WILSON, Wyo. — Construction on the Snake River Bridge in Wilson has displaced the roadside wetlands near Rendezvous “R” Park, leading to the creation of expanded wetlands within the park.
Jackson Hole Land Trust (JHLT) has announced that it is adding “higher-quality” wetlands to the park, which it manages, in partnership with the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT).
JHLT’s Community Conservation Operations Manager Zach Andres told Buckrail that the new wetlands will be a boon for local wildlife.
“The existing impacted wetlands are classified as high-functioning Category II wetlands, and WYDOT’s proposed wetland mitigation designs will result in a net increase in 3.5 functional units above baseline levels,” Andres said via email. “We’re excited about this as it will result in higher quality habitat for the wetland species that we all love, especially moose!”
JHLT has been collaborating with WYDOT’s Wetlands Specialist Deb Ferguson to ensure that the the newly created 0.505 acres of wetlands including trees, shrubs and emergent vegetation will blend into existing habitat.
According to WYDOT, the area’s wetlands are populated by cattails, reed canary grass, creeping bentgrass, common yellow lake sedge, creeping meadow foxtail and multiple species of willow.
Additionally, JHLT is building a 120-foot elevated boardwalk along the park’s southern wetland, replacing an existing footbridge.
Wetland work is expected to be finished by mid-November, and boardwalk installation shouldn’t be far behind, per JHLT.
