Tobico Lagoon EarthCache
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The listed coordinates will take you to a Visitor's Center and parking area at the Tobico Lagoon. Follow the paved trail and use the waypoints below to find this Earthcache.
NOTE: You will need a state park pass or pay a daily fee to use this park.
The Great Lakes were carved as the last glacier sheets receded less than 10,000 years ago. As the glaciers melted, they formed not only the Great Lakes, but many of the shallow depressions along the coastlines that have since become coastal wetlands. Tobico Marsh and Tobico Lagoon in Bay County are examples of such formations. Water flowing southeast from Tobico Marsh through a flap-gate has filled a glacial depression and formed Tobico Lagoon, which is located inside the Bay City Recreation Area. 
Map from www.topozone.com.
According to Wikipedia, a lagoon is a body of comparatively shallow water separated from the deeper sea (in this case, Lake Huron) by a shallow barrier beach or sandbank. This lagoon is similar in nature to a lagoon-type estuary, which only has a narrow stream connecting it to the Lake Huron waters.
Tobico Lagoon, though much smaller than the marsh, is positioned along a major migratory bird flyway and provides nesting grounds for many ducks, geese, swans, and other waterfowl. The bottom of the lagoon is soft and mucky, and is covered with many varieties of aquatic plants. This lagoon is connected to Lake Huron by one small stream at the southeast edge.
As part of the Bay City Recreation Area, the Lagoon Nature trail explores wooded wetlands, forested beaches, and open shoreline habitat. This one-mile, hard-surfaced trail circles the lagoon and meanders along the shores of Saginaw Bay. The trail also features shoreline spotting scopes, accessible picnicking sites, and a fishing pier. (from www.michigan.gov/dnr)
To claim a find, please answer the following questions.
1. Take a picture of yourself and/or your GPS in front of any part of the lagoon. Post this photo with your log. (optional, but encouraged!)
2. Go to one of the stream waypoints listed below. In which direction is the stream flowing? Is the water coming into the lagoon or out to the bay?
3. Look at the stream. What is the approximate depth? (Make an educated guess - it's quite mucky. You don't have to actually measure it.)
E-mail me the answers to questions 2 and 3 via my profile page. Please don't post the answers in your log. Please make sure I receive your earthcache answers within 2-3 days of logging, or your log may be deleted per earthcache guidelines.
As always, please stay on the trails or boardwalk to protect the wetland environment.
This cache has been placed with permission of the Bay City Recreation Area.
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)