Saratoga News Photograph by George Sakkestad Some neighbors didn't realize the wetlands project at West Valley College had begun until they heard the trucks. Some West Valley College neighbors surprised at start of wetlands project By Michelle Alaimo Construction began two weeks ago on the onetime controversial 1.2-acre West Valley College wetlands project. The project has had its share of stumbling blocks since it was first conceived five years ago, including residents' concern that the project would breed mosquitoes and the impact the project would have on the college's feral cat population. The new wetlands project came about to mitigate for the destruction of half an acre of wetlands that occurred when the city needed to stabilize a landslide area near Quarry Creek 10 years ago. Three times the original area lost must be replaced, according to the U.S. Department of Fish and Game. Some residents who live near the college and had concerns with the project 21/2 years ago were unaware that development of the land had begun. Jim Stuart, who lives on Allendale Avenue, said that he had not received answers to several issues brought before the college board in 1996. He said issues include whether an environmental impact report was needed before beginning the project, where the money for the project is coming from and if the wetlands will bring in mosquitoes. Residents need not worry about mosquitoes breeding in the area, Saratoga City Manager Larry Perlin said. He explained that even though the area, located near the school's tennis courts, will be called a wetlands, it will not have standing water throughout the year but only during winter storms, when the land will become saturated from creeks. "We are not creating a pond or marsh where mosquitoes are breeding," Perlin said. "It is considered a project that will enhance the environment." To create the wetlands area, the land at the south end of the campus near the tennis courts has been graded, and vegetation will be planted this fall. The wetlands is created between two winter streams and expands the existing wetlands area. Malcom Brodrick, dean of administrative services at West Valley College, added that a biologist is on site to make sure that all the proper steps are taken to make the wetlands area authentic. Perlin explained that actually it is the vegetation that will grow in the area that classifies the land as a wetlands, not any water-saturated areas that will occur in the winter. The project is paid for through the Quarry Creek Trust Fund, made up of money from approximately 25 individuals who contributed through their insurance companies, Perlin said. WVC is not receiving any money for having the wetlands on its land. However, Brodrick said, the wetlands will serve as an addition to the school's outdoor education classwork. "Virtually the entire campus is a living classroom for biology, various sciences and park management classes," Brodrick said. Not only will the wetlands have educational purpose but it helped the college deal with a problem it had until 2 1/2 years ago--feral cats roaming the school grounds. Because of the efforts of a group called "Friends of the Cats," some 20 feral cats were removed from the college, and homes were found for the healthy cats. Neither the school nor the city foresees any more problems with the project. Perlin said the project,exempt from an environmental report under the California Environmental Quality Act, should take off naturally after vegetation is planted later this year. [ Back to Contents Page | Saratoga News Home Page | Archives ] This article appeared in the Saratoga News, August 26, 1998. ©1998 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.