Wetland Restoration
Wetlands, the liminal space between open water and solid ground, are one of the most biodiverse ecosystems on earth, hosting up to 40% of all plant and animal species. They function as the kidneys of the Earth, filtering out pollutants and excess nutrients from the water before it reaches rivers and streams.
In the highly developed Puget Sound area, we have lost more than 90% of our historic wetlands, and have pushed many species that rely on this habitat into sharp decline. Wet prairies that are seasonally inundated with water and dry in the summer, have become particularly rare through drainage and land conversion.
Ecostudies is working to:
- Remove invasive species like reed canary grass that threaten wetland biodiversity
- Reintroduce native wetland species through planting and seeding
- Use fire to remove dense thatch and restore mud flats
Restoring for Wildlife
Oregon spotted frog (Rana pretiosa) is federally threatened and endangered in Washington. This large frog requires sparsely vegetated, shallow wetlands for breeding. We are working to remove tall invasive grasses that shade out Oregon spotted frog eggs and degrade their breeding habitat.
Virginia rail (Rallus limicola) is a secretive marsh bird that probes the mud for food. Ecostudies is removing mat-forming invasive species like reed canary grass to create open areas for foraging, and planting native vegetation to create cover and nesting areas.
Project Spotlight
Inspiring Kids Preserve
Ecostudies has partnered with Capitol Land Trust to enhance wetland habitat at the Inspiring Kids Preserve. This 113-acre property has salt marshes, forested wetlands, and wet prairie habitats that support a wide variety of species. We are enhancing habitat by cutting, removing, and treating invasive species such as reed canary grass, Himalayan blackberry (Rubus armeniacus) and oneseed hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), and planting hundreds of trees, shrubs, and flowering plants to enhance the native plant community.