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| Web Brief (May 07) |
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West Salem High School students tour ODOT wetland mitigation site
Zoology club members learn the importance of wetland habitat preservation on an ODOT-led tour
Thousands of animals and plants thrive in a 1.2-acre ODOT wetland mitigation site in West Salem. The Salemtowne to Orchard Heights wetlands regularly teems with frogs, mallards, hawks and field mice, and the occasional deer and beaver. But on a sunny Tuesday in early May, a new species joined the mix: 15 members of the West Salem High School zoology club.
The after-school club takes educational field trips to learn about everything from animal biology to ecosystems. Whether dissecting fetal pigs or planting cattails for a local farmer looking to attract wildlife to his pond, club members reach out to organizations in the community that can help them learn about animals and the habitats they depend on for survival.
When the club approached Jim Cox, assistant branch manager in ODOT’s Major Projects Branch, for a tour of the West Salem wetland mitigation site, he was happy to oblige. Cox recruited Ron Francis, ODOT Region 2 wetland specialist, and Zak Toledo, Oregon Bridge Delivery Partners natural resource coordinator, to lead the students through the muddy wetland to learn more about its hydrology as well as the plant and animal species that thrive there. Since the mitigation site was established in 1998, it has matured and stabilized and is now a prime example of a flourishing wetland.
“Successful wetland mitigation is difficult to plan for,” said Francis. “Everything has to end up just right, in the perfect combination.”
On the tour, students saw how wet and dry elements of the habitat interact to create the zoned wetland. They studied vegetation, animal tracks and soil to determine the wetland’s boundaries, and worked hands-on with the elements that make wetlands important.
“We have more than 50 scientists across the state who monitor our projects’ impacts to the environment,” said Cox. “Based on their assessments, we try to avoid potential impacts, and if we can’t, we then try to minimize impacts. If we’ve exhausted both of those options, we mitigate any damage by creating or restoring a comparably sized piece of habitat at the site or in another location that can serve the same ecological function.”
Wetlands used to cover most of the Willamette Valley, but due to development, dams and drainage, nearly 80 percent of that habitat has been lost. ODOT works hard to avoid impacts to what remains because wetlands serve important functions: Vegetation filters pollutants from road run-off; keeps surface water clear by slowing it down and allowing dirt to settle out as it enters waterways; reduces CO2; and produces oxygen. Wetlands also provide green spaces for people and animals to enjoy—and that’s just what the West Salem High School zoology club did.
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