We treasure Amon Basin Community Preserve! On our first visits we knew little about shrub-steppe habitat, but we enjoyed glimpsing resident beaver, jackrabbits, otters, coyotes, herons, hawks, red-winged blackbirds and side-blotched lizards.

Those first years were also deeply disturbing: We'd see many old growth Wyoming sage ravaged by off-road vehicles and trucks. Garbage was everywhere -- sofas, tires, toilets, car "carcasses," even jugs of antifreeze dumped in the wetlands.

Thankfully conditions are improving. Tapteal Greenway Association, working with the city of Richland, has created a wonderful urban open space for all to enjoy. Amon is now cleaner and off-road vehicles are less common. There are signs, trails, even benches. The sage is slowly making a comeback on paths and trails. Many are learning about Amon's fragile treasures and committing to protect them. They are helping to restore native vegetation -- taking on the backbreaking work of planting native vegetation in a former roadbed. And some are volunteering to hand-water those plants through the hot summer months -- more back-breaking work, but worth it to help restore Amon's delicate habitat!

Amon Basin is a joy for us, and we encourage everyone to visit soon. Get directions at www.tapteal.org. And volunteer for the Amon bucket brigade now forming -- we can sure use the help!

Kathy Dechter, Richland