Monday, September 30, 2013

Celebrating Ottawa River Restoration

A project to restore habit in the Ottawa River where it runs through the main campus of the University of Toledo was celebrated September 20 by university officials and representatives of the funding agencies. The summer project added features to reduce turbulence, reduce erosion, and create habitat for fish and other wildlife. The strategies employed included placing bendweir stones, simulating undercut bank habitat, and placing locked logs. Excessive invasive plant growth was removed and native plants were introduced. Native plants include burr oak, sycamore, willows, and tulip poplar. Shrubs include buttonwood, fragrant sumac, dogwood, and witch hazel among others. The restoration project is part of a campus master plan for improving the river. Dr. Patrick Lawrence, UT Department of Geography and Planning, find the grants and directs the many efforts to incrementally improve the river. His work and the work of many others who work on other stretches of the Ottawa River have resulted in marked improvement in water quality and fish life.
Cutting the ribbon at an access point to the river are (l. to r.) Jo Ann Banda, Wildlife Biologist, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service; Matt Horvat, Maumee River Coordinator; and Cherie Blair, Ohio EPA.

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