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Union Bay Natural Area

Map of Union Bay Ecological Research Area

Description: The Union Bay Natural Area, a large outdoor laboratory and demonstration area comprised of open grasslands, wetlands, woodland, shoreline, and riparian corridor is part of the UW Botanic Gardens (UWBG), whose Union Bay offices and facilities adjoin the Natural Area. UWBG, which is a unit of the College of Forest Resources, supports research, education and outreach programs in the field of environmental horticulture, conservation, public garden management and restoration ecology. The Union Bay site also includes a research nursery area and greenhouses. The work of the on-site faculty concerns the selection, management and role of plants and ecosystems in directly human-impacted landscapes with a focus on aesthetic amenity, amelioration and control of the physical environment, public education, conservation of biodiversity and natural resources, restoration, and public recreation.
Location: UWBG facilities at Union Bay are located just east of the main UW campus at 3501 NE 41st Street. The Union Bay Natural Area is the western portion of the grounds.
Contact: Director, UWBG, Box 354115, Merrill Hall, University of Washington, Seattle 98195.
Acreage: The Union Bay site including the shoreline and University Slough, is over 90 acres, of which the Union Bay Natural Area is 50 acres.
Buildings: Offices, laboratories, greenhouse, conference facilities, library, herbarium.
Equipment: Audiovisual equipment, grounds maintenance equipment.
Owner: UW.
Support: University of Washington operating funds and research grants.
Recent Usage: Research: wetlands and prairie restoration and management, landscape plant testing, comparative landscape management practices, plant taxonomy, and compost testing.

Instruction: Used in several UW courses in environmental horticulture, urban forestry, forest resources, biology.

Non-UW: Field trips by community nature groups such as Seattle Audubon Society. Buildings also used for meetings and other public and private events.
Usage Fee: None. Greenhouse fees.
Condition: Good condition.
Communication: Telephone: 206-543-8616, FAX: 206-685-2692. Computer linkage to main campus anticipated.
Access: By road or trail (e.g., Wahkiakum Lane from E5 or E16, see campus map).
Unique Environment: Grassland, ephemeral ponds, and shoreline, naturalized from former Montlake dump fill site; high diversity of birds, especially migratory waterfowl.
Faculty/Staff: UW Botanic Gardens Director, CFR faculty, greenhouse/grounds supervisor. Faculty include Bradley, Kim, Bakker, Ewing, Hinckley, Glawe, Reichard, Fridley, Wott; Staff include Cone (Administration), Thompson (Miller Library), Hoyt (Gardens and Grounds), Loudon (Continuing Education).