PHOTO CAPTION: Foothills Trail Wetland Mitigation Site

The Foothills Trail is a non-motorized transportation route and recreational opportunity for the general public. This segment involves the construction of 7.2 miles of multi-purpose trail along abandoned Burlington Northern railroad right-of-way from approximately 3½ miles south of South Prairie to Buckley. (The portion between the end of this segment and South Prairie is anticipated to be constructed in 2008.)

A total of 2.6 acres of wetland(pdf) will be impacted. Mitigation(pdf) for these impacts involved the creation of 4.2 acres of diverse wetland habitat that will provide fish and wildlife habitat, and flood water storage. Wetland creation involved excavation, installing weirs, placing topsoil, and planting native wetland species. Large woody debris (snag trees and logs) were used to provide habitat features.

Two sources of water feed this site. The major source is groundwater. The second source is a year-round surface water drainage that currently flows under South Prairie-Carbon River Road and into the site. Water flows through the site and eventually to South Prairie Creek.

Grading of the site occurred in the summer and fall of 2004 and the site was planted using Stream Team volunteers in the fall and winter of 2004/2005.