Our Impact at Fernhill Wetlands
Introduction:
Don't you just love sight seeing and hiking, but did you ever think that it might negatively effect nature? When you walk around wildlife you may notice litter, pollution in the air, or bottles in water. Fernhill wetlands in Forest Grove, Oregon is a wetland that cleans our waste water and is home for all types of animals. True the wetland was man-made, but that doesn't mean it should be treated like trash. Students of FGCS started doing research to monitor the wetland restoration. We think it is super important to notice our human impact, while doing research at the wetlands.
Don't you just love sight seeing and hiking, but did you ever think that it might negatively effect nature? When you walk around wildlife you may notice litter, pollution in the air, or bottles in water. Fernhill wetlands in Forest Grove, Oregon is a wetland that cleans our waste water and is home for all types of animals. True the wetland was man-made, but that doesn't mean it should be treated like trash. Students of FGCS started doing research to monitor the wetland restoration. We think it is super important to notice our human impact, while doing research at the wetlands.
Research Question & Hypothesis:
- How will student research projects impact the wetlands? How will the wetlands change over time.
- We think that the student research projects will have an impact on the land.
Methods
· Video-tape and interview each group (We didn't end up having enough time for this.)
· Take photo-point at experiment sites
· Record observations
Materials:
· Map of research sites
· Camera
· Photo point materials – 2 meter sticks, flag, measuring tape, whiteboard & marker, compass
· Data sheet, map, pencils, clipboard
Procedures:
1. Follow map to photo-point sites. Complete photo-point procedures for each to get a shot of the site! See photo point procedures on the next page.
2. With remaining time, continue to other research sites. Record observations or talk with researching groups about their work in order to determine what (if any) impacts they may be having!
Photo Point Procedures: Follow-up Photos for February and May visits
Now, your job is to return to the exact same locations where you took the initial photographs, and take a shot of the same scenery. This will help us make careful observations about the changes that have taken place.
1. Use the GPS to find your first exact photo point location.
(Tip: If the North number is too small, walk towards highway 47. If it is too large, walk towards the restoration project. If the West number is too small, walk towards the parking lot. Too large? Walk towards Dabbler’s marsh.)
2. Place one flag at this point – this is where the photographer will stand. Standing at the flag, pull out your compass. Hold the compass against your chest, turn the compass dial to the correct camera direction, then turn your body until the red magnetic needle rests inside the red arrow. This is the direction you will photograph towards.
3. If you used a meter stick, use the measuring tape to place it at the proper distance.
4. Get out your camera. Measure from the ground to the camera lens to make sure the camera height is correct.
5. You are finally ready to take the photograph! Whew! Take at least two pictures to make sure that you get a good focus. Check off the photo and move on to the next!
· Video-tape and interview each group (We didn't end up having enough time for this.)
· Take photo-point at experiment sites
· Record observations
Materials:
· Map of research sites
· Camera
· Photo point materials – 2 meter sticks, flag, measuring tape, whiteboard & marker, compass
· Data sheet, map, pencils, clipboard
Procedures:
1. Follow map to photo-point sites. Complete photo-point procedures for each to get a shot of the site! See photo point procedures on the next page.
2. With remaining time, continue to other research sites. Record observations or talk with researching groups about their work in order to determine what (if any) impacts they may be having!
Photo Point Procedures: Follow-up Photos for February and May visits
Now, your job is to return to the exact same locations where you took the initial photographs, and take a shot of the same scenery. This will help us make careful observations about the changes that have taken place.
1. Use the GPS to find your first exact photo point location.
(Tip: If the North number is too small, walk towards highway 47. If it is too large, walk towards the restoration project. If the West number is too small, walk towards the parking lot. Too large? Walk towards Dabbler’s marsh.)
2. Place one flag at this point – this is where the photographer will stand. Standing at the flag, pull out your compass. Hold the compass against your chest, turn the compass dial to the correct camera direction, then turn your body until the red magnetic needle rests inside the red arrow. This is the direction you will photograph towards.
3. If you used a meter stick, use the measuring tape to place it at the proper distance.
4. Get out your camera. Measure from the ground to the camera lens to make sure the camera height is correct.
5. You are finally ready to take the photograph! Whew! Take at least two pictures to make sure that you get a good focus. Check off the photo and move on to the next!
Results
Farm Road -
Above - looking South, water quality testing site. Below - looking West into Dabbler's Marsh.
Farm Road -
Above - looking South, water quality testing site. Below - looking West into Dabbler's Marsh.
Dabbler's Marsh, looking East. February (left), May (right).
Notice downed log on the left side of the photo. Hard to believe its the same area!
Notice downed log on the left side of the photo. Hard to believe its the same area!
Conclusion:
Our hypothesis was incorrect. We did not leave a negative human impact, or at least our impact was minimal. And, the research that we did was more important than our impact. The restoration efforts will not be hurt by us being there. This is good news, because Fernhill Wetlands wants classrooms to visit in the future. We could have missed impacts, but we feel it would be more important to change out study to how the wetlands change over time using photo point monitoring, rather than looking at how research students of FGCS are impacting the Fernhill environment.
Our hypothesis was incorrect. We did not leave a negative human impact, or at least our impact was minimal. And, the research that we did was more important than our impact. The restoration efforts will not be hurt by us being there. This is good news, because Fernhill Wetlands wants classrooms to visit in the future. We could have missed impacts, but we feel it would be more important to change out study to how the wetlands change over time using photo point monitoring, rather than looking at how research students of FGCS are impacting the Fernhill environment.