The Wetlands at UVa-Wise

Transforming an Environmental Liability into a Community Asset

With benches for quiet contemplation or studying, a trail through the woods, and plenty of native flora and fauna around, The Wetlands makes a great site for students and community members to enjoy in all seasons.

Since 2004 when they were planted, native wetlands plant have taken root and grown into an ecological community full of frogs, salamanders, turtles, birds, and bugs.

Native plants, like Arrowhead, help to filter out the water coming from the Abandoned Mine Drainage seeps. The orange sediment settles out in the ponds as the water passes through The Wetlands instead of being carried farther into the watershed.

Students work together to collect water samples and test the iron levels in one of the ponds.

Taking advantage of the bridge, students sit down to do some tests on water samples from the settling ponds.

The kiosk marking the entrance to The Wetlands makes a good gathering spot for students to share results of their investigations. The site provides space for research, recreation, and reflection any time of the year on the UVa-Wise campus.

The Wetlands and surrounding uplands area create habitat for all kinds of creatures.