Hemet / San Jacinto Multi-Purpose Wetlands Project

1. Purpose and Objectives: The purpose of this study is to discover whether wildlife can adapt to the an artificial environment, particularly a wetlands, and how various constructed ecosystems interact with each other as well. The objective of this study can be far-reaching. If results are positive, the study can show that artificially produced ecosystems can sustain both wildlife and plant life, therefore, allowing the possibility of customizing environments designed to sustain various species in both the plant and animal kingdoms.

2. Funding: Reclamation’s Wetland Program ($400,000); Reclamation’s research Program ($200,000); Reclamation’s Reverse Osmosis Program ($100,000); National Biological Survey ($250,000); and Eastern Municipal Water District ($1.2 million).

3. Partners: Eastern MWD, National Biological Survey, US Fish and Wildlife Service, US Environmental Protection Agency, California Department of Fish and Game, University of California at Riverside, Humboldt State University, Tennessee Valley Authority.

4. Description: The Multi-Purpose Wetlands Project with Eastern Municipal Water District and Reclamation studies how secondary treated water from the Hemet/San Jacinto Regional Water Reclamation Facility can receive additional tertiary treatment by the means of a constructed, multi-purpose wetlands system. A major goal of this project is to observe how wildlife and wetlands plants interact in a constructed wetlands environment and to learn how various components of the wetlands ecosystem affect other parts of the system. As part of the study, the reject flow from a Reclamation-designed, 4.5 gallon-per-minute reverse osmosis desalting plant provides water for saline marshes. The success of the saline marsh effort could result in an additional use of brackish water for the development of habitat, greenbelts, open space, and reduce brine disposal costs. A monitoring program has been initiated to assess bioproductivity, toxic accumulation, and habitat value.

5. Status: Ongoing

6. U.S. Contact: Jean Shepherd, Lower Colorado Regional Office, P.O. Box 61470 Boulder City, NV 89006-1470, (702) 293-8618; fax: 293-8418