PUC Students Restore Local Habitat

Students from Pacific Union College’s Introduction to Biology class worked on protecting the ecosystem in a project with the Land Trust of Napa County on March 4.

The project involved removing foreign plant species that had begun to invade the plant ecosystem surrounding Linda Falls, a small waterfall in Angwin. The waterfall, located on property owned by the Land Trust, is a short walk from campus.

“This is a long-term partnership that will allow students on campus to have an impact on a place many students, staff, and faculty enjoy,” explains Aimee Wyrick, an associate professor in the biology department who coordinated the project.

For students, the trip offered a chance to get out of the classroom for a good cause. “It was an opportunity to do something with your community,” said Jesse Jewett, a freshman liberal studies major. “Up here on the hill, we forget that anyone else is here...we think its just PUC, but there’s a whole community here.”

Jewett adds, “Whether it was getting rid of invasive plant species or just picking up litter that’s accumulated, it was just cool to get out and feel like we were doing something to benefit the environment around us.”