Waterbuffers Rode Beek EarthCache
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This earthcache is easily reachable, even people in a wheelchair will be able to do this cache.
The basin of the "Rode beek" (Red Brook) contains several rainwater buffers. These buffers were created to prevent flooding of the towns of Etzenrade and Jabeek after heavy rainfall. The purpose of this particular buffer is to collect the excess water to be able to loose it on a later date and time. Another function of this buffer is the protection against mudstreams. The town of Etzenrade is protected against the heavy mudslides from the hollow road (Etzenradergrub). This road is subject to trench erosion from the water that comes from the farmers fields. These mudslides occur in the autumn season after the crops are harvested. The heavy rain slowly saturates the topsoil of these fields, slowly lifting them up from the harder undersoils. Due to the slopes that these fields are on and the earth's gravity, this lifted saturated soil will start moving downhill faster and faster to the lowest point. At this location the hollow road acts as a tunnelled slope where the mud will accelerate down to the village of Etzenrade, which is located at the end. At the end of the winter, when the soils get to thaw because of the season getting warmer is another time in the year where there will be a lot of flooding in this area. As said above the created basins collect the excess of water and mud and retains it until it is safe to let it enter the Rode Beek. Waterretention, the slowing down and storing of water in these basins, leads to a significant lessening of the peak discharge and lower waterlevels of the river meuse, which the Rode Beek discharches into. The question that needs to be answered at this site is: 1.) How many buffers are created in total? 2.) In which counties (Gemeenten) are these buffers located? IF THE SIGN IS MISSING (which happens a lot) answer the following question: How large is this basin? (Length X Width). Please send these answers through the profile In order to log you need to post 2 pictures. One made in front of the fence next to the sign (pictures that show the sign will not be accepted) The other picture made from the other side of the buffer to get an overview shot of the buffer (Next to the fence are 2 little poles, see the picture) The location for this point is around N 50 58.645 e005 57.531 Make sure you and your gps appears in at least one of the pictures. This particular basin is the largest of the buffers.
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