Stewards for the Environment
Wetlands
 Cascadia Community College and UW Bothell share a 127
acre campus where nearly half of the campus is part of one of the biggest
floodplain restorations in the Pacific Northwest. Work on the project began over
a decade ago with construction of a new stream channel system that rerouted the
North Creek and restored the linkage between channel and floodplain components
of the North Creek ecosystem. Subsequent planting of native species of bushes,
flowers and trees, and active monitoring of the site are recreating a forest
similar to what existed generations ago. A variety of aquatic life and urban
wildlife have already returned to the area.
More in-depth information about the wetlands restoration project is available
on the UW Bothell
web
site.
Wetlands Tours
Weekday tours of the wetlands are regularly available. Weekend tours are
available on a limited basis only and requests must be received at least three
weeks before the requested tour dates. A minimum of six participants is required
to schedule a tour on a Saturday or Sunday. Interested persons should call
425.352.8000 to inquire about the next available weekday tour or to request a
weekend tour.
 Wetlands in the Classroom
A number of Cascadia courses, as well as UWB and local public school classes,
access portions of the restoration project to engage learning. Water sampling,
stream monitoring, and wildlife observation are just some of the active learning
opportunities that take place under careful monitoring throughout the wetlands.
Additionally, the entire community has limited access to portions of the project
along a boardwalk that extends into the wetlands, as well as along a paved path
that connects with the Sammamish River Trail.
* View
Wetlands Restoration Presentation
Committed to Sustainability
Cascadia and UWB are committed to doing what we can to reduce our carbon
footprint and act as stewards for the environment. Increasingly we have
implemented more sustainable practices across the campus, including;
- To increase natural lighting, reduce heat gain and increase ventilation,
buildings were built with large expanses of double pane glass with reflective
film, large roof overhangs, and operable windows.
- To conserve water, automatic flushing toilets were replaced with manual
mechanisms in 2004. In the first year that "Push to Flush" was implemented,
Cascadia saved almost 40,000 gallons of water.
- To further conserve water, Cascadia will use 1/8 gallon-flush toilets and urinals in all new construction.
- To reduce fuel consumption as well as carbon emissions, in 2006 a hybrid
car was added to Cascadia’s motor pool
- To reduce electricity use across the campus, metal halide lamps in parking
structures were replaced with fluorescent fixtures and lighting timers were
installed in classrooms and restrooms. Reduced usage was reflected in an over $2750
reduction in monthly utility bills.
- To reduce waste and make better use of resources, cardboard, leaves, and
food scraps are recycled in six worm bins from which over 200 pounds of compost
are harvested annually.
- To further reduce waste and make better use of resources, trash recycling
is practiced across the campus.
- To keep harmful chemicals out of the ecosystem, the campus became pesticide
free in 2006. Formerly used chemical additives were replaced with compost,
organic fertilizers, and organic herbicides.
- To reduce the level of toxic waste that enters the natural water system, 400
catch basins in the campus storm water system use oil-water separators.
- To decrease the use of harmful chemicals on campus, only
green-seal-certified cleaning products are used.
- To reduce the use of chemicals or gas-powered engines to control invasive
plants and weeds, a herd of goats was hired to clear overgrown areas in 2007.
- To reduce carbon emissions from large numbers of vehicles and encourage use
of alternative transportation, subsidized bus passes are available to faculty,
staff, and students for purchase, preferential parking is given to carpools, and
bike lockers are available for use.
- To maximize use of available resources, recycled materials are used as much
as possible to construct and create campus structures - like bike lockers,
outdoor tables and benches, and the wetlands boardwalk - and preference is given
to recycled materials by campus purchasing.
- To demonstrate a commitment to sustainable practices and join together with
other stewards for the environment, Cascadia signed on to the Seattle Mayor's
Climate Initiative, both Cascadia and UWB were early signatories to the American
College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment, and the campus is the
first higher education institution in the state to receive Salmon-Safe
Certification.
- To continue its commitment to sustainability, Cascadia's new Center for
Global Learning and the Arts is designed to achieve the LEEDS Gold Standard.
Groundbreaking is scheduled for January 2008.
- To envision what could be, Cascadia is in the process of designing a
Wetlands Interpretive Center to achieve at least LEEDS Platinum Standard. It is
intended to be an "off the grid" structure, or a sustainable building that would
not rely on electricity provided by public utilities.
 Center for Global Learning and the Arts – a new Cascadia building designed to meet LEEDS Gold Standard and slated to break ground in January 2008.
 Wetlands Interpretive Center – a public/private fund raising project. An off-the grid building designed to meet LEEDS Platinum Standard or perhaps the new Living Building classification.
The information above provides a summary of the college and campus-wide efforts
we have taken to reduce our carbon footprint and act as stewards for our natural
environment. We hope you follow some of the links to press releases, media
coverage and photos. Your comments and /or questions are welcomed. You can reach
us about sustainability at sustainability@cascadia.edu.
News About our Stewardship
- World view taking shape at Cascadia, October 27, 2007 Seattle Times
- Cascadia college will be green inside and out, September 20, 2007 Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce
- Goat vs. mower: UW-Bothell tries experiment, July 13, 2007 HeraldNet
- UW Bothell/Cascadia Community College wetland trails, May 31, 2007 Seattle Times
- Colleges pledge to cut emissions on campus, March 2, 2007 Community College Times
- Cascadia targets greenhouse gases, March 1, 2007 HeraldNet
- “Securing America’s Energy Future” Will Be Topic of Presentation by Red Cavaney of American Petroleum Institute, February 2007 Eastside Business Monthly
- Talk on nation's energy future at UW Bothell, February 2, 2007 Millcreek Enterprise
- Oil authority to talk about energy, February 1, 2007 Seattle Times
- Monthlong program pushes sustainability, September 1, 2007 Seattle Times
Related Media Releases
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