Dennis encouraged others of us to offer thoughts on the fill. I am a
regular visitor and have watched the progression (regression?) in habitat.
For example, up until four or five years ago harriers were regular, as
were meadowlarks. Dowitchers spent much longer times around the main pond.
I think the new pond near the lane should be kept as open as possible.
We have other examples at the fill of ponds surrounded by willow and cottonwood
trees,the dime lot and corporation yard ponds.(for the youngsters, the dime lot
is the gravel lot at the end of the potholed gravel road). The rope around the
new pond by Wakiakum lane has been
quite effective in keeping out people. The only violation I have seen has
been people letting their dogs chase the wildlife. These people get a piece
of my mind (whats left of it). University police will, if prodded, send a
bicycle patrol person.
I wonder how much the overgrazing and fouling of the shore of the
main pond by Canada geese have decreased the attractiveness of this pond to
shorebirds, although I would agree that purple loosestrife is the worse culprit.
I do feel pulling loosestrife has some beneficial effect- I can see the results
of some pulling I have done at the south end of the dime lot pond lasting for
a while.

Bob Vandenbosch
VAnd at uwchem.washington.edu