Ocmulgee River Lab

Parks are an important aspect to a city. They create a sense of community that is unmatched by anything else. They allow people, no matter their social class, a place to relax and associate with others within the city. Parks are also one of the last places that people can go to be with nature.

http://www.newtownmacon.com/projects/ocmulgee-heritage-trail/

Ocmulgee Heritage Trail is where we conducted our research. With over 1,500 acres of green space, Ocmulgee is almost double the size of Central Park in New York. We measured the elevation profile of the river along with the flow rates of two channels (one on each side of the sandbar). 

The green line is where we measured the elevation changes under the water. The sandbar above the line is where we measured the flow rate of the water running through the river.

Mystery of the Mega Flood

For hundreds of years, geologists were confused on how the Channeled Scablands were created. At first, they thought a huge river that had once existed, created the Scablands. This idea, however, was shot down by the fact that there are giant pothole formations that could not have been created by a river. Erratics, large granite rocks, are randomly placed around the Scablands as well, negating the possibility of a river making such a landscape. Finally, geologists were able to come to a conclusion. By observing large ripples left on the floor of the Scablands, they were able to conclude that a giant flood had to create the diverse landscape. They discoverd that Glacial Lake Missoula, located in Montana, had to have burst. A glacier at the front of the lake created a plug, stopping the lake from overflowing, until it could not hold anymore. Super-cooled water ran through the cracked glacier and caused all the lake water to rush towards the Pacific, creating the Channeled Scablands.

Topographic Map of Morgan Hill, CA

This is a topographic map of Morgan Hill. I measured the elevation of the west hills of town that get the most rainfall, seeing that it is the closest to the Pacific Ocean.

The red line represents an elevation of 1,100ft. The orange line represents an elevation of 1,000ft. The yellow line represents an elevation of 900ft. The green line represents an elevation of 800ft. The blue line represents an elevation of 700ft. The purple line represents an elevation of 600ft.