Crosswinds Marsh 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 Detroit Metro Airport (the McNamara terminal). Wayne County, together with Sumpter Township, purchased over 900 acres of farmland that believe it or not, was once wetland that had been converted into farm fields by draining the land...in a process that took over a year. They flooded former farm fields, planted new wetland plants and transplanted endangered species from metro Airport. The area is managed by the Wayne County Parks.
On August 8 the Parks system put on a Hobby day and invited some members of MIGO to participate. As part of the day's activities a Geocahing event was held which included the launch of 12 Geocaches dedicated to the various species associated with the wildlife area. This cache is one of them. A link to all of the caches may be FOUND HERE. In the cover of the cache you will find a three digit code. Record this code for entering into a online form for registration for a commemorative collectible for those that complete the series. The link to the form is found HERE.
Blanding's Turtles
Blanding’s turtles are freshwater turtles that live near lakes or ponds and spend a lot of time on land. These turtles can travel long distances looking for nesting sites or new bodies of water. During the winter months they hibernate under water, where their metabolism and heart rate slow down drastically. Blanding’s turtles reach maturity at 16 to 20 years old, and can live for over 70 years. This is a species of special concern in Michigan.
The cache, a medium lock and lock, is hidden in the typical geocache fashion less than 30 feet off the Woodpecker loop. Bushwhacking is not required and discouraged.
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
All Geocachers must follow the above rules