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Above the Lake Traditional Geocache

This cache has been archived.

Geocaching HQ Admin: The City of Portland has a new [url=https://www.portlandoregon.gov/parks/66338]geocaching policy[/url] for geocaches placed on Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) property. The policy is intended to support the growing recreational activity of geocaching while also ensuring it does not negatively impact parks, properties, assets, staff or the public.

PP&R welcomes geocaches in many of its parks and properties. However, the property where this geocache is located is one that does not allow geocaches according to the [url=https://www.portlandoregon.gov/parks/66338]new policy[/url]. (Note: Forest Park is divided into three management units - the northernmost unit between Germantown Road and Newberry does not allow geocaches.)

There are many reasons a park may not allow geocaches, based on the determination of the staff who manage each particular site. These reasons can include that the property’s primary focus is on habitat values, the potential conflicts with other park users, among other factors. Because this geocache is in a park that does not allow them, it been archived. As the geocache owner, you are expected to retrieve the geocache container and any associated physical stages within 2 weeks. After August 27th, your geocache may be removed by parks’ staff or other designated persons.

For questions about this policy, please contact Bryan Aptekar, Portland Parks & Recreation, [url=mailto:Bryan.Aptekar@portlandoregon.gov]bryan.aptekar@portlandoregon.gov[/url].

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Hidden : 12/6/2009
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:

This cache is located in a unusual wetland-style park in the north end of Portland's Pearl District.

:)

The History of the Lake Beneath Tanner Springs Park

What is now known as the Pearl District was once a wetland and lake fed by streams that flowed down from the nearby hills in southwest Portland. These wooded hillsides provided a natural filter for the streams, cleansing the water as it made its way to the Willamette River. The springs from Tanner Creek, named for the tannery built by pioneer Daniel Lownsdale in the 1860s, flowed into the shallow basin of Couch Lake, now the area surrounding Tanner Springs Park. As the population of Portland grew in the late 19th century, Tanner Creek was rerouted through an underground system of pipes to the Willamette River. The lake and the surrounding wetland were eventually filled to make way for warehouses and rail yards which in turn were replaced by residences, shops, and public spaces. Today, the park sits about 20 feet above the former lake surface.

The above information appears on the Portland Parks and Recreation website. Similar information appears on the inner north side of the shelter for the NW 10th and Marshall street car stop.

The Cache Location

The cache container is hovering just above the “lake”, somewhat north of the halfway point of the metal path. Please don’t drop the cache in the lake: geocaches aren’t native to the fish habitat and the container isn’t waterproof. BYOP!

*** I finally adjusted the coordinates. However, between the metal rails and the high-voltage lines, it's hard to get an accurate GPS reading, so if you're searching near the street, you're in the wrong place. Since enough people have had trouble finding the cache (mostly because it gets put back in the wrong place), I've upped the difficulty rating a half point. ***

Congratulations to Scubasonic for the FTF!

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Ybbx qbja, orgjrra gur zrgny cngu naq gur ehfgl envyf.

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)