BC Wildlife Federation’s Wetlands Education Program celebrated wetland revitalization on June 23rd & 24th, 2009 with a concept growing across North America: Wetland Creation. This was the first course of its kind to be hosted by BCWF and involved 10 participants from diverse backgrounds who gathered at Cayoosh Elementary School to create a wetland in just 9 hours! The Wetland Construction Workshop aimed to raise awareness and educate community members about wetland construction, conservation and stewardship in Lillooet, BC.

Although wetlands in dry climates such as Lillooet are sparse, the benefits of creating a wetland at Cayoosh Elementary School are numerous including: an outdoor classroom for students, habitat for wetland species and a sense of ownership for monitoring by the schoolchildren. Community members such as Jacquie & Verne Rasmussen, Dan & Donna Gatzka, Michelle & David Harder and Kim North (to name a few!) contributed much time and equipment towards the legacy of a wetland for their community.

With the help of generous donors such as Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation, BCWF flew Wildlife Biologist Tom Biebighauser into Lillooet from Kentucky to teach the Wetland Construction Workshop. Working out of the Center for Wetlands and Stream Restoration in Kentucky, Tom has constructed thousands of wetlands across North America and also leads BCWF’s bi-annual Wetlands Institute. BCWF Vice-President Rodney Wiebe and Exceutive Director Patti Macahonic were present for the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony of the new wetland.

On the day of construction, schoolchildren were invited out in ½ hour segments to view the construction process and a lucky few helped to lay down the liner before the water was turned on to fill it in. The Lillooet Naturalist Society and Cayoosh Elementary School will monitor the progress and growth of the wetland plants and habitat.

Watch for us in a wetland near you!

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• Lillooet Wetland Construction Workshop