GSW
Spring 2009 Field Trip (Sunday, May
17th): The Potomac Gorge -- An
Extraordinary Meeting Place of Geological and Biological Diversity
Click
here for PDF
announcement of this field trip, which was led by Tony Fleming,
Natural Areas Geologist, and Gary Fleming, Vegetation Ecologist, VA
Dept. of Conservation and Recreation
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GSW
Fall 2008 Field Trip: Tidewater Geomorphology at George
Washington’s Birthplace National Monument, Westmoreland County, VA,
will take place on Saturday, October 25, 2008 led by Wayne L. Newell
(USGS), Ben DeJong (USGS), Adam Benthem (UVA), and Rijk Morawe (NPS).
Geologic mapping of the Colonial Beach, South 7.5’ Quadrangle sets the
stage for interpreting the Pliocene, Pleistocene, and Holocene
evolution of Coastal Plain upland sediment source areas, fluvial
transport systems, and sediment storage on the landscape and in an
enlarging small estuary environment. Cores from Popes Creek
estuary provide a history of Holocene sea level rise, changing small
estuary dynamics, and legacy sediment from early agricultural
practices. Serial surveys of the modern Potomac River and Popes
Creek coastal environment have captured the impact of recent large
storm events (including Hurricane Isabelle). Locally, the storm
erosion–accomplished by tidal funnel processes in the Potomac during a
single tidal cycle–is equal to the cumulative effects of 20 years of
average erosion rates. These results suggest that even
small parks that are primarily focused on preserving history can be
used as sites for long term monitoring of the effects of land use and
climate change.
Meeting time and place: The field trip met at the George
Washington Birthplace National Monument Visitors’ Center. (This
is about 1 hour east of
Fredericksburg, VA on Route 3.) After orientation at the picnic
ground at Duck Hall Point, they traveled across private property to
Muses Landing on the Potomac, for a walk along the beach at the mouth
of Popes Creek. Walking is level, but due to a noon high tide
some spots will be wet. Insects, poison ivy, and sun should also
be anticipated. Lunch, snacks, and drinks are appropriate as are
binoculars and camera. A second beach walk at Bridges Creek
Landing at the west end of the Park will be optional depending on the
time, tide, and weather. Both sites are within the park and
fossil collecting is not permitted.
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Jim
O'Connor Memorial Field Trip
Guide: Building Stones and Geomorphology of Washington, DC.
To honor Jim O'Connor's legacy, Norrie Robbins and Myrna Welter
compiled this guide in 2001 from Jim's published field guides and
unpublished notes of his many fieldtrips in and around Washington. A
PDF version of the field trip
guide is available by clicking
here.
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GSW Spring 2003 Field Trip Guide: Geomorphic Evolution of
Great Falls
and Mather Gorge
Last May, E-an Zen graciously agreed to lead a group in studying the
geomorphic story behind the formation of Mather Gorge of the Potomac
River,
which terminates headward at Great Falls. A PDF version of the field
trip
guide is available by clicking
here. Many
thanks to Bill Minarik for putting the guide together from E-an's
material!