Interesting Infrastructure: Mouse shaped wetland

Check out this satellite imagery from Petaluma, California, a city of about 60,000 people in the northern bay area. The city completed construction of a new wastewater treatment plant, the Ellis Creek Water Recycling Facility, in 2009 and they included some polishing ponds which had a very interesting shape. Environmental artist Patricia Johnson worked with the city and their consultants to make this wetland park a unique piece of artwork. The shape is a reference to the harvest field mouse, an indigenous species in the area near the Petaluma River. You can see the actual treatment facility towards the top right of the image.

Mouse shaped wetland: Raw image

Mouse shaped wetland: Mouse outlined

If you would like to check this out in your own browser, type “shollenberger park petaluma ca” into google maps and you will see the mouse shape just a bit to the east.

LINKS:
Article detailing the Patricia Johnson’s work: http://www.petaluma360.com/article/20100520/COMMUNITY/100529959?p=1&tc=pg
Article about the new wastewater plant: http://www.petaluma360.com/article/20090731/COMMUNITY/907319990
More about Patricia Johnson: http://patriciajohanson.com/archive/metroactive-01-2006.html