yeslerswamp.weebly.com
Amount Awarded:
 $65,000
Funding Received:
 2013-2014
Project Status:
 Inactive

Executive Summary

Update: This project is currently recruiting interns!

Our team is proposing a $65,000 construction project on the western shoreline of the Yesler Swamp lagoon to offer UW students and other visitors a unique wildlife observation platform.  The viewing platform will be called the “Yesler Swamp Trek Stop” (YSTS) and it will offer a permanent bird-watching post to rest, reflect, and interact with the different species that reside in wetland and swamp ecosystems around Lake Washington.  Our team has been hosting volunteer restoration events at the Yesler Swamp and documenting them on a website since October of 2013. (yeslerswamp.weebly.com)

The primary goals of this project are to:

  • Build a bird blind structure with an extremely low environmental footprint that adheres to green building specifications and communicates the importance of resource conservation.
  • Provide a unique and identifying landmark for the Yesler Swamp.
  • Provide an opportunity for the public to engage with the swamp and its biodiversity through interpretive signs (explaining the swamp ecosystem and services).
  • Provide an exceptional view of the swamp lagoon, Lake Washington and Mt. Rainier.
  • Provide an outdoor classroom for groups visiting the UW Center for Urban Horticulture.
  • Build a stronger connection between the Yesler Swamp and the well established Union Bay Natural Area (UBNA).
  • Raise awareness about the Yesler Swamp and the opportunities it presents for students and the greater Seattle community to actively engage with nature.
Primary Contact:
Tyler Licata
tlicata@uw.edu