Sarita Wetland Restoration Project
The Sarita Wetland, located on the campus in St. Paul, is the remnant of former Lake Sarita. The goal of the wetland restoration project is to improve water quality by creating infiltration basins and rain gardens and restoring native plants to the wetland area, to improve the wildlife habitat, and to use the wetland area for education and research. In conjunction with a planned building project, the intent is also to implement innovative storm-water management techniques on a substantial part of the campus. When the project is finished, there will be a restored wetland and urban stream with a variety of habitats, research sites, an educational trail, and research plots and innovative storm-water management sites in the upland areas of campus.
This effort is the first time academic and operational departments at the University have collaborated on a project of this magnitude. The restoration began in September 2000 with a kickoff event as part of Beautiful U Day. More than 80 students, staff, faculty, alumni, and community members picked up garbage and started building a wood chip trail. Student class projects are building the basis for the restoration planning, along with individual students and student groups.
http://www.cnr.umn.edu/sci/
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