Planning Grant for the Lake Louise Field Station

博士们已获得一笔赠款。乔治亚州瓦尔多斯塔州立大学的David L. Bechler和John B. Pascarella，邀请顾问来评估和改进路易斯湖野外观测站。1995年12月，从马尔斯山学院获得了实地站。这个相对未开发的车站的独特之处在于，在173.1英亩的土地上，有一个14英亩的天坑湖，为佛罗里达含水层提供水源，广阔的湿地，混合落叶林和高地松林的残余。该站位于瓦尔多斯塔市以南8公里处，佛罗里达州州线以北20公里处。瓦尔多斯塔的居民迁移导致了该物业周围的一些住房开发。目前，该站被用作实地科学课程和研究的天然实验室。VSU希望制定一个全面的五年计划和使命宣言，使大学能够从车站获得最大的利益，同时尽可能多地保护其原始自然环境。为了最好地利用路易斯湖监测站，弗吉尼亚州立大学建议引入独立顾问来检查该监测站，并撰写一份报告，就利用该监测站进行教学、研究和公众宣传的最佳方式向该校提供建议。具体来说，他们希望顾问就以下要点进行审查并提供建议：(1)如何在不破坏现有自然栖息地的情况下最好地利用它们。(2)旱地湿地松向原长叶松转化的适用性。(3)在站点周围购买额外土地以扩大特定栖息地类型并起到缓冲作用的可行性。(4)拟建用于教学和研究的教室/实验室综合体的适用性、结构布局和最佳位置。(5)目前关于外地站使用和发展的五年任务说明的实用性和可行性。该站的发展很重要，原因有几个。该站是南半部唯一一个由国家教育机构拥有的野外观测站，可用于教学、研究和公众宣传。它靠近瓦尔多斯塔市和该州南部的主要道路，这使得VSU以及当地学区和社区组织很容易到达。最重要的是它作为南乔治亚州公民的教育中心的价值。弗吉尼亚州立大学的8820名学生中，很多都是第一代大学生。南乔治亚州的公民几代人都认为环境是可以开发利用的，而不一定是要保护和更新的。通过扩建车站的设施，使其更容易用于教学、研究和公共宣传，弗吉尼亚州立大学将能够更好地履行其公共教育和服务南乔治亚社区的使命

A grant has been awarded to Drs. David L. Bechler and John B. Pascarella at Valdosta State University, Valdosta, Georgia, to bring in consultants for the purpose of assessment and improvement of the Lake Louis Field Station. In December 1995, the field station was acquired from Mars Hill College. The station, which is relatively undeveloped, is unique in that within its 173.1 acres there exists a 14-acre sinkhole lake feeding the Floridian Aquifer, extensive wetlands, a mixed deciduous forest, and remnants of an upland pine forest. The station lies 8 km south of the City of Valdosta, and 20 km north of the Florida State line. Residential movement out of Valdosta has resulted in some housing development around the property. Currently, the station is being used as a natural laboratory for field based science classes and research. VSU wishes to develop a comprehensive five-year plan and mission statement that will allow the university to gain maximum benefit from the station while preserving as much of its original natural environment as possible. In order to best utilize the Lake Louise Field Station, VSU proposes to bring in independent consultants to examine the station and produce a report advising the university on the best way to utilize the station for teaching, research, and public outreach. Specifically, they wish to have the consultants examine and advise them on the following key points: (1) How to best utilize existing natural habitats without damaging them. (2) The applicability of converting the upland pinelands from slash pines to its original longleaf pines. (3) The advisability of purchasing additional land to expand specific habitat types and serve as a buffer around the station. (4) Applicability, structural layout, and best location of a proposed classroom/laboratory complex for teaching and research. (5) The practicality and feasibility of the current five-year mission statement for the field stations use and development. Development of the station is important for several reasons. The station is the only field station in the southern half of the state owned by a state educational institution that is available for teaching, research and public outreach. Its location close to the City of Valdosta and major roads in the southern portion of the state make it easily accessable for VSU as well as local school districts and community organizations. Most importantly is its value as an educational center for the citizens of South Georgia. Many of VSU's 8,820 students are first generation college students. The citizenry of South Georgia has for generations viewed the environment as something to exploit, but not necessarily preserve and renew. By expanding the facilities at the station so that it can be more readily used for teaching, research and public outreach, VSU will be better able to fulfill its mission of public education and service to the South Georgia community