Kristen Stelljes '03 initiated a plan to help preserve Brandeis' wetlands, located at the bottom of the steep hill behind the library. She was aided by Professor Laura Goldin (AMST), Professor Attila Klein (BIOL), Rachel Freed of the Department of Environmental Protection, Gloria Champion of the Waltham Conservation Commission, Dennis Finn, Supervisor of Grounds and Vehicles, Priscilla Spaulding of Facilities Services, the Environmental Studies Program, Students for Environmental Action (SEA) and the Greening the Ivory Tower (AMST191b). tellijes and others will plant blueberry bushes around the protected area, which prevent Facilities Services from mowing into the area.
Wetlands are home to many plants and animals. Additionally, they absorb water, and slowly release it to surrounding areas. Without them, flooding would occur. Wetlands also help filter out water; the water in the Brandeis wetlands eventually goes to the Cambridge Reservoir.
While the wetlands at Brandeis were not professionally delineated, Rachel Freed, an expert on wetlands with the Department of Environmental Protection, said that the area behind the library is obviously a wetland.
Freed said it is illegal to disturb an area up to 100 ft. away from a wetland, which is exactly what happens when Facilities mows into the territory. It promotes the presence of invasive species such as poison ivy and roses.
"Students started focusing on the wetlands with the Environmental Protection course, now called Greening the Ivory Tower. It was an idea early on of the students in the course to adopt this wetland as an area of interest and protection - a larger attempt to understand the hydrogeology of the campus," Goldin who also teaches in the Environmental Studies Program, said.
According to Goldin, Stelljes originated the concept behind the project.
"Kristen took it from the planning stages to the Conservation Commission of the Town of Waltham . (they were) pleased that she was doing it, and really impressed. It forms a nice relationship between the Conservation Commission and Brandeis students," Goldin said.
Bushes were first planted in front of the wetlands last year by Jacob Holzberg-Pill '02 and Rachel Vander Walde '02 using money donated by Burton Elliot, Founder of the Brandeis Adult Learning Institute. A plaque was also placed in front of the library indicating where the wetlands are located. A second row of blueberry bushes was planted this year by Facilities Services , the Environmental Studies Program, SEA, the Greening the Ivory Tower class, and children from Lemberg Childrens' Center.
Stelljes and others have been monitoring water levels in the wetland. "A lot of things go on around the wetland, so we're looking at how the levels change and if it's related to activities. If we notice over the next few years that levels keep dropping and dropping, then the wetlands are in trouble," Stelljes said.
A request for $400 was made to the Student Union Senate to help pay for the blueberry bushes that have already been planted. Currently, the bushes have been financed by Elliot and the Environmental Studies Program. Also, SEA sponsored a coffeehouse to raise money for the wetlands last Thursday. Whatever funds are not awarded by the Union Senate will most likely be compensated for by the Environmental Studies Program.
The blueberry bushes have already made an impact on the environment at Brandeis, according to Stelljes. "The planted blueberry bushes can be seen, and you can tell where the mowing has stopped and where things are starting to grow back - it's really exciting," Stelljes said.
Goldin commented that well-done student projects can make a difference. She looks forward to more successful projects of this sort.
"It has such a lasting value to the community, to Brandeis, to the environment. I hope to see - I'm sure that I'll see more projects like this come up,"Goldin said.