Restoration of the Thurston Pond Ecosystem

 

 Three juvenile Tundra Swans (foreground) and three adults (background) in Thurston Pond, November, 2004. Photo by Thomas A. Edsall.

 

 

1. INTRODUCTION

 

This report offers a plan and guidance for restoring the health of the Thurston Pond ecosystem, which is the major aquatic feature of the Thurston Nature Center (Figure 1). The report primarily addresses actions for:

 

Improving the existing pond outlet structure to permit the pond to be fully drained when necessary.

Dredging and grading the pond bottom to deepen portions of the pond and to permit draining.

 

Using the dredged pond-bottom soil creatively to provide more wetland and island habit, and to reinforce the berm that maintains the water level in the pond.

 

The report includes:

 

A problem statement discussing the degraded health of the pond ecosystem, its causes, and its impacts on educational and community uses of the pond.

 

A goals statement outlining the changes and desired outcomes needed to improve the health of the pond ecosystem consistent with its intended beneficial use and management.

 

Descriptions of specific actions needed to restore pond health consistent with the goals statement. 

 

A general, sequenced schedule for a three-year period of restoration actions.