Trina Hofreiter is using the wetland area of the new Marine Research Center as an outdoor laboratory for her senior project.  The wetland has been designed with native wetland vegetation to process the effluent from the saltwater discharge of the marine center.  Trina included as a part of the design and of her thesis environmental education.  Several people assisted with planting the site including the Booker High School Environmental Academy, Native Plants, Inc, members of the Succulent Society and of the New College Community.

Members of the Environmental Academy came out to the site on the day of the planting. These students have a rigorous academic program focused around environmental issues.   Trina gave a brief lecture on the planting plan, the function of the wetland, and the future monitoring plans for the groundwater around the wetland.

The monitoring program for the wetland is an ongoing project to evaluate the progress of the wetland.  This allows use of the data in classes and other educational projects.