I'd like to clarify this issue for everyone on behalf of the Union Bay
Natural Area (UBNA), which many people still call "the fill."

The area that technically was the landfill is much larger than just the bird
paradise we know as UBNA. The areas under discussion in the article below
are currently ball fields and parking lots. They are referring to testing
and possible adjustments to those existing developed areas.

UBNA is currently a natural area, and there are no discussions of reducing
the size, eliminating the area, or doing anything to the site other than
restoration of native vegetation. I just spoke with the grounds manager who
would be the first person to know of any discussion of changing UBNA, and
who would be opposed to any such change.

When I first saw the email below, I though UBNA was under threat, so I
wanted to make sure others were not worrying about this. Citizens may want
to voice their concerns over the other areas of the past fill, but UBNA is
not part of the current debate.

Melissa Keigley
Seattle
mwk at u.washington.edu

-----Original Message-----
From: John Sidles [mailto:sidles at u.washington.edu]
Sent: Wednesday, May 01, 2002 11:07 AM
To: tweeters
Subject: Montlake Fill article update


Dear Tweets

Regarding the Daily's article & its relevance to the ever-present threat of
development to the Montlake Fill, I scanned the Daily article onto a web
page, which you can access via any web browser at:

http://faculty.washington.edu/sidles/Montlake.html

As the Daily article makes clear, the Fill could easily be lost, and once
lost, it would be lost forever.

Fortunately, the University is *very* responsive to public opinion.

I hope all you Tweets will consider talking the time to write a brief email
to the Daily, or to UW President Dick McCormick, at the email addresses
given on the web page.

Connie and I will be walking Daily reporter Jake Watrous around the Fill
this evening, starting at 6:30 pm. If Connie can take this much trouble,
then surely you Tweets can read an article and send an email!

Sincerely
John Sidles