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Review Draft Eastern Gateway Wetland Restoration Site — Annual Report <br /> Refer to Appendix for a list of birds and other animals seen at the Eastern <br /> Gateway site. <br /> Sustainability The long term success of a wetland restoration site depends in large part on the <br /> site's ability to provide wetland functions and be free of disruptions that might <br /> reduce the contribution of those functions. The East Gateway site is a good <br /> case in point, since it is located in a relatively developed urban setting, and is <br /> bounded on all four sides by roads or developed land. We identified several <br /> issues important to the long -term sustainability of the site, including 1) habitat <br /> area, buffers, and corridors for maintenance of wildlife diversity; 2) continuation <br /> of appropriate hydrologic conditions; 3) development and maintenance of <br /> diverse plant communities, and 3) appropriate visitor use of the site. <br /> Given the diversity of wildlife species observed on the site since construction <br /> the parcel size (about 17 acres) seems sufficient to provide habitat for a wide <br /> variety of wildlife species. The site is also adjacent to, though separated by <br /> roads and streets, a much larger area of protected habitat along Bertelsen <br /> Slough, which should help to sustain these wildlife habitat values over the long <br /> term. <br /> Hydrologic dynamics were also considered in the design of the site. The streets <br /> located on the south and east sides of the site and the storm drain systems <br /> associated with those streets apparently divert water flowing from higher ground <br /> that originally would have contributed to hydrologic inputs on the site. At the <br /> same time, the streets located to the north and west of the site (the down <br /> gradient side) may form physical barrier that restricts water from moving off the <br /> site. As a result, hydrologic inputs to the site are restricted to precipitation and <br /> groundwater inputs. While the site may not be functioning hydrologically as it <br /> did before the surrounding areas were developed or roads were constructed, it <br /> does appear now that 1) sufficient hydrology is available to create the desired <br /> wetland conditions, and 2) water quality appears to be adequate to support the <br /> kinds of wetland conditions that are desired. <br /> The long term success of the wetland restoration will also depend upon <br /> maintaining diverse native plant communities. However, several highly invasive - <br /> non - native species are present in portions of the site that were existing wetlands <br /> prior to the excavation and planting. These species include reed canary grass, <br /> Himalaya blackberry, and teasel. Vigilant surveillance and nntenance work <br /> will be needed over the next few years to ensure that vegetation goals are met. <br /> Visitor use is also an issue for long -term sustainablilty of the site. The existing <br /> spur trail was constructed to allow access and at the same time prevent damage <br /> to the site from visitors. The trail seems to be successful in this regard. There <br /> was some damage to the site caused by 4 -wheel drive vehicles driving onto the <br /> Page 15 <br />