Passage V

Wastewater, Wetlands, and Wildlife

In 1974, California enacted a policy prohibiting discharge of conventionally treated sewage into bays and estuaries unless the sewage first underwent additional purification. To meet the new state standards, the city of Arcata explored an innovative approach a wetland purification system.

Located on Humboldt Bay, the community bears the influence of both freshwater and seawater. Wetlands appear throughout the local terrain. It was the mission of the Arcata Water Treatment Task Force to apply the natural water purification capacity of wetlands at the job of cleansing the city’s treated sewage. The groups efforts proved so successful that Arcata gained recognition.

[1] A wetland is not a stagnant pool of lifeless water. [2] Moreover, it is a dynamic habitat supporting a wide variety of life. [3] It derives its’ vitality from the interactions of certain types of soil, vegetation, animal, life, and of course, water. [4] The variety of creatures that thrive in wetlands ranges from migratory birds traveling in huge flocks of which there are also invisible microorganisms swimming underwater. [5] Each element plays a crucial role in maintaining the health of a wetland.[6] Conducting pilot studies，Arcata demonstrated the economic feasibility of using wetlands to treat wastewater. [7] Subsequently, the city obtained state authorization to add acres of wetlands to the existing treatment facility. [8] Now, as water moves through the system, plants feed off nutrients that would of otherwise contaminated Humboldt Bay. [9] Plant roots and stems form a natural filter that retains large quantities of solid waste material. [10] This material have become food for algae, bacteria, and microorganisms, which share the wetland with other life forms. (74)

Eventually, the Arcata Sewage Treatment Plant was renamed the Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary. Today, miles of trails traverse 154 acres of vital habitat. Thanks to the city's visionaries, its wetlands serve a community that extends far beyond the city limits.