DEQ to construct wetland within park
How can a manufactured swamp improve the water quality of the lagoon?
That question is one the CNMI Division of Environmental Quality will begin to answer next week when it embarks on an ambitious plan to construct a wetland within American Memorial Park.
In order to understand the importance of a wetland, one must first have an understanding of the term itself. A wetland is an area saturated by water (either surface water or ground water) frequent enough and often enough to support vegetation that is capable of living in saturated soils. Wetlands generally include swamps, marshes, bogs and similar areas. That’s what a wetland is, but to really understand wetlands is to realize what they do.
Wetlands act as flood storage areas, helping to store and abate storm water. They function as groundwater recharge areas, helping to replenish aquifiers that supply drinking water. Wetlands also work as water purifiers, a natural way of filtering impurities from runoff (during and after heavy rains) before it reaches a stream, the groundwater, or our coastal waters and reefs. They even act as buffer areas, as they shield other areas from erosion, wave action, or storm damage. Wetlands also provide important habitat for fish and wildlife, including endangered species.
DEQ is hoping the American Memorial Park wetland will do all these things. “This is a challenging undertaking,” acknowledged DEQ Director Ignacio V. Cabrera. “But we are hoping it will do some good for the village of Garapan.”
The water quality of the lagoon near Garapan is listed by DEQ as impaired.
The agency has enlisted the engineering firm of Winzler & Kelly to construct the wetland, but is looking for help from any business, organization, or individual residents who wish to contribute to the project.
“We are looking for people to help us with the planting of seeds and seedlings,” says Cabrera.
Any interested party can sign up at the offices of DEQ in San Jose or at the Coastal Resources Management Office, also located in San Jose. The planting segment of the project should take place in mid- to late September.
For additional information, contact Albert Guerrero at 664-8500 or 664-8501.
