Dear Jan, I just took a look at the draft SEIS on the UW's website (a
link that a fellow birder provided to me; this was not easy to find!).

I could not find any mention whatsoever of the effects the
"improvements" would have on wildlife, or on the possible pollution of
University Slough, which borders the west side of IMA playfield 1.
University Slough, I should point out, is a part of Union Bay Natural
Area.

Surely a project of this scope, which borders a sensitive wildlife
area (namely, UBNA) should include the environmental impact on
wildlife and water quality. Do you know if such studies were done? If
so, can you please forward them to me? I am a board member of Seattle
Audubon Society, and the society has expressed an interest in this
project. I would be glad to forward such information to Seattle
Audubon, as well as to the birding community at large.

The impact of installing artificial turf in IMA playfield 1 is made
far greater by the loss of a significant portion of the playfield
south of the helipad, where the new UW Dept. of Athletics track is
being constructed. This field, too, provided grazing habitat to native
waterfowl, as well as habitat for insectivores, raptors, and gulls.

This is all the more reason we need to know about environmental
impacts on IMA playfield #1.

I have also been wondering if you could tell me the reason why
artificial turf has been proposed for this field? The field has had
natural sod for decades and provides a good compromise for use by both
people and wildllife. Why make a change in something that is so
successful? - Connie Sidles