Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Concern, including the degradation of fish and wildlife populations, degradation of
benthos, and the loss of fish and wildlife habitats. The results identify specific sites
for wetland and riparian restoration, current and potential wetland or riparian
restorability, the ecological value of restoration, habitat function especially in
terms of connecting habitat areas to establish corridors, present owners and use,
and provide conceptual restoration plans including estimated restoration and main-
tenance costs. It also evaluates the hydraulics to identify areas that can be restored
as wetlands through natural stream flow.
With the development of the resulting wetland and riparian Inventory and restora-
tion plans for Swan Creek and the Tenmile Creek/Ottawa River, four watersheds in
the Maumee Area of Concern in northwest Ohio now will have conservation restora-
tion plans ready for implementation; which when implemented will ultimately
reduce loadings of sediment, nutrients, and other contaminants into Lake Erie while
creating, improving, or protecting habitat and wildlife. A critical measure of the
success of the project will be an increase in conservation and restoration projects in
these watersheds. This project will allow the region to capitalize on wetland and
stream mitigation opportunities. Past experience has indicated several pending or
missed mitigation opportunities on the Tenmile Creek/Ottawa River due to a lack of
documented restoration sites possibilities. These plans will be provided to contractors,
consultants, developers, regulatory agencies, academia, etc.; any entity that might
need a place to conduct a mitigation or supplemental environmental project or that
might be contacted to recommend a site.
Acknowledgements This document was prepared by The Mannik & Smith Group, Inc. and Hull
& Associates, Inc. with funding from the Joyce Foundation through the Partners for Clean Streams
Inc. (PCS). The project could not have been accomplished without the contribution of in-kind
services and technical oversight from the members of the Ottawa River/Swan Creek Wetland and
Riparian Inventory Project Management Team (PMT), which was comprised of the following
individuals: Cherie Blair Ohio EPA (Project Management Team Leader), Patekka Bannester City
of Toledo Division of Environmental Services, Regina Collins City of Toledo Division of
Environmental Services, Lara Kurtz City of Toledo Division of Environmental Services, Kelly
DeBruyn City of Toledo Division of Forestry, Denny Garvin City of Toledo Division of Forestry,
David Leffler City of Toledo Department of Public Utilities, Matt Horvat Toledo Metropolitan
Area Council of Governments, Rob Krain Black Swamp Conservancy, Kevin Joyce Black Swamp
Conservancy, Marleen Kromer The Nature Conservancy, Patrick L. Lawrence The University of
Toledo, Kelli Paige The Nature Conservancy, Molly Maguire Toledo-Lucas County Plan Com-
mission, Tim Schetter Metroparks of the Toledo Area, John Jaeger Metroparks of the Toledo Area,
and Katie Swartz American Rivers.
References
Mack JJ (2007) Integrated wetland assessment program. Part 9: Field manual for the vegetation
index of biotic integrity for wetlands v. 1.4. Ohio EPA Technical Report WET/2007-2006.
Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Wetland Ecology Group, Division of Surface Water,
Columbus, OH
