People still ask why they do not see horses in the pasture near the Historic Kump House anymore. It’s a long story, but the fact is that so much water has been draining through the old pasture that it has eroded the land, and Kump pasture has become an urban wetland over the last 60 years. Drainage pours under highway 33 onto the horse pasture, and land near the old gate is some 15 feet lower than it was in the 1950s. Now that pasture gate opens to our Wetland Classroom.

We were happy to host YMCA Day Campers July 2 when they learned about the plants in Kump wetland that were here in 1776. They also did reed weaving with Cat-o’-Nine-Tails to create mats. On July 9, local students learned about the fish and invertebrates in West Virginia wetland waters. Last week, Mountain School students used topo maps to consider elevation variations on the property and a possible plan for wetland boardwalks. This week, local Girl Scout Troop 10142 visited the wetland and learned about watersheds and water quality. They tested wetland water using pH scale and learned about oxygen content in the water using the West Virginia Wetland STEAM Activity Book.

For the last 13 years, we have been learning about our wetland and actively planting trees to help the Kump pasture avoid flooding by becoming a “wooded wetland.” In 2012, AmeriCorps Member Alyssa Hanna planted 600 willow striplings along Goddin Creek to help channel the water and begin the reforestation process.

Elizabeth Byers, then serving as West Virginia Senior Wetland Scientist, began to train wetland inspectors in our Kump Center wetland, and she identified 36 native plants in the Kump wetland that are indicators of a healthy wetland. Soon Elizabeth posted these native plants on the iNaturalist website listed under Kump Education Center. The iNaturalist app includes pictures of the plants to help people identify them.

In 2021, the City Tree Board under the leadership of Councilwoman Marilynn Cuonzo and Friends of Trees led by Katy McClane planted 15 young sycamores along the southern perimeter of the property. Later they planted river birch and more sycamores in 2023. Tree Board started our City Tree Nursery and Councilwoman Nanci Bross-Fregona created a self-guided Tree Walk through the Kump lawn and orchard, and she planned a series of evening “Tree Talks.”

The old Kump Farm is becoming a place to learn about natural science and the impact that humans have on the earth. We have many local citizens and AmeriCorps members to thank for helping to remove invasive species and for planting trees to create a healthier urban wetland.