Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
channelized and subsequently maintained to promote agricultural drainage.
Riparian corridors tend to lack natural woody vegetation. As a result, the streams
tend to be fully exposed to sunlight and the majority of wetlands in this area have
been eliminated for agricultural purposes (Mack
2007
).
Downstream of the agricultural subregion, a narrow portion of the Tenmile
Creek/Ottawa River watershed and a much larger portion of the Swan Creek
watershed flow through the Oak Openings Region of Northwest Ohio, one of the
most ecologically unique regions of the Midwest United States. Here, soils consist
predominantly of a wide band of the Granby-Ottokee-Tedrow association,
characterized by level to gently sloping, poorly drained, moderately well drained
and somewhat poorly drained soils that formed in sandy material. Agriculture is
still present in this subregion, but to a lesser extent due to the lower fertility of the
sandy soils.
After leaving the Oak Openings subregion, both streams and their tributaries
flow through the urbanized, densely populated area of eastern Lucas County.
Here soils consist of the following soil associations: The Urban Land Association
is most prevalent in the urban subregion, followed by the Bixler-Dixboro Asso-
ciation and then the Del Rey-Lenawee Association. Within this subregion, the
Granby-Ottokee-Tedrow Association is limited to the northwest corner of the
Ottawa River watershed (Mack
2007
). Agriculture is for the most part absent in
the urban subregion of the Tenmile Creek/Ottawa River and Swan Creek
watersheds, being replaced by residential, commercial and industrial develop-
ment. Within this subregion, the Tenmile Creek/Ottawa River passes through the
City of Sylvania, the Camp Miakonda Boy Scout Camp, Wildwood Metropark,
the Village of Ottawa Hills, The University of Toledo, Ottawa and Jermain Parks
and then an industrial corridor that contains numerous capped and abandoned
landfills (MRAC
2006
). At its most downstream end, east of Interstate 75, the
river widens and is bordered by private properties, public marinas, yacht clubs
and restaurants before emptying into the Maumee Bay and the western basin of
Lake Erie.
Swan Creek passes through the Village of Whitehouse and Monclova Township,
where it winds its way through Brandywine Country Club. Once it crosses I-475/US
23, the creek passes residential and commercial areas before flowing through Swan
Creek Metropark. After leaving the metropark, the river continues through residen-
tial areas of increasing density, until entering the urban core of the City of Toledo
where the creek continues past numerous businesses and warehouses, until it
empties into the Maumee River (MRAC
2006
).
Over the years, the Tenmile Creek/Ottawa River and Swan Creek watersheds
have experienced numerous alterations that have impacted the physical, chemical
and biological properties of the rivers and their numerous tributaries. The ditching
and tiling of agricultural land in the upper reaches of both streams, combined with
increased development in the middle and lower reaches of both watersheds have
caused the flow regimes to become more erratic in both watersheds (MRAC
1990
).
This has caused increased erosion along the banks of the main channels, which in
