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There are four wetlands (conveniently referred to as Wetland 1, 2, 3, and 6). The first two are behind the first few Dwelling Co single family homes on 28th Ave; the third is behind the area commonly called No Man’s Land. Number 6 is behind the Bennett single family homes on 29th Ave. Each wetland has a 50 ft deep buffer area around it, and there is supposed to be a split rail fence around the buffers.

A wetland is comprised of soil, vegetation and water. They act as sponges for runoff and as habitat. They are classified as Environmentally Critical Areas by the City. The presence of the buffer areas mean that we may not actually be able to see the wetlands, but they are there.

These areas are under a City required restoration process. It’s a 5 year process; there are about 2 years left. When the restoration is complete, the wetland and buffer areas should have about 85% shrub and tree cover and be self-sustaining. They will remain Environmentally Critical Areas and come with various restrictions.

Generally, these areas are to remain free of human trampling, especially during the restoration period so that new plants have a chance to really establish. It’s advisable to generally stay out of these areas post-restoration, in part due to the fragile nature of the areas and in part due to the fact that visitors to the wetlands are traipsing through private property (the property lines of some homeowners on 28th extend into the buffer areas). The main exceptions to this rule are SvR staff checking up on new plant establishment and landscape crews who are controlling weeds and keeping drains clean.

SHA is paying for the wetland restoration. Wetland maintenance costs should decrease as the wetlands become self-sustaining. Current costs include watering, plant replacement, line trimming, removal of invasive weeds, and drain maintenance. The last three in this list are likely to continue to be necessary post-restoration. (When the restoration is complete, the white irrigation pipe *should* go away.)

SHA is currently maintaining the drainage structures and system in the wetlands. If there appears to be a drainage problem, SHA needs to know about it.

For those who are living next to the wetlands, you are free to do what you want with your yard up to the split rail fence. This includes pulling up alder seedlings. If you can reliably identify an alder seedling, you can remove alders on the other side of the fence for up to five feet into the buffer. If you can’t reliably identify alder and you want too see about getting things thinned out on the other side of the fence, contact the landscape committee, who will interface with SvR about what’s removable. Please contact CWD regarding removal of limbs or trees that you believe pose a hazard to your house or other buildings.

After the restoration of the wetlands is complete, the wetlands will fall under the purview of the City. That means that if you have property that extends into the wetlands, you will need to contact the City for regulations and application procedures for anything you want to do on the wetland side of the fence. Check out the City’s Department of Planing and Development’s Client Assistance Memo #331. Please note that these documents are prone to change; always be sure you are working off the latest copy. The current version has a section on “Normal and Routine Maintenance” (”removal of trees and non- invasive vegetation is never considered normal maintenance”; “no more than 25% of foliage shall be removed in a 5 year period”) and a section on “Hazard Trees”.

If you have further questions about the wetlands, please direct those questions to the landscape committee. The committee will endeavor to find answers.