Tuesday, Mar. 04, 2008

Groups try to save Richland shrub-steppe

There's a 10-acre parcel of shrub-steppe habitat in Richland that is a relatively undeveloped gateway to the Yakima River and a link to several recreation areas.

And a group of citizens, led Shannon Hays-Truex of Richland and Donna Lucas of West Richland, hopes to convince city officials to keep the Queensgate parcel out of the hands of developers and designate the land for educational and recreational purposes.

Their vision is called the Urban Wildlands Ecology Education Park (UWEEP) at City View.

"One of the things that makes this area really special is getting down to the riparian area (along the Yakima River), which is a popular place for kids to go play,"Lucas said during a walking tour. "(The UWEEP) just matches up perfectly with it, and there's a nice place to put a trail in.”

The City View subdivision is an urban growth area with a combination of residential, retail and commercial zones, and the parcel at northern end is the one proposed for the park.

Lucas, whose volunteer work was honored in 2007 by the City of Richland, said city officials have told her they plan this month to issue a request for proposal (RFP) to solicit development options.

However, the women have assembled a coalition of local organizations to help, including the Columbia Basin Native Plant Society, Friends of Mid-Columbia River Wildlife Refuges, Lower Columbia Basin Audubon Society, Open Space Coalition of Benton and Franklin Counties and the Tapteal Greenway Association.

"This spot is essentially a hub," Lucas said. "There's the Yakima Habitat Unit managed by the Corps of Engineers. We can connect to the Tapteal Greenway Trail, Chamna Preserve, W.E. Johnson Park and the JackRabbit Ridge Natural Area, which we have been working on protecting for a couple of years.”

Under their proposal, the land will have multiple interrelated uses, including education, habitat restoration, hiking, birding, horseback riding, interpretation, scientific study and research.

Some sections of the parcel remain relatively undisturbed and represent a diverse representation of native plant species and interesting geological features that can be preserved for educational and interpretive purposes, Lucas said.

Other sites will be designated for construction of educational facilities, a xeriscape demonstration garden, a playground, picnic areas and possibly a small amphitheater for community events.

"It's right in the middle of town,"Lucas said. "You don't have to drive out to McNary (National Wildlife Refuge) or drive out to Badger (Mountain) or drive out to Horn Rapids. And lots of people can get to it within walking distance.”

Hays-Truex and Lucas plan to seek funding for the UWEEP project through grant programs established to support community based open space preservation and environmental education initiatives.

The two women also have been leading tours of the site for the past several weeks. To scheduled a tour or for more information, contact Hays-Truex at 946-4813 or Lucas at 967-5913.

Lucas also can be reached via email through the JackRabbit Ridge Natural Area website.

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