LORAIN, Ohio — The Ohio Department of Natural Resources and the City of Lorain dedicated the Martin’s Run Wetland And Stream Restoration Project in Lorain County on Oct. 18, as a part of Gov. Mike DeWine’s H2Ohio initiative.
What You Need To Know
- The project will enhance 16 acres of wetland and 1,000-linear feet of severely eroding stream channel
- Martin’s Run is a direct tributary to Lake Erie
- The ODNR currently has more than 110 wetland projects complete or in progress across Ohio
The restoration project will enhance 16 acres of wetland and 1,000-linear feet of severely eroding stream channel.
As a result, the revamping will treat stormwater and reduce the amount of pollution piling into Lake Erie.
“It’s exciting to see the H2Ohio initiative in action in different communities all across Ohio,” DeWine said. “We are working to protect our waterways and ensure access to safe, clean water - and each complete project puts us one step closer to achieving that goal.”
DeWine created H2Ohio in 2019 as an approach to combatting algal blooms (harmful colonies of algae) as well as enhancing water quality and infrastructure long term.
“We are so happy to see this project in northeast Ohio come to life, expanding our constantly growing H2Ohio work,” ODNR Director Mary Mertz said. “Each wetland we build is not only an investment into water quality, but into the people and communities in all corners of Ohio.”
While the restoration project’s primary benefit is nutrient reduction, this wetland site also included the removal of non-native, invasive plant species like honeysuckle. This will result in a better habitat for native species.
“With over 140 acres of property restored along the Black River in the last decade, we were excited to partner with Gov. DeWine and the H2Ohio Program to restore more than 1,000 feet of Martin’s Run and 18 acres of critical wetland and floodplain habitat within the watershed,” Lorain Mayor Jack Bradley said. “The important ecological functions that this project provides cannot be understated, as this system reduces sediment and nutrient loading in Lake Erie by more than 117 tons per year. The large size of this project within such a highly developed area afforded a rare opportunity to demonstrate how tangible benefits to the environment can be realized through ecological restoration.”
The ODNR currently has more than 110 wetland projects complete or in progress across Ohio. They have 57 partners in this initiative, including the City of Lorain.