City of Defiance Riparian Management Plan Phase II

Thorough assessments of riverfront land helps protect and enhance a city’s natural riparian system.

The City of Defiance, Ohio, has recently undergone major revitalization. Improvements to streetscaping, parking, and amenities have welcomed the growth of businesses, bringing new life to the City. With this growth, and nearly 17 miles of waterfront, the City also recognized the need to invest in healthy riparian areas. Biohabitats was enlisted to show the City the best ways to enhance the quality of riparian areas.

In the first phase of this venture, Biohabitats helped the City create a riparian management plan for five areas along the Maumee and Auglaize Rivers. Now in the second phase, Biohabitats developed a riparian management plan for eleven additional City owned parcels of land. This area encompassed portions of the Auglaize and Maumee River corridors within the City of Defiance and focused on approximately 2.09 miles of river shoreline outside of the Phase I area.

Biohabitats assessed bank, land, and near shore conditions. Based on these findings, the team prepared a memo that identified priority areas for restoration and recommended strategies to enhance biodiversity and overall ecological function, protect and conserve riparian habitat and streambanks, manage invasive species, and manage viewsheds. As a result of this process, Biohabitats assessed all riverfront City owned parcels along the Maumee and Auglaize Rivers. These plans will improve ecology and the waterfront experience, while supporting stable riverbanks.

TAGS

• Assessment+Monitoring
• Ecological Restoration