UWREN Capstone Projects: 1.Union Bay Natural Area, Seattle 2.Washington Park Arboretum, Seattle 3.Duwamish Greenbelt, Seattle 4.Earth Sanctuary, Whidbey Island 5.Swamp Creek, (near Bothell) 6.A Tacoma site – still to be surveyed

Earth Sanctuary Arboretum Snohomish Co. UBNA Dwamish Greenbelt Tacoma Site

#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 Invasive plant control and removal Native plantings Enhancement of the existing work

#2 Washington Park Arboretum The Washington Park Arboretum is a living plant museum emphasizing trees and shrubs hardy in the maritime Pacific Northwest... The Arboretum serves the public, students at all levels, naturalists, gardeners, and nursery and landscape professionals with its collections, educational programs, interpretations, and recreational opportunities

General Information About the Arboretum Two hundred thirty acres extending from 40th Avenue East and East Madison on the south, to Highway SR-520 and Lake Washington. 40,000 trees, shrubs and vines, –< 10,000 are catalogued in collections. –4,600 different species are cultivated varieties from around the world –750 of the taxa were collected in the wild. –139 plants in the Washington Park Arboretum on the endangered species list. –Collections include rhododendron, azalea, mountain ash, pine, spruce, cedar, fir, crabapple, holly, magnolia, camellia, and Japanese maple.

Area of Focus Wetlands where Arboretum Creek enters Lake Washington Total area 640,000 sq. ft. Low-lying saturated soil with adjacent upland. Arboretum Creek bisects the project area. A walking trail and pedestrian bridge runs through the area. Former lake bottom with mature Alders, Cottonwoods, and Oregon Ash. Previous capstone project classes planted trees to suppress invasives.

Client: The University of Washington Botanic Gardens Client’s Requests: The goals of this project are: 1. To continue restoration efforts to shade non-native invasive plants with native trees and shrubs. 2. Provide for public view corridors and mower access routes 3. Assess and maintain previous plantings. 4. Demonstrate diversity of flora found in lowland riparian areas of the Pacific Northwest.

#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” 500 year plan

“Integrate spirituality with art and nature”

Client: Earth Sanctuary, Chuck Petis Client’s Requests: Roadside restoration bordering bog peatland. Clear site of invasives plants. Re-establish native trees and shrubs – Create habitat for wildlife. Provide a monitoring and maintenance plan.

#5 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. Thin alders, understory conifer plantings Long term maintenance and management plan. Promote integrity and complexity of riparian forest.

#6 Tacoma Site To Be Surveyed Next Week Client: Tacoma Community College and Pierce College

Now, this year’s group assignments…

UWREN Teams

This Year’s 6 UWREN Capstone Projects: 1.Union Bay Natural Area, Seattle 2.UW Botanic Gardens, Arboretum, Seattle 3.Duwamish Greenbelt, Seattle 4.Earth Sanctuary, Whidbey Island 5.Swamp Creek, (near Bothell) 6.A Tacoma site – still to be surveyed

Questions Will anyone volunteer to be a note-taker? Can anyone drive vans for the field trips? –October 14 - Friday to Licton Springs –October 22 – Saturday to Thornton Creek –November 5 – Saturday to Bothell Reminders –Reminder that next Friday may be up to 3 hours. –Field trip forms need to be handed in by next Friday (can drop them in my mail folder)