The Wahdo:Gwas Wetland project is an ongoing project that started in 2009 during my role as the Assistant Naturalist of North Park, Allegheny County Parks Department (Pittsburgh, PA). The Boardwalk design and educational pavilion was completed in 2013. Trail and further plans were completed winter 2015. Volunteer Projects continue to improve the site today.
Brief Synopsis:
The Wetland Restoration Project and the Dragonfly Interpretive Trail, a handicapped ADA accessible nature trail, was created by engineers of the PA Turnpike and PennDOT with the guidance of park staff. The boardwalk placement, design, layout, environmental impact analysis, site selection, and educational displays/signage was completed by nature center staff, consisting of myself and three others. I was responsible for surveying, taking measurements, cost estimates, material selection, designing, and construction of the trail. I oversaw volunteers and other park staff to see the completion of the trial under the Head Naturalist, Meg Scanlon. The project was a wonderful opportunity to test my design/build skills and is what led me to pursue a degree in Landscape Architecture.
Photos of the Site in North Park Before, During, and Post Construction.
Project Background:
The summers of 2010-2013 were devoted to the new Wetlands Restoration Project created by the PA Turnpike and PennDOT. This restored wetland named Wahdo:Gwas, lies along the North Fork Tributary of Pine Creek and is located between Kummer and Pearce Mill Road of North Park. The name, Wahdo:Gwas, is a Seneca name meaning, “rising, or coming from the water”.
Grant money was provided by the PA Turnpike for the development at the site of the Dragonfly Interpretive Trail, a handicapped ADA accessible nature trail. Total distance for the handicap accessible wetland trail is approximately 1,400 feet and travels along the sanitary line to the North Dakota Education Pavilion area (at the north end of the wetland project site).
Samples of work Created by the PA Turnpike and PennDOT engineers. Included is the restoration plans by PennDOT for the mitigation site. I helped lead the construction of the boardwalk as well as the groundwork that included: surveying, marking, and flagging in preparation for digging new wetland depressions and trail placement.
Personal Involvement:
My involvement with the project began in 2009 when PennDOT contacted the Allegheny County Parks Department seeking a suitable site for a wetland mitigation project. The site near Pearce Mill Road restored a pre-existing wetland and stream reach that was in deterioration due to upstream development. The wetland was created and planned by PennDOT engineers with help from nature center staff consisting of myself and three others.
The boardwalk placement, design, layout, public access, and educational displays/signage was left completely to the nature center staff. A coworker and I worked with the engineers and head naturalist, Meg Scanlon, to devise the path of what would become the later named Dragonfly Trail. We were responsible for surveying, measurements, cost estimates, material selection, and building the trail. The trail was completed by volunteers and nature center staff. I was then in charge of creating the 10 educational signs and displays for the interpretive pavilion. In addition, I created a new logo and website to highlight the project.
I was contracted to develop the 10 educational signs and displays for the interpretive pavilion along the trail. This experience allowed me to design public displays and sharpen graphic design skills with the help of the Allegheny County Sign Department who produced the signs.
After the boardwalk and wetland area was created, I solely went through the permitting process and application to register the new site as an Important Monarch Waystation and as a Protected Habitat with the National Wildlife Federation in 2010.
In addition, my Senior Project as part of a high school graduation requirement, led me to assisting in vernal pool research with Dr. Brady Porter of Duquesne University Pittsburgh, PA. Included in hands on experience tagging spotted salamanders with students under Dr. Porter, I certified pre-exisitng vernal pools with the State of Pennsylvania’s Natural Heritage Program. This ensure future protection of the site as well as having formal recognition for the new wetland areas.
Photos of construction of the boardwalk section and the Dragonfly ADA Trail.
Photos of the completed boardwalk and wetland area.
