In August 2009, work began on a project to restore wetland flora and fauna in the meadow area at Grace Cole Nature Park. This project involved the excavation of two shallow depressions in the meadow which will fill with water in the wet season, creating natural seasonal ponds which will support wetland plants and animals. These ponds will occupy the area which is believed to be what was, in the Park's natural and undisurbed state, wetland.

The work was done by Restoration Logistics, LLC., a firm with over 10 years of experience with this type of project. The attention paid during construction to avoiding unintended disturbance of the wetland and other surrounding features was nothing short of exemplary. To gain access to the site, a temporary road, consisting of sturdy metal plates, was built from 28th Ave. NE into the wetland site (Figure 1). Where this temporary road crossed the stream running along 28th Ave, a bridge was constructed over the stream; the stream channel itself was never disturbed (see Figure 2). Excavation of the ponds is shown in Figure 3.

A silt fence was placed around the construction site, avoiding impact to anything outside the immediate construction area. Figure 4, showing this fence, clearly shows that literally not a blade of grass outside the project area was disturbed. The ponds are visible, immediately after excavation, in
Figure 5.

When this phase of construction was complete, there was no trace at all of the passage of the excavator across the stream and through the meadow; see Figure 6. What a great example of the proper way to perform work in a sensitive area!

Figure 6: Looking towards the meadow from 28th Ave. NE,
after excavation

Subsequent to the excavation of the two new seasonal ponds, native wetland plants were planted in and around the ponds. Then the ponds were covered with wildlife predation netting to keep critters away from the young plants. See Figure 7. This netting will be removed after the new plants are sufficiently established so that wildlife won't be able to disturb them.

Figure 7: Wildlife predation netting protecting the plants in and around
the new ponds.

Funding for the meadow restoration project was obtained from a King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks Water and Land Resources Division WaterWorks grant, and from City Capital funds. The project was managed by Tema Nesoff, LFP's Human Services Coordinator. Preliminary project design by David Hepp