PWA Mission

The Petaluma Wetlands Alliance (PWA), a committee of Madrone Audubon, is dedicated to the creation, restoration and stewardship of publicly accessible wetlands and wildlife habitats. We support Shollenberger Park, Alman Marsh, the new wastewater treatment property (Gray's Ranch), and future wetland sites in the watershed. PWA works with local governments, environmental organizations, and other groups to educate the public about the ecology and value of wetlands.

To achieve our mission we believe the following must happen:

• The city must build its new wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) on Parcel A of Gray's Ranch, the property located between Shollenberger Park and the present wastewater settling ponds on Lakeville Rd.
• Polishing wetlands must be constructed on this site.
• Trails on Parcels A & B must be developed with connections to Shollenberger Park, along with other public facilities, such as wildlife viewing stations, public parking and restrooms, and interpretive sites for use by school groups.

The Alliance understands that to add additional public facilities, beyond those listed above, more funds will be needed and appropriate funding mechanisms must be explored. We stand ready to assist the city in securing these additional resources.

PETALUMA WETLANDS ALLIANCE ACTIVITIES

• Raise money to benefit wetlands.
• Encourage visitation to the wetlands.
• Educate the public about the values and ecology of wetlands.
• Support creation of an Interpretive Center at Gray's Ranch.
• Operate docent and volunteer work programs.
• Work with the city on wetland management issues.
• Solicit other organizations or groups to help with activities.
• Communicate PWA's mission and activities to the public.
• Organize and carry out maintenance and improvement projects.

A SHORT HISTORY

In the early to mid-1990s, the Petaluma City Council instructed city management to collect designs from engineers to build a new wastewater treatment plant on the site of the old water storage ponds and to include a functional wetlands component (called treatment or polishing wetlands) on Gray's Ranch. In late 2001 the then-current city council felt that the wetlands option was too costly and removed funding for purchase of the Gray property (and the wetlands) from the WWTP budget.

The Alliance formed when a group of concerned citizens banded together to provide testimony at a number of City Council meetings extolling the benefits of the treatment wetlands over other alternatives. The Alliance gathered over 3,600 signatures in support of the polishing wetlands and associated wildlife sanctuary with public access. Public slide presentations on the Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary, the model for our project, by naturalist Gerald Moore showed how Arcata's natural system for recycling water could be applied to Petaluma's planned facility. In January 2004 the city purchased Gray's Ranch and changed their construction plans to place the entire new WWTP on about 25 acres of Parcel A on Gray's Ranch. The plan also included 45 acres of polishing wetlands and public trails.