Water Quality Sampling and Metal Transport in a Constructed Wetland Senior Project

Wetlands play a vital role in maintaining ecosystem health, especially in urban environments. They help filter runoff from surrounding areas by sequestering contaminants, improving water quality, and providing valuable habitat and green space for wildlife. While natural wetlands form over time through ecological processes, constructed wetlands are humandesigned systems built for specific environmental goals. In this case, the wetland I studied was created to filter stormwater runoff collected from Western Washington University’s south campus parking lots. After flowing into an underground holding tank beneath the tennis courts, the runoff is routed through the wetland via an inlet, where it undergoes natural filtration before eventually reentering the watershed connected to Bellingham Bay.