Tweets,

Awhile back, there was discussion on this list about UW's
consideration of installing astroturf on Intramural Activities Field
No. 1, which abuts the northwest corner of UBNA (the Montlake Fill).
Today I was informed by email that the Final Supplemental
Environmental Impact Statement for that project has been released.
You may read it here:
http://f2.washington.edu/cpo/sites/default/files/file/UW%20IMA%20Field%20FINAL%20SEIS%202012-05-04.pdf

Three options were considered: No change; installation of astroturf;
and installation of astroturf plus lights. For each option, a number
of factors were reported upon. One of those factors was impact on
wildlife. On that account, the report suggests no significant effect
on wildlife, although it does offer some mitigation efforts such as
retaining some wild turf and leaving shrubbery alongside the
University Slough to reduce potential human disturbance to wildlife.

The finding of no significant impact on wildlife was based mainly on
the availability of wild and mowed turf at UBNA (300 acres) and
residential neighborhoods, which is considerably more area than the
3.1 acres under consideration.

Please note I'm just offering a very brief synopsis of a small
portion of the report. I am not siding with the report's position on
wildlife impact, nor am I intending to give a comprehensive overview.
You should read the report if you're interested in understanding it more fully.

Personally, I wish there had been more consideration given to the
effect on wildlife. By claiming that the area in question is only a
small percentage of available foraging land, the report tends to
justify continual degradation of the environment as long as it's only
bit-by-bit. And we all know where that leads.


Marc Hoffman
Kirkland, WA
http://www.SongbirdPhoto.com
mailto: tweeters at dartfrogmedia dot com