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Celebrating Wetlands: Groups plan May celebration of Eugene's unique wetlands -The RE... Page 4 of 7 <br /> WETLAND WONDERS? <br /> At first glance, they're just weeds and water. What makes <br /> Eugene's wetlands worth the investment of so much time, <br /> effort and money? <br /> • The project area includes much of the remaining Willamette <br /> Wet Prairie habitat, a special kind of wetlands that once <br /> dominated the Willamette Valley. <br /> • Wetlands produce basic necessities for plants, animals and <br /> humans. They cleanse water, control flooding, produce oxygen, <br /> cycle nutrients, enhance air quality and help stabilize the <br /> climate. <br /> • More than 350 species of plants, including five with <br /> threatened or endangered status, live in the wetlands. <br /> • Eugene's wetlands are rich in wildlife. Some 200 species of <br /> birds - including waterfowl and many Neotropical songbirds - <br /> reside there. So does the Fenders blue butterfly, an <br /> endangered species. <br /> • The 2,500 acres protected in the west Eugene wetlands <br /> provide a vast amount of open space just four miles from <br /> downtown Eugene and accessible via public transportation and <br /> bicycle. <br /> One busy month <br /> Other events on the Celebrate Eugene Wetlands calendar are <br /> listed below: <br /> FRIDAY <br /> Photography Exhibit: Local photographers' images taken in <br /> the West Eugene Wetlands will be on public exhibit at Cafe <br /> Paradiso, 115 W. Broadway in downtown Eugene, during <br /> normal cafe hours through May 30. Wetlands partners <br /> representatives will be on hand during the First Friday Art Walk <br /> (5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on May 2) to answer questions about the <br /> exhibit and the wetlands project. <br /> SATURDAY <br /> Wildflower walk: David Wagner of the Eugene Natural <br /> History Society will lead an outing to explore the variety of <br /> colorful wildflowers that spring up in the wet prairies and <br /> vernal pools of the Willow Creek Natural Area; 10 a.m. to <br /> Noon. Details, registration: Holly McRea, 683-6494. <br /> SUNDAY <br /> http://www.registerguard.com/cgi-bin/printStory.py?name=e6.od.wetlands.0501&date=200305... 5/5/03 <br />