Wild Ohio

Wetlands are dynamic ecosystems that act like sponges; reducing flooding, filtering out pollutants, recharging groundwater supplies and providing us with recreational opportunities such as bird watching and nature study.

Acres to be involved: Approximately 103,205 acres of publicly and privately-owned land in three regions of the state.

Objectives: Establish and maintain enough quality, wetland habitat in three focus areas to support viable populations of 76 species of wetland-dependent wildlife. As these habitats are restored, 125 other common and abundant wildlife species will naturally benefit.

Why Wetlands? Wetlands are among the most biologically productive habitats in the world, yet wetlands in Ohio also are one of the most frequently altered, leading to a significant decline in wetland-dependent wildlife species. Non-native, invasive plants – such as purple loosestrife, phragmites and Eurasian milfoil – are another threat to wetlands. Wetlands are also part of the water cycle because of their ability to absorb and filter run-off from farm fields and urban areas.

Three locations around Ohio have been selected as Wetland Focus Areas. They represent the best examples of wetland habitat currently found in the state. These areas are being managed to provide viable populations of as many wildlife species indigenous to the respective areas as possible.

1) Killbuck Focus Area – Wayne, Holmes and Coshocton counties

The focus area is part of the Killbuck Creek Valley in east-central Ohio. Endangered sandhill cranes nest each year at Killbuck Wildlife Area, which was also the site of Ohio’s successful river otter reintroduction program. These inland wetlands are important spring and fall staging areas for thousands of waterfowl during migration. As many as 23 species of ducks have been identified using the area. Shorebirds and other wildlife (some endangered) also depend heavily on this habitat, including the northern ribbon snake and green-backed heron.

2) Grand River-Mosquito Creek Wetland Focus Area – Trumbull County

Located in the Grand River Lowlands and the Ohio River drainage system of northeast Ohio, the area represents some of the highest quality waterfowl hunting wetland remaining in the state. The habitat composition includes numerous beaver swamps, riparian wetlands, bottomland forests and adjacent agricultural lands. This wetland complex is a significant staging site for migrating Southern James Bay Canada geese, and other species such as four-toed salamander, least weasel and prothonotary warbler.

3) Lake Erie Marshes Wetland Focus Area – Western Basin of Lake Erie

Prior to restoration efforts, these marshes supported the last four breeding pairs of bald eagles in the Great Lakes region. Of the more than 200 eagle nests in Ohio today, most of them are located in this same area. The marshes also attract hundreds of thousands of migrating waterfowl and migrating songbirds. In addition to the state endangered King rail, Lake Erie marshes-dependent species include Blanding’s turtles, black terns, northern harriers and snowy egrets.

The Lake Erie Fisheries Unit in Sandusky began an evaluation of walleye in the Sandusky River and Bay. Fifty walleye were implanted with radio telemetry tags prior to spawning and relocated during the spawn to examine spawning behavior and timing, habitat selection, and spawning locations in the river and the bay.

Since the beginning of the project, nine transmitters have been recovered from harvested or dead walleye. Four transmitter-bearing walleye were caught by sportfishermen using the best walleye jigging rod. One was caught in the Sandusky River in Fremont, the remaining three from Lake Erie. Three transmitters have been returned from commercial fishermen in the Ontario waters of Lake Erie. The final two transmitters were recovered from carcasses in Sandusky Bay, mortalities likely due to spawning stress.

The information gathered during this project will provide vital information about the Sandusky walleye spawning stock, and may provide managers with the tools necessary to protect and enhance this important stock.

The DOW staff will continue to monitor fish locations and movement patterns throughout the bay and river, as well as evaluating of Sandusky Bay spawning habitat to identify spawning locations and document spawning success.

In addition, the Ohio State University Aquatic Ecology Lab will be monitoring 200 additional transmitters in a continuation of this project. You are encouraged to release any walleye you catch that has a transmitter attached.