More Really Exciting News

Priority One on the West Marsh

Over the last two weeks we have been engaged in some really intriguing conversations relating to major restoration priorities on the West Marsh. This past spring, we were asked to submit project proposals that could augment the newly established Sandusky Bay Initiative -- a multi-agency collaboration intended to focus resources on improved water quality on Sandusky Bay and Lake Erie.

We have now received confirmation that we have been selected as a project site to receive funding through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) to informally kick-start these planning efforts with on-the-ground improvement projects. This work is being spearheaded by the ODNR's Office of Coastal Management Program, but other key players include the Division of Wildlife, and the Erie County Conservation District.

Recent meetings have confirmed that our primary focus will be the replacement of our aging sluiceway -- the 65' concrete structure that serves as the direct conduit between our West Marsh and Sandusky Bay. At more than 50 years old, the existing infrastructure has served the site well. But as you can see from the photo at left, time hasn't been gentle on this important site of water connectivity.

Final designs for the new structure will be completed over this fall/winter. The way it is sounding, we may be able to more than double the width (to 6') and increase the free exchange of water by 400%+. This will have far-reaching positive impact not only on water movement between the marsh and bay, but also on the contents of the water -- maybe most notably the nutrients and fish.

We are excited to share the designs as they unfold. Likely features include sheet-pile side walls (to replace cracked and bowing concrete), aluminum stop logs (to replace custom-cut treated lumber), multiple screw gates (to vastly improve management capabilities), and fabricated "carp grates" (built to allow desirable fish through while preventing too many breeding carp from entering the system).

We are extremely grateful for our local partners

While we hope to have the new sluiceway completed by this time next year, we are very much encouraged by our partners' collective interest in discussing and exploring subsequent projects that could serve as future improvement efforts under the project umbrella. This is a huge opportunity for improvement -- not only for the site, but for the surrounding landscape. We are thrilled to be involved!