A Created Wetland in Northeastern Arizona
Cooperation between public agencies and
nature can have amazing results. The innovative decision to use treated
municipal wastewater to create wetland wildlife habitat continues to pay off
for the local community. Like a biological magnet, the new wetlands attract a
wide variety of wildlife and of course people to watch them. |
 Jacques Marsh is a constructed wetland that
is a component of the wastewater management system of the Pinetop-Lakeside
Sanitary District. It is the result of a cooperative effort between the U.S.
Forest Service, Arizona Game and Fish Department, and the Pinetop Lakeside
Sanitary District. The man-made marsh was constructed on National Forest
Service Lands in an area with no historical ponds, lakes or wetlands. However,
once established the marsh closely represents a natural wetland in terms of
plants and wildlife present at the site.
The surface and groundwaters of the community were considered to
be contaminated in the 1970's and the Pinetop-Lakeside Sanitary District was
formed in 1973 to clean up these waters. With assistance of an EPA construction
grant the wastewater collection system, a 2 million gallon per day secondary
treatment plant and Jacques Marsh were completed in 1980. The 127 acres of
marsh and ponds currently receive about one million gallons of treated
wastewater per day.
 The community is proud of its decision to
construct Jacques Marsh to recycle their reclaimed water rather than discharge
effluent from the treatment plant into Billy Creek which runs through the area.
Many worries about pollution and human contact were eliminated and a striking
wildlife area was created. The use of Jacques Marsh for recreation, outdoor
education, and wildlife has been well worth the effort.
For more information, please feel free to contact
the USDA Forest Service, Lakeside Ranger District at 928.368.5111 or you may
write us at 2022 W. White Mtn. Blvd., Pinetop-Lakeside, Arizona 85935
White Mountains Online wishes to express our
appreciation to the USDA Forest Service, Lakeside District for providing this
information! This and other articles may be found in print media entitled:
Constructed Wetlands for Wastewater Treatment
and Wildlife Habitat
United States Environmental Protection Agency
#EPA832-R-93-005
September 1993
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