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California State Parks, February 2005
BEAR FACTS
Geocaching: What is It?
First there was Orienteering and Letterboxing. Now we have Geocaching. What is it and how does it affect our parks? Geocaching requires physical and mental exercise, provides an opportunity to experience the great outdoors, gives us a chance to build valuable skills and offers lots of fun and excitement. But more importantly, the new sport has the potential to harm our parks and we should be aware of the negative impacts.
Orienteering was developed in Sweden in 1919 as a military training exercise and received a technical boost by the invention of a new more precise compass that was brought to the U.S. in 1946. At that time, Orienteering with a map and compass became an organized competitive sport with participants racing each other to find a series of points on a map (marked on the ground with orange and white flags) and returning to the finish in the shortest time. Many different Orienteering team and relay disciplines have emerged. The race is performed on skis, in canoes, on mountain bikes, at night, on trails by those with disabilities and, along strings for training preschoolers. The "Rugged Outdoor Group Activity Involving Navigation and Endurance" takes place over long distances by foot during a 24 hour period. Some races feature international competition and foot orienteering has been recognized as an Olympic sport since 1977. For more information, see http://www.us.orienteering.org.
Letterboxing was conceived in 1854 by a Victorian gentleman walker who put his calling card in a bottle and left it in the wilds of what is now southwestern England's Dartmoor National Park. Now, letterboxes containing a guestbook and a rubber stamp are hidden in the park and complicated clues to their whereabouts are posted on Internet sites or published periodically in catalogs. When seekers find the boxes, they log their discovery by writing or stamping with their own, often artistically made, rubber stamps in their journals and in the letterbox guestbook. Smithsonian magazine published in 1998 an article on Letterboxing and soon it was introduced to the United States. As many as 10,000 letterboxes are hidden in Dartmoor National Park, and the park distributes a brochure outlining how to participate "with moor care and less wear." Over 13,600 letterboxes are said to be hidden in North America, with over 1,000 in California, some on State Park property. Clues for letterboxes in Montana de Oro SP, show a series of loops and above the link for the "waiver of responsibility and disclaimer" is a warning to "watch for lions." Additional information is at http://www.letterboxing.org.
Increasingly affordable technology has advanced the new outdoor pursuit of Geocaching. Geocaching is a treasure hunt adventure game for users of personal Global Positioning System (GPS) units. The units range in cost from $100 to $1,000. The sport came into being in May 2000 when the government stopped their intentional degradation of GPS for security reasons. The first geocache "treasure" was hidden soon thereafter near Portland, Oregon. The treasure was found, a system of rules was devised and Geocaching was off and running. A website http://www.geocaching.com/ coordinates the game. The site gives the rules, lists the caches, maps and coordinates, and offers hints for finding them. Today, Geocaching is so popular that enthusiasts can seek caches in over 200 countries.
Caches are hidden by participants anywhere. They can be big or small and are often cleverly named. The rules are simple. When you find the cache, take something, leave something and write about it in the logbook. Variations are encouraged and many spin-offs have been developed. Caches are maintained by 'owners' who are supposed to be responsible for any physical impact to the site. But the impact on the surrounding area is less predictable and often depends on how long a cache is offered. The cache locations may require difficult hiking, orienteering, or specialized equipment and some locations may be underwater. The location demonstrates the owner's skill and daring. A cache can be covered and hidden, but burying it is not recommended, and 'owners' are urged to consider the sensitivity of the environment. Before placing a cache on private or public land individuals should contact the land owner. Locating a cache on National Park Service parkland is a violation of federal regulations established to protect fragile habitat and historic and cultural resources. Before placing a cache on State Park land or in a regional or local park, you should contact park personnel directly. Deborah Chavez, a Research Social Scientist with the USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station in Riverside, has described the emerging management issues of Geocaching in her article "Over the River and Through the Woods," Parks & Recreation, April 2004.
Understandably, many are concerned about the impact of hiding and seeking in State Parks. Any off-trail use opens a Pandora's box of increased resource damage including unwanted 'volunteer' trails, soil erosion, damage to rock faces from uncontrolled rock climbing, damage to resources and wildlife habitat. Such disturbance can be considered a "take" in listed species habitat. Cultural resources can also be damaged by unauthorized use. Staff at Mount Diablo, Henry Coe, and Mount Tamalpais State Parks describe other negative impacts, including more litter and improper disposal of human waste. Increased law enforcement and search and rescue costs also can over extend park budgets.
Although Geocaching may attract new users to California's parks, the question needs to be asked, "Do the negative impacts outweigh the benefits?" Certainly we need to be aware of Geocaching activities, and be ready to educate users and apply existing laws, regulations and policies to minimize the negative impacts to our parks. [Our thanks to Janet Didion, Natural Resources Division, who contributed to this article.]
http://www.parks.ca.gov
Planning California State Parks Planning Division
P.O. Box 942896
Sacramento, CA 94296-0001
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What type of container is allowed?
Only transparent, plastic containers are allowed for treasure caching activities. All containers need to clearly list the treasure cache name (i.e. "The BLM Rules Cache") and the website (if any) it is advertised on (i.e. geocaching.com, letterboxing.com, etc). Outer coverings or camouflage around the transparent containers need to be approved prior to use, however, no coverings are allowed if they could be confused with military artifacts. Care must be taken to ensure that cache containers (and possible coverings) do not have any military appearance.
Where can treasure caching containers be placed?
All containers and container placement locations must be approved by the BLM authorized officer prior to the cache being established in the field or approved for posting. Site-specific considerations will be considered by BLM officials prior to any cache acceptance; however, the following restrictions apply:
- Caches will not be approved in any area closed due to the possibility of munitions exposure.
- Caches must be within 20 feetof a BLM approved trail system. These are trails that are signed with brown sign posts as open and shown on BLM trail maps.
- Caches will not be approved along any fuelbreak road where the BLM may potentially mow the item during fuelbreak maintenance. These are roads that are signed with green sign posts as open and shown on BLM trail maps.
- Caches will not be approved within 100 feet of any area known to be occupied by herbaceous special status plant species, or within any vernal pool basin, wet meadow, or other aquatic location. Herbaceous special status plant species include sand gilia, Montereyspineflower, Congdon's tarplant, Seasidebirdsbeak, Contra Costa goldfields, and Pacific Groveand Santa Cruzclovers.
- Cache locations will be reviewed before approval for potential impact on other sensitive biological locations such as active raptor nests, locations habitually used by special-status animals, habitat restoration areas, etc.
- Caches will not be approved in or near any structure, out-building, historical or pre-historical feature, or military feature (i.e. bunker, fox hole, etc.).
- Caches will not be approved if they are buried or required manipulation of the environment (i.e. drilling of holes, removing bark, etc).
Does the BLM need to be notified of cache container and placement?
- Prior to placement of a cache container and the advertisement of its location, the BLM must approve the cache location and container.
What instrument will be used to approve cache placement and maintenance?
- OPTION ONE - Written authorization for the cache and placement might come in the form of a special recreation use permit (SRP) for a one-year authorization. Permit fees follow the national SRP fee structure that is currently at $90.00 per year or $4.00/visitor/year (whatever is the greater amount). The SRP can cover individual caches, or multiple caches maintained by one owner.
- OPTION TWO - In rare circumstances, the BLM may choose to co-sponsor the establishment and posting of a treasure cache should the BLM determine that the cache provides significant environmental education values or interpretive significance, and the cache is not related to a commercial activity. In these rare cases, the authorization for the cache could be in the form of a letter of authorization or letter of agreement, however, the BLM will co-sponsor a cache establishment only when there is both a clear benefit to the BLM public lands and a direct association to accomplishing a specific management objective or purpose developed through the BLM's land use planning process. When the BLM cosponsors a treasure cache, the requirement for an SRP and associated fees will be waived. The BLM will not waive fees for educational, therapeutic, or fundraising events if the activity or event meets the conditions and requirements for an SRP. See Attachment 1 for an example concept of a co-sponsored cache
- OPTION THREE - In rare circumstances, the BLM may choose to enter into a treasure cache cooperative management program with a group or organization. Under these arrangements, the BLM could waive SRP requirements and fees should the arrangement have a clear benefit to the BLM lands|||\. The cooperative agreement will need to clearly articulate (and hold accountable) the group or organization proposing the cooperative program. For example, a group may propose to establish and maintain a certain number of caches for one year in exchange for organizing and conducting a series of service projects or volunteer events that had values equal to (or exceeding) what the SRP costs would be under Option One described above.
How many caches will be allowed?
- The BLM will authorize no more than 50 treasure caches on the FOPL using any (or all) of the options described above.
- Once established, treasure caches will be repositioned as necessary to prevent damage to the immediate area from repetitive visitation.
Will there need to be specific information posted with the cache container and
online with the coordinates?
- Treasure caches that were advertised online will be required to disclose that the BLM lands have a special treasure caching policy. For these online advertised caches, the BLM will provide the message that will need to accompany the website listing (see Attachment 2).
- Treasure cache containers will need to clearly identify the cache owner, and the contact information for the owner.
- Treasure cache containers that are co-sponsored by the BLM will clearly disclose that the cache is co-sponsored by the BLM.
Once established, what kind of items (treasures) will be allowed in the treasure caches?
- The BLM wants to support the activity as a family-fun sport, therefore, dangerous, illegal, pornographic, or flammable items will not be allowed as "treasures" in caches.
- Cache themes and treasure items that are placed to promote commercial businesses will need to be disclosed at the time the cache is considered by the BLM.
- Owners of the caches will be required to periodically maintain the caches to ensure that the contents were appropriate.
Will the existing (40 to 50) treasure caches on BLM lands be allowed to remain?
- The existing treasure caches on the BLM lands unauthorized and need to be authorized using one of the three options disclosed above. If any of the existing treasure caches do not meet the container and setting requirements disclosed in above, then they will need to be reestablished.
- Owners of existing caches will be given two months to bring their cache into compliance with the treasure caching policy. If after two months treasure caches were not brought into compliance, then the BLM will consider enforcement actions for the illegal activity under 43 CFR 8364 and/or physically remove the treasure cache and have the posting removed.
- Existing cache containers that appear to be military items will be immediately removed by BLM if the owner is not able, or willing, to remove the container.
Attachment 1
SAMPLE CONCEPT OF CO-SPONSORED CACHE
Mima-Mound Mystery
A cache by BLM Geocache Co-sponsor Hidden: 1/15/2008
Size: (Regular) Difficulty: Terrain: (1 is easiest, 5 is hardest)
User's Web Page
You must be logged in with an account to view the Location Information. It's free! |
N/S ? .? W/E ??? .? |
This is a cooperatively established geocache for public benefit by "BLM Geocache Co-sponsor" and the "Bureau of Land Management".
Looking out over the meadow below, you may notice mounding, or small hills, encircled by yellow flowers (i.e. Contra Costa Goldfields - a federally endangered species) during the spring.
What caused this? Was this a remnant of past military use, or was this mounding caused from some geologic or biological event?
This is a mystery (and elsewhere) and many theories prevail. We do know that the area below this cache is "Machine Gun Flats" and during the 1960's and 1970's, the Army managed some of the terrain below to mimic a Vietnamese village. Soldiers training for the Vietnam Conflict crossed the vernal pool areas below as if they were crossing rice paddies to approach a village. It is possible that some of the mounding was constructed by Army personnel for training purposes; however, mounding is present in other range areas as well - where no such exercises were being conducted.
Other theories are that the mounds were constructed by pocket gophers, or are remnants of seismic activity. We may never know what really happened here below, but we sure think that vernal pools and meadow are beautiful.
Appreciate the landscape and scenery!
Respect the plants and animals that call this place home!
Understand that you have an important role in protecting these resources!
Want to learn more about Mima Mounds? See the website below:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mima_Mounds
Attachment 2MESSAGE TO ACCOMPANY TREASURE CACHES POSTED ONLINE
Dear Treasure Cacher:
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) welcomes "treasure cachers" to the Fort Ord Public Lands and we hope that enjoy your visit to this ecologically unique and diverse area. The BLM is carefully managing this activity to ensure that your visit is safe and enjoyable, and that the sensitive natural, cultural, and historic resources are protected for current and future generations. The cache you are searching for has likely been posted on one of the many "treasure cache" related websites such as geocaching.com, letterboxing.org, atlasquest.com, etc. When looking for this cache, we ask that you take note of our public use restrictions on the land that include:
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