This Year’s 6 UWREN Capstone Projects: 1.Union Bay Natural Area, Seattle 2.Licton Springs, Seattle 3.Duwamish Greenbelt, Seattle 4.Earth Sanctuary, Whidbey Island 5.Hylebos Creek, Milton (near Tacoma) 6.Swamp Creek, (near Bothell)
Earth Sanctuary Licton Springs Snohomish Co. UBNA Dwamish Greenbelt Hylebos Creek
#1 Union Bay Natural Area, Seattle THE UNION BAY NATURAL AREA (UBNA) IS MANAGED TO MAINTAIN AND ENHANCE VEGETATION, WILDLIFE, AND LANDSCAPE VALUES WHILE SERVING AS AN OUTDOOR LABORATORY FOR RESEARCH, TEACHING AND PUBLIC SERVICE.
General Information About UBNA On eastern portion of CUH Before the Lake Washington ship canal, UBNA was open water fringed with wetland. After the canal opened, lake levels dropped and the exposed lake bottom formed a marsh. Marsh was used as a landfill which in 1966 was closed, capped, and graded.
UBNA’s Diverse Habitat Types: Forested Wetland Emergent Wetland Grassland Scrub-Shrub Wetland Upland Scrub-Shrub Shoreline Wetland
Client: The Center for Urban Horticulture The Client’s Requests: Assessment of past restoration work Trail improvement Design and build a section of a prototype boardwalk Invasive plant control and removal Native plantings
#2 Licton Springs, North Seattle 9-acre site of forested wetland and open landscape. Licton Springs was once a healing center for Native Americans. Numerous mineral springs
Client: Friends of Licton Springs Awarded $100,000 from the Pro Parks Opportunity Fund to improve Licton Springs Park Restoration work has been ongoing for three years.
The Client’s Requests: Invasive species control. Creek bank restoration. Establishment of native plants (forest, and habitat ponds”). Re-introduction of Pacific Chorus Frog habitat. Continue day-lighting a previously lost springhead.
#3 West Duwamish Greenbelt Restoration Project, West Seattle Largest remaining contiguous forest within Seattle (>500 acres of forest). Faced with low diversity, invasive species problems, and an unofficial trail system.
Client: The Nature Consortium The urban forest provides important ecological functions that affect Puget Sound. Habitats in area of interest: Streams, wetlands, ponds, and forest
The Client’s Requests: Improve and protect the upland urban forest, wetland, and riparian zone habitat. Invasive species removal and management plan. Planting native forest species (accelerate succession).
#4 Whidbey Island Privately owned and funded “Both a nature reserve and a meditation parkland, Earth Sanctuary™ is a unique place for connection with nature, personal renewal, and spiritual growth”
“Integrate spirituality with art and nature”
Client: Earth Sanctuary, Chuck Petis Client’s Requests: Clear site of invasives plants around a fen. Re-establish native trees and shrubs – Create habitat for wildlife. Provide a monitoring and maintenance plan.
#5 Hylebos Creek, Milton Preserve is 2.5-acres Wetland enhancement project Salmon-bearing stream
Client: Friends of Hylebos Wetlands A non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the West Hylebos Wetlands and protecting and restoring the greater Hylebos Creek Watershed. The organization monitors: 1.Water quality 2.Habitat restoration 3.Salmon spawning 4.Macroinvertebrates
Client’s Requests: Develop strategy for invasive management Develop planting plan Implement planting before March 15 th Develop monitoring program
#6 Swamp Creek, Snohomish County Project Area: Tributary of Swamp Creek Habitats are diverse (upland, riparian) Swamp Creek is Salmon Habitat
Swamp Creek Tributary “…with the housing boom in South Snohomish County has come hard times for Swamp Creek and its remaining coho and sockeye salmon, cutthroat trout and steelhead”. Approximately 20 developments are coming to the Swamp Creek watershed.
Client’s Requests: Remove invasives in riparian area Plant native vegetation – encourage succession.
Now, this year’s group assignments
Team A S. Rosebrough L. Mazzola C. West S. Stolnack B. McMeekin M. Kermott W. Chung Team B A.Breuer A. VanDerslice N. Edmonds I.Lacher D. Chandler J. Leach Team C S. Kachel T. Han C. Plass S. Gachet L. Acker C. Coineandubh E. Mussman Team D M. Darrow J. Erickson E. Hastings S. Torgerson P. Hovet E. Christensen Team E N. Ostrovsky J. Walker D. Bjorkegren E. Podolak C. Wilson V. Mehring Team F D. Fletcher D. Clark-Rixmann M. Schweitzer P. Petra J. Wartes T. Parise
This Year’s 6 UWREN Capstone Projects: Union Bay Natural Area, Seattle Licton Springs, Seattle Duwamish Greenbelt, Seattle Earth Sanctuary, Whidbey Island Hylebos Creek, Milton (near Tacoma) Swamp Creek, (near Bothell)