A STREAM THAT COMES AND GOES EarthCache

This cache has been archived.

GEO WALKER: Apparently, the sign is gone. 15 years was a good run...

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Hidden : 8/6/2007
Difficulty:
1 out of 5
Terrain:
2 out of 5

Size: Size: not chosen (not chosen)

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Geocache Description:


Parking Lot Location N 41° 03.913 W 080° 02.112

The Robert A. Macoskey Center for Sustainable Systems Education and Research (“RAMC”) is an 83-acre facility on the campus of Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania located at 247 Harmony Road, Slippery Rock, PA 16057. The purpose of this facility is to promote and demonstrate sustainable technologies through research and most importantly education. (visit link)

A Stream is a body of water that flows year round in a defined within a channel. An Intermittent Stream however is a stream that only flows during part of the year. The USGS Topographic Maps symbolize a stream using a solid blue line and an intermittent stream with a blue dashed line followed by dots.

An Aquifer, a permeable body of rock that stores and transports groundwater within the pore space and connective channels of the rock, has a much greater influence on an intermittent stream. When the aquifer is high the water flows in the stream conversely when it is low the stream dries up. Surface water run off from either storms or snowmelt can influence an intermittent stream.

Groundwater Recharge is the ability of the surface to absorb water and allow it to percolate, move through the subsurface, into the aquifer.

Changes made by Man to his environment also will affect streams. This primarily occurs with the construction of buildings, parking lot and sidewalks. These impermeable structures seal off the surface a given area for recharging the aquifer. Run off from these structures is collected into underground pipes known as storm sewers and discharged into a stream. Any additional run off that does not enter the the sewer becomes surface run off. This additional concentration of run off can exceed the remaining soils ability to absorb water and thereby cause soil erosion. Not only does this decrease the recharge capability of the area it also adds additional sediment to the stream. Agricultural practices will also have an effect. By using groundwater wells for irrigation, one can lower the level of the aquifer. Surface run off can be controlled with the creation of a vegetative stream buffer. This allow for the capture of sediments and chemical fertilizers. An electric fence bordering a stream can limit the areas that allow for livestock crossings.

If you are interested in this Earthcache here is what you will need a GPSr, camera and an awareness of your surroundings.

You will need to exit to the left from the parking lot and follow the trail. Upon arriving at N 41° 04.039 W 080° 01.887 you will see an information sign title Intermittent Stream. This gives an illustration of how the changes in the water table affect the stream flow. Pay close attention to the human activities portion of this sign.

Continue completing the trail.
Upon arriving back at the center, please submit to me the answer to the following question.
What measures can you observe, have been taken by this center to minimize the loss of groundwater recharge and surface erosion? Submit this answer to me in order to claim credit for the Earthcache.

Spend some time exploring this facility. There are numerous elements of “sustainability” here. Feel free to include them with your log entry.

Guidelines for Submittal
(Updated 1 January 2011)
Requests for photographs must be optional. Exceptions to this guideline will only be considered if the requested photograph is related to an Earth Science logging activity such as recording a phenomenon. This particular guidelines was updated on 1 January 2011. All EarthCaches must conform to this guideline as photo requests are considered "additional logging requirements" (ALRs) and follow the guidelines set forth by Geocaching.com.
Existing EarthCaches that do not meet this guideline must be updated to comply. Cache owners may not delete the cacher's log based solely on optional tasks.

The photo now becomes an option as of 1/1/11...

Take a picture of you and your GPSr using the intermittent stream in the background and submit this with your log entry.

I would like to thank Thomas J. Reynolds, Director of the Robert A. Macoskey Center for Sustainable Systems Education and Research for making this Earthcache possible.

There is presently one geocache located at the Center, Macoskey Center, GCPE0R.

DEVELOPED BY A PLATINUM EARTHCACHE MASTER

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