SPENCERVILLE, OHIO (WLIO) — A wetland restoration project is underway in western Allen County, thanks to a $2 million grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. The Johnny Appleseed Metro Park District is working to create a wetland area along the Auglaize River in the Kendrick Woods area.
The restoration will cover 43 of the more than 100 acres included in the overall project. The work is expected to be completed in about three months, and once vegetation is established, it will provide long-term environmental benefits for the state.
The restoration will cover 43 of the more than 100 acres included in the overall project.
“So, a lot of what the project's focused on is runoff from the adjacent ag fields. So, that helps a lot of the phosphorus and nitrogen loading that go into the Auglaize River, which eventually flows into Lake Erie. It'll cut down on a lot of the harmful algal blooms that people see every summer in Lake Erie and then really provide wildlife habitat. It's a great area for birding already, adding a wetland, and some of the wetland pools that we're adding is just going to increase the chances of seeing some pretty cool wildlife,” said Tyler Black, executive director of the Johnny Appleseed Metro Park District.
The park district will plant approximately 40,000 trees native to wetlands in the area.
