To Dennis & Russell and all interested,

The Tacoma area mixed prairie/Garry Oak habitat was exactly what our
"restoration" group hoped to mimic at the Fill. The soil over the fill
cap is fast draining on the sloping areas, so tends to dry out quick.

The grassland/shorebird-friendly idea seems like a great alternative.
Until the area can be better protected against careless and casual human
intrusion, most any restoration and/or left-to-lie-fallow efforts will be
compromised. More and highly visible, talkative people digging/removing
invasive plantlife during visitor hours seems like a great project.

Regarding the ponds: The one(s) in the eastern half of the Fill are
ephemeral. Would creating a pebbly shoreline, rather than continuing to
plant the alders, dogwood, bulrushes, and sedges attract shorebirds? How
to keep out the pond bottom strollers, bicyclers when the ponds dry up
later in the summer?

Maureen E2