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_05/2/04 MON 17: 2 FAX 541 682 4882 EUGENE PW MNTNC & POS PW ADMIN ~ 005 <br /> <br /> r' <br /> The Secret Life of Wetlandsl <br /> nd Annual West Eugene Wetlands Photography Exhibition <br /> Contact: Diantha Hull, 345.1632, djhull@rio.com <br /> In honor of ational Wetlands Month, Willamette Resources & Educational Network (WREN) <br /> and the Wes Eugene Wetlands Partnership are sponsoring their second annual photo exhibit. <br /> "'The Secret ife of Wetlands" will hang at the 5th Street Public Market May 23 through June 26, <br /> 2004. <br /> The continu goals for this exhibit are to encourage trips to the wetlands by members of the <br /> community d to look closely at the area around them for beauty and patterns and statements. <br /> The hope is at this interaction will foster greater understanding of and affection for Eugene's <br /> Secret Life f Wetlands. This in turn will help ensure stewardship of these special places. <br /> The 2,500 res in West Eugene Wetlands system is a living laboratory that our community can <br /> experience d enjoy. This protected system of wetlands and associated uplands helps protect <br /> water qualit ,alleviate potential for flooding, and provides habitat for unique Willamette Valley <br /> r plants and 'mals. The West Eugene Wetlands system is Eugene's largest open space area, and <br /> has resulted from the City's unique partnership with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, The <br /> Nature Co ervancy, and several other local and federal partners. <br /> Over the las several years, the West Eugene Wetlands Partnership has begun a plan to increase <br /> the number f recreational and educational opportunities in the wetlands. For example, a 2.5- <br /> mile extens n of the Fern Ridge Path now meanders through Meadowlark Prairie, out to <br /> Crreenhill R ad. This path allows walkers, runners, and bicyclists to travel all the way from the <br /> Lane Count Fairgrounds to the western edge of Meadowlark Prairie. <br /> What a gr way to get out there and take photographs! Art is a powerful tool helping to <br /> connect us ith our environment by joining the emotions with the intellect. This particular <br /> activity giv s a special venue for sharing these expressions with others in our community. <br /> The exhibit will hang from May 23 through June 25, 2004. There will be a reception for artists <br /> and interest d parties Friday, May 28. In addition, the show will be listed in the scheduled June <br /> First Frida ArtWalk. <br /> tl <br /> <br />