Wetlands are ecological treasures

A hot flash danced through the sky and the ear splitting thunder rolled overhead, bringing with it a flush of heavy pattering. The rain cascading down awakened the land, the bird songs grew louder and many launched into an aerial display that could have made Air Force pilots wet their pants. The soft purple and white petals of the season's first flowers glistened with moisture and the Canada geese settled down at this migratory rest stop to weather the storm. The next roar of thunder was prolonged by the sound of shattering twigs and branches under the nimble hooves of four bounding deer.

I was not far off, removed (or preserved) from a wilderness area: I was 200 yards south of Route 511, a few minutes from the dazzling main streets of Oberlin. This "wild" wetland area where I spent my Friday afternoon rainstorm is up for sale. If sold, the land would probably be drained and, according to one local farmer's prediction, developed for housing. And profit, by both the buyers (who wishes to remain unknown) and the profiteer (Oberlin College).

Wetland regions were once prevalent across Ohio but have been drained, developed and farmed to the point that very little of this natural habitat remains. Wetlands, especially in an urban or developed setting, are ecological treasures.

When there is significant stress placed on a waterway, wetlands serve as both a buffer and a refuge for local fish and animals. These stresses can include high pollutant loads, high siltation levels or fluctuating water levels. Wetland areas are widely known for their ability, similar to the rain forests, to remove toxins from the ecosystem. In Bellevue, Washington, wetland regions are kept intact to absorb pollutants in urban runoff. And this is not only an effective means of pollution control, it's cheap too.

Wetlands are a highly effective method of flood control. They reduce the rate of runoff that would occur if the land were developed and they store runoff created by upstream development. They can absorb large amounts of water when streams and rivers are engorged.

Wetland regions also provide a sanctuary for wildlife on this ever increasing asphalt and garbage-filled planet. I watched a songbird and a hawk that afternoon, circling, darting and chasing in a morbid dance. I heard frogs croaking and creaking, warning anything in earshot that I was approaching. I saw a family of four deer bounding and soaring with fluid grace, only to disappear into the background. A friend who I brought to the area pointed out some evidence of coyotes, their scat. At least three endangered species of birds have been observed on this land: Great Egrets, Loggerhead Shrikes and Eastern Bluebirds, and there may be more.

But we won't be able to see them, or ducks, or geese, or deer, or wildflowers if Oberlin College decides to sell a precious and delicate growing ecosystem for the amount of cash it gets from three student's tuition in one year.

I have spent two weeks trying to get information from the college on the proposed sale of this land. When I started making phone calls I was informed by one honest college employee that I would probably get the run around, that I was unlikely to get any information. And I still haven't. The only thing I have heard from the college, official or off the record was a blurb in the Review.

Donna Raynesford wrote: "The administration has made the decision to dispose of the property in an environmentally responsible manner. If that is not possible, it will be retained". Is there an environmentally responsible way to dispose of a rare and important part of our ecosystem? And when did nature become a disposable commodity anyway?

There are many possible uses for this land if it is kept by the college. Ideally the land should be left alone to thrive in its natural state. There has been talk of wetland conservation in conjunction with sustainable agriculture, by the college, on the land surrounding the wetland. I would support this fully if there were no pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers used on the land as they would flow directly into the wetland and if the wetland's growth was not hampered by boundaries of the year's corn crop.

The federal government instituted the North American Waterfowl Management Plan, along with Canada, to preserve and restore five million acres of wetlands at a cost of 1.5 billion dollars. Yet we are passing up a chance to preserve wetlands of our own. Wetlands flourish without human interference. We will not need to pour any amount of money into the land to maintain it. Mother Nature will take care of that for us.

As I was walking back towards Route 511, back to our wonderful manufactured and manicured world, I passed a small pond and startled two snowy white egrets. With a silent but powerful beating of wings they took to the air, temporarily displaced from their home by my passing. I hope the college will leave a home for them and their young.