by
Professor John C. Ellsworth, FASLA
Issa A. Hamud, P.E.
Kristofor L. Kvarfordt, ASLA
Yi Luo, MLA

presentation to
Idaho Environmental Summit
November 18-19, 2008
Boise, Idaho

The current Logan City/Cache County Landfill closure plan calls for simply re-contouring the landfill to stabilize the slopes, then re-vegetating the surface to prevent erosion. The location of this facility has serious implications for environmental impact yet offers positive opportunities for consideration of alternative end-uses. It is anticipated that Logan City will continue to grow and develop for the next several years. As this growth pressure increases, the citizens of Logan and Cache County will have an increased need for alternative land uses such as have been successfully provided on former landfills.

The vision of this project is to provide a public-use Environmental Education Center that, first, will facilitate an understanding of the relationship of people to the Cache Valley environment and society’s responsibility to manage the waste products of human activities, and second, will inform and educate people about the long-term environmental and waste management methods and techniques available now.

The study area includes over 2000 acres within Logan City and Cache County. Several existing facilities are in operation, including the Logan City/Cache County landfill, the sewage lagoons, the proposed mitigation wetlands area west of the landfill, and the tertiary water treatment facility to the northwest (also known as the effluent polishing wetlands). Several parcels and corridors (roadways, railroad ROWs, rivers and streams including the Logan River as it enters Cutler Reservoir) are associated with the proposed EEC.

The creation of the EEC will provide environmental education along with outdoor recreation and exploration experiences. Local residents as well as visitors from around the region, nation, and the world may be expected to take advantage of the opportunities the EEC offers:

• Creation of much needed parkland on the west side of Logan city;
• Creation of critical east-west and north-south pedestrian corridors;
• Conservation and preservation of wildlife habitat and corridors;
• Potential for volunteer activities;
• Education about natural and human-made systems, and the connection of the two;
• Creation of a good ‘fit’ with the Logan City and Cache County park and recreation master plans;
• Creation of a beautiful western gateway entrance to the city of Logan for eastbound travelers on state highway 30;
• Development of a major north-south thoroughfare along 1900 West that will incorporate a grade-separated crossing of state highway 30 allowing uninterrupted north-south vehicular traffic flow;
• Development of a parkway road along 1400 West that will serve as an entryway to the EEC and as a major north-south corridor with minimal traffic controls;
• Serve as a unique recreation resource for Cache Valley residents;
• Provide adaptive reuse of severely impacted landscapes ( landfill, sewage lagoons, and constructed wetlands).

A series of goals and objectives were developed during the early stages of this master planning process. The key factor to the success of the environmental education center concept is to visually and physically link the various facilities that will comprise the EEC through the use of designated trail and vehicular systems, interpretive stations and exhibits, wildlife viewing stations, maps and other informational materials. Each of these elements must be integrated with the site to support one or more of the following six functions:

• Education about, and interpretation of natural systems and related human management activities in the study area;
• Active and passive recreation;
• Wildlife habitat establishment, conservation, and observation;
• Temporary art installations;
• Methane gas monitoring (required);
• Other facility operational needs.

The final Master Plan communicates the conceptual planning and design of the Environmental Education Center derived through consultation and input from various individuals, groups, and stakeholders. The creation of form and space to meet the goals and objectives, opportunities and functions described above is resolved and expressed in plan graphics and in writing. Additional graphics are included to further illustrate and give life to the most appropriate, functional, innovative, and exciting concepts.

Suggestions and guidance are offered for securing funding. Both near- and long-term action plans are presented.