CMI11 – Curly-Leaf Pondweed Traditional Geocache

Crosswinds Marsh Meanderings 2018 Series
For the 4th year in a row we continue the geocaching community’s recognition of Wayne County’s efforts in providing replacement wildlife wetlands habitat removed by the Detroit Metro Airport expansion. Crosswinds Marsh Wetland Interpretive Preserve 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 (the McNamara terminal). Wayne County, The area is managed by the Wayne County Parks.

On August 11 the Parks system put on a Hobby day and invited the Crosswinds Cache Crew to participate again. As part of the day's activities a Geocaching event was held which included the launch of 12 Geocaches dedicated to the 12 invasive species located in the reserve. This cache is one of them.

A link to all 12 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.

Invasive Species
An invasive species is one that is not native and whose introduction causes harm, or is likely to cause harm to the economy, environment, or human health. Many non-native species, including fruits, vegetables, field crops, livestock and domestic animals, are important to our economy and lifestyle. Most non-native species are not harmful and may provide economic benefits. Invasive species cause harm when they out-compete native species by reproducing and spreading rapidly in areas where they have no natural predators and change the balance of the ecosystems we rely on. An invasive species can be any kind of living organism—an amphibian, plant, insect, fish, fungus, bacteria, or even an organism's seeds or eggs—that is not native to an ecosystem and causes harm.

Curly-leaf

Curly-leaf pondweed is an aquatic plant with crinkly-looking, narrow leaves and green flower stalks that appear reddish below the water surface. This is an invasive species, native to Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia that was accidentally introduced to the U.S. in the mid-1800s through the aquarium trade. It is now found in all continental states except Maine and South Carolina. Curly-leaf pondweed is used as cover by fish and the seeds are eaten by some species of waterfowl; however, the negative impacts are far more significant. This invasive species produces dense mats that compete with native species and also increase phosphorus concentrations in the water where present. Increased nutrient loads in water, including phosphorus and/or nitrogen result in increased plant and algal growth. When the plants and algae die off, they consume oxygen rather than produce it as they did when living. In extreme cases where plant matter is very dense, the dead plants remove much of the oxygen from the water and cause fish die-offs. This phenomenon is call eutrophication and led to fears that Lake Erie was dead through the late 1960s and early 1970s.

While searching for this cache please remain on the boardwalk.

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
Park only at N 42 05.744 W 83 26.552
All Geocachers must follow the above rules.
Crosswinds Marsh is open from DAWN to DUSK. Admission is free.

This cache has been placed with the permissions of Wayne County Parks. Permit MM18-11 has been submitted and is on file at the park office.