Ebenezer Swamp A Great Educational Resource

For some folks, Alabaster’s Ebenezer Swamp is simply the land they pass on their way down Highway 119, but for biology students at the University of Montevallo, it’s a veritable outdoor classroom.

Located on Spring Creek at the southern end of the Cahaba Valley, Ebenezer Swamp is home to a dazzling array of plant and animal life, and every year, Montevallo students use that rich resource as their very own hands-on laboratory.

Dr. Mike Hardig, associate biology professor, and Dr. Jill Wicknick, assistant biology professor, both oversee projects at the swamp, where students pull on their rubber boots and get a close-up view of the area’s complex ecological and biological systems.

“Our students have engaged in a lot of different research out there. We’ve had students out there surveying the salamander species. I’ve had students out there conducting plant surveys, bird surveys, macroinvertebrate surveys. I’ve had students out there testing soil for heavy metal contamination,” Hardig said.

According to Hardig, Alabama ranks fifth in the nation in biological diversity, and it’s habitats like Ebenezer Swamp that are the main reason why.

“It’s home to one federally-protected plant species that I discovered out there two summers ago. In addition, it’s home to six or seven other critically-imperiled plant species, as well as some animal species. And for those species, according to the botanists I’ve talked to, our populations out there are the best in the state,” he said.

The University of Montevallo owns approximately 63 acres of Ebenezer Swamp and plans one day to build a first-class learning center there, with an elaborate boardwalk system, auditorium, and guided tours.

“Our goal is to turn Ebenezer Swamp into a premier environmental facility within the state, and ultimately to tap into the approximately 30,000 school-age students a year that go through American Village for a half-day civics lesson. As soon as they finish up with that, they could come over to Ebenezer Swamp for a half-day environmental lesson or ecology lesson,” Hardig said.

Planning for the center began as far back as 1999, though it’s currently in limbo pending settlement of a lawsuit over a nearby limestone quarry.*

In the meantime, however, the swamp will continue serving as a great hand-on resource, for Montevallo students and others alike.

“Other schools come and visit our swamp all the time. Samford, Birmingham-Southern both bring down students for their laboratory experiences. Every year they do that. I’ve led Cub Scout troops out there, talked about ecology and watershed issues. Youth Leadership Shelby County, we’ve taken them out there the last three years, and they’ve learned about water issues and ecology issues,” Hardig said.

The one lesson they’ve all learned, though, is quite simple: Ebenezer Swamp makes a great environment for learning.

* A Shelby County court recently ruled in favor of a University of Montevallo claim. The first phase of boardwalk construction was completed on May 11, 2007, and a 600-foot boardwalk now winds its way through the habitat.