Butterfly at the Haines-Seville Wetland

While visiting the Haines-Seville this pretty Butterfly posed for its portrait

I believe this a variety of Fritillary but I hesitate to be more precise as so many are so very similar.

Abe Lincoln comment on my first post about the Haines-Seville asking how large it is and if it has a pond. I’m sorry I don’t know the acreage but I will check on it. I would hazard a guess that it encompasses 3-6 acre’s.

By design the Haines-Seville holds water during most of the year and in wet years such as this it contains quite a bit. Unlike a pond, its bottom is not sealed; allowing groundwater recharge to occur and it will go dry during a summer drought.

In years past storm-water was though of as something to dispose of as quickly and conveniently as possible. Water from roof tops, parking lots, etc was shunted off into drainage ditches leading directly to streams and rivers. This in turn greatly increased the flash flooding effect of the storms. Also with this water being moved off quickly, no longer was it allowed to seep into the ground refilling our aquifers. As human demand for clean water increased with our ever-increasing population it became necessary to drill deeper and deeper to obtain water from our ever shrinking aquifers.

Environmental laws are changing with storm water retention ponds and groundwater recharge now being considered with building permits in some areas.

Projects such as the Haines-Seville not only addresses the water problems but it also preserves open public space while giving wildlife yet another place to flourish.