WINFIELD — While motorists whiz through Putnam County on busy U.S. 35, organisms residing in nearby wetlands are eating each other.

“That was the weirdest thing, looking at the water samples under a microscope,” said Mallory Legg, a Winfield High senior. “And to see something eating something else.”

Thursday morning Legg and fellow student Jeremy Edwards made their way through dense foliage in the wetlands. In the midst of the swampy brush, they stood with Winfield High science teacher Cindy Wandling and talked about the land’s treasures.

The wetlands are located several miles from American Electric Power’s John E. Amos Plant off U.S. 35.

Aside from pink flowers they didn’t notice a few weeks before, the trio was particularly excited about a series of walking trails and boardwalks that should be built by next fall. Then they won’t have to carve a path through the plants.

Thanks to sponsors AEP and Toyota Manufacturing West Virginia, about 20 acres of wetlands will be turned into an outdoor science lab for students. The trails and boardwalks lead to areas where they can take water and soil samples.

Construction is to being this week.

“Today was a little overwhelming,” Wandling said looking around her. Thursday, AEP and Toyota representatives held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Wetlands of Winfield. Presidents from both area businesses were present along with various Putnam County officials.

“It’s not us, we just go into the wetlands and collect stuff to look at,” Wandling said of the pomp. “But I’m glad AEP and Toyota are doing this. Now we can bring all ages out here.”

Because of safety issues, she said it was too dangerous to bring elementary-age students to the site. And because of accessibility problems, Wandling could take students out only during certain times of the year.

Though she and her students have been visiting the site for years, Wandling helped get the project rolling a few years ago when she realized the need for more space at Winfield High. State regulations require that half of science class work be done in laboratories.

She doesn’t have a lab at the crowded school.

Because Toyota also needed to replace a small amount of wetlands removed to build its Buffalo plant, AEP offered it a section of the 65 acres of wetlands AEP owns near Winfield. That’s when Toyota began working on the project with Wandling.

“It started out as a germ of an idea in 1999,” said Joe Haynes of AEP. “You know, one of those ‘wouldn’t it be nice if.’

“Now it’s just exhilarating to see what’s going on,” he said. “You know how it is when you talk about something for so long. I’m walking about two feet off the ground now.”

Appointments will be taken

In addition to the trails and boardwalks, a parking lot and gates at the entrance off U.S. 35 will be constructed. Those interested in visiting the site will also have to schedule appointments with Haynes.

Not only will the wetlands be a good educational tool for students, but also they’ll help area residents pay more attention to the natural wonders in Putnam County, Wandling said.

“We don’t take assessments of how much we have to offer,” she said. “It’s awesome.”

The only thing that Legg and Edwards regret about the wetlands is that they won’t be around to enjoy the trails. Both of them recently graduated.

“I wish we had it earlier,” Edwards said.