this year’s 6 uwren capstone projects: 1.union bay natural area, seattle 2.licton springs, seattle...

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.

UBNADwamish 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.

http://depts.washington.edu/ubna/

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 WetlandEmergent Wetland

GrasslandScrub-Shrub WetlandUpland Scrub-ShrubShoreline 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

http://www.cityofseattle.net/parks/parkspaces/LictonSpringsPark.htm

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.

http://www.cityofseattle.net/parks/parkspaces/WDuwamish.htm

Client: The Nature ConsortiumThe 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”

http://www.earthsanctuary.org

“Integrate spirituality with art and nature”

Client: Earth Sanctuary, Chuck PetisClient’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

http://www.hylebos.org/index.htm

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 spawning4. Macroinvertebrates

Client’s Requests:

• Develop strategy for invasive management

• Develop planting plan

• Implement planting before March 15th

• 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.

http://home1.gte.net/greenjay/swampcreek.htm

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)