Jersey City, NJ 07305
Phone: (201) 915-3440
(visit link)
OWNER: NJ Department of Environmental Protection
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