10. PRSR 08 11 2004 - Laserfiche WebLink

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ST. PAUL PIONEER PRE55 WWW.TWINCITIES.COM OAKDALE ~'~I-0~ Wetlands up for `adoption' City seeks groups to tend 250 swamps, bogs BY HANK SHAW and filter sediment Pioneer Press As Carver points out, a vitirant wetland full of birds and Oakdale wants to prevent its frogs can control the resident 250-plus wetland areas from mosquito and tick populations - succumbing to pollution and not to mention offer the aesthet- invasive plants, but the city is appeal of a red-wing black- ^eeds help from residents. bird's song or a bullfrog's thrum. The City Councll recently Ron Rogstad, who manages voted to make Oakdale the sec- Oakdale's program, said the and community in the Twin city's drinking water comes from Cities to start an "Adopt-a-Wet- an aquifer and, at less than land" program, with the hope 25 years old, is very young by that dozens of groups will help geological standards. This means _ improve the city's water by tend- the health of the area's wetlands ing nearby swamps and bogs. is even more important than in Modeled after the Adopt-a- places using "older" water Highway program, volunteers "Our surface water quality would choose a wetland and. can have a significant impact on keep it clear of trash, tear out our drinking water in a relative- ', invasive plants, plant native ly short time," Rogstad said species and monitor wildlife Rogstad said Oakdale populationsand water quality. " borrowed the concept from We're dying to get the Bloomington. Rogstad's co~n- citizens to take care of the terpart in Bloomington, Jean wetlands in their back yard," Buckley, said her city has been said Scott Carver, who sits running an Adopt-a-Wetland on the city's Environmental program since the late 1990s, Management Commission. and said residents have adopted Once a group commits to about a dozen of Bloomington's maintaining a site, the city 300-odd wetlands. No groups would install a sign honoring its have signed up in Oakdale yet, efforts. said Rogstad, though five appli- Wetlands help keep ground- cations have been sent out. ' water pure, slow erosion, control floods, provide a habitat To adopt an Oakdale wetland for native plants and animals, , call Rogst~dat 651-730-2706.