Development of Wetland Area and Outdoor Teaching Site at Stewartville School District with an Accompanying Wetland River Lab Classroom Activity Packet and Web site

Abstract

The purpose of this project was to design and develop a wetland area and associated outdoor classroom at Stewartville, Minnesota High School with an accompanying Wetland River Lab classroom and field activity packet and web page. In 1997, construction of an addition at the existing high school began. The construction consisted of a new auditorium, performing arts center, remodeling of the existing high school, and a brand new attached middle school. The addition of the middle school, performing arts center, and auditorium led to the filling-in of an existing wetland site. This was in violation of the Wetland Restoration Act. Hence, a new wetland site needed to be built on the school site double the size of the filled-in wetland to comply with the Wetland Restoration Act. The school was in violation of the Wetland Restoration Act until formal study and delineation of the site began in September 2000. To ensure the coordination of this project, it was necessary to meet, interact, and cooperate with the Olmsted Soil and Water Conservation District, United States Army Corps of Engineers, City of Stewartville, City Supervisor, Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources, Stewartville Superintendent of Schools, Stewartville High School Principal, Stewartville Schools Head Buildings and Grounds Manager, and General Contractor. The project also consisted of writing of a permit application to the Olmsted Soil and Water Conservation District and the United States Army Corps of Engineers. The designated wetlands were constructed on site of Stewartville High School. The total wetland replaced and developed was 31,798.8 square feet. The outlet of the replaced wetlands went through the wetland ditch and into the Root River Watershed. The construction process also consisted of breaking a drainage tile to allow the soil to saturate up to the water level. The elevation of the site was determined by the water level of the replacement project. The tile break allowed the water to saturate the wetland area. The replacement wetlands were restored. The area around the water was seeded with hydrophilic vegetation and sloped to reduce erosion. The area around the replacement wetlands consisted of a buffer zone of wetland shrubs, trees, and herbaceous wetland species. The construction of the outdoor teaching site consisted of three cement picnic tables, outdoor teaching board, nature walk around the wetland area, and wetland observation and learning area. To achieve usage of the wetland and outdoor teaching classroom, an activity guide was designed. The activity guide integrates the science and environmental education curricula into the outdoor classroom. The activities from the activity guide were tested in the spring of 2001. · At the completion of this project, activity guides will be given to all high school science teachers with the hope that they will find the guide useful in their utilization of the wetlands and outdoor teaching site. The web site consists of our environmental education class projects, development of our wetland area and outdoor school teaching site, pictures, links, and models for successful implementation of a wetland area and outdoor teaching site.