Once parked, visitors will access the Center through the Sturgeon City Plaza. We see the Plaza as the hub for Sturgeon City where public gatherings can be held; it is furnished with sculptural forms and shaded with trees.

Entry to the EEC will be through a cut made in the wall of the eastern clarifier tank, which becomes the forecourt to the Center as well as its entrance. From the forecourt, Wilson Bay will be in view, and aligned around the curved interior of the tank will be an interpretive exhibit describing the history of the Treatment Plant, the local ecology prior to the plant being brought into operation, and its transformation. The Sturgeon City Student Leadership Development Institute's role will be presented and an invitation to join will become a part of the story. A collection of large diameter pipes might become a water sculpture to engage smaller children.

The restoration of the Bay will be described and examples of the water and facsimiles of the equipment used to clean the Bay might be introduced as another water feature. The third wall and center of the forecourt will become areas where changing exhibits and attractions will be placed. The forecourt will be partially shaded with light weight fabric screen material

After paying at the ticketing booth, visitors will walk through another cut in the tank wall and under the ramp used to access the Biotower to an open plaza which will provide access to educational classrooms, the gift shop, café and meeting area, visitor support services and administration areas. The Plaza will be shaded by trees of ancient origin, reinforcing the central theme of the Center. As visitors approach the freshwater exhibits housed in the second clarifier tank, the landscape for the plaza will include living primitive plants- mosses, club mosses, scouring rushes, ferns, cycads, ginkgos, pines, and magnolias.

Wilson Bay and the New River Exhibit

In addition to sturgeons, the visitor will experience a variety of regional habitats with the animals and plants that live in them. The animals of river, estuary, and pocosin and cypress swamps will be accessible. There will be sturgeons and other fishes of the New River and Wilson Bay in larger aquarium exhibits.

The primeval (or ore-Columbian) fish fauna of the New River will be re-created. Native aquatic amphibians, reptiles, and insects will be presented in smaller exhibits appropriate to their varying natural histories (or life-styles). Pocosin and cypress swamps will be recreated that will host alligators, peculiar small fish and amphibians, and especially rich North Carolina turtle fauna.

As the visitor enters the second clarifier tank, 5 large underwater viewing tank will present the sturgeon. To the right will be a second exhibit presenting the fauna of the New River followed by the Cypress swamp, turtles, and the pocosin. Compatibility of these diverse creatures will be assured with subtle barriers where needed. A swamp with small surviving primitive plants will be contrasted with the great primordial swamp forests of their extinct ancestors that created the fossil fuel beds we use for energy today. Carnivorous plants, while not primitive, are characteristic of modern swamp and bog habitats and all five plant types will be exhibited. Native plants, primitive and modern, will identify, screen, separate, and shelter the exhibits.

Ramp to the Interior Exhibits

A ramp will lead visitors leaving the exterior freshwater habitat view up onto an overlook of the freshwater exhibit and will then turn and connect to the base of the Biotower and elevator, which is the point of entry to the air-conditioned portion of the building. Along this ramp will be small interactive exhibits raising questions related to the exterior freshwater habitat to test the visitor's understanding of the regional environments.

Curatorial and Life Support Systems

At the Biotower, visitors may view into the life support system area, which contains sand filters, biofilters, protein skimmers, ozone generators, UV sterilizers, etc. Here, they will gain an appreciation of what is involved in maintaining appropriate water quality for captive aquatic animals. Curatorial space will include the water quality laboratory, diet kitchen, and animal holding areas which will also be visible.

Focus and Changing Exhibits

Leaving the curatorial and life support viewing area, visitors enter a flexible exhibit area that will accommodate a variety of changing focus exhibits. These exhibits will be small but will provide exciting introductions to some of the strangest and most curious animals to be found in the region. The space will be colorful, highlighting such animal adaptations as camouflage, smell, sight, and communications.

Interior Exhibits-Ancient Survivors

Leaving the changing exhibit area, visitors will enter an exhibit area for large freshwater and saltwater primitive fishes. Freshwater exhibits will include a large exhibit tank for large sturgeons, gars and bowfins, and another for paddlefish and mooneyes. Freshwater focus exhibits will include exotic primitive fishes-

lungfishes and bichirs -from the three southern continents. The cartilaginous fishes-sharks, skates, and rays -feature invertebrates including horseshoe crabs and jellyfishes. A saltwater touch tank complex will permit visitors to interact with various marine invertebrates and fishes including small sharks and skates. Certain large or otherwise compatible modern bony fishes wilt co-inhabit with the primitive fishes in the large sturgeon and cartilaginous fish tanks. The venerable sea turtles will also be in the large saltwater tank.

Closing Exhibits

The exiting sequence will reinforce the connection between the Center and Wilson Bay. Images of the flora and fauna which can be found in the Bay and New River will guide you to an overlook. From the overlook, the activities occurring in the dry beds and Wilson Bay will be presented. Daily activities will be identified and when appropriate one will be invited to participate.

From the Overlook, Visitors can proceed down a ramp to the drying beds. Here they can observe current activities more closely. A path leads to a boardwalk, reaching out into Wilson Bay.

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