At a Glance
A frequently flooded 48-acre farm field is transformed into a biodiverse wetland/riparian complex that regenerates native habitat while reducing nutrient loads to downstream waterbodies.
Project Description
In a design-build capacity, Biohabitats helped the West Creek Conservancy and a private landowner convert 48 acres of frequently flooded agricultural land into a rich wetland/riparian complex and functioning forested floodplain along Chippewa Creek, a tributary to the Tuscarawas River.
Once a forested wetland complex, the site began to be converted to farm fields in the 1700s. Over the next three centuries, to support the land's ongoing agricultural use, Chippewa Creek was straightened and channelized, groundwater flows were modified by drain tiles, and the landscape's natural hummocks and hollows were filled or removed. In partnership with the West Creek Conservancy, the landowner applied for and received an H2Ohio grant to restore the field back to forest, meadow and wetlands.
The design aimed to restore hydrology, landscape connectivity, habitat, and native forested, scrub-shrub, emergent and wet meadow wetland vegetation to the site while also improving water quality in Chippewa Creek and ultimately the Tuscarawas River. Implementation involved redirecting flows to interior wetlands, grading hummock and hollow microtopography, installing several large wood habitat structures, treating invasive species, and installing native forested, emergent, scrub-shrub, and wet meadow wetland vegetation.
Details
Bioregion
Ohio River
Physiographic Province
Chippewa Creek
Watershed
Appalachian Plateaus
Expertise Areas
Design & Build, Ecological Restoration
Owner
West Creek Conservancy
Location
Seville, Ohio, United States
Project Team
- Meadville Land Service
- ASC Group
- Chagrin Valley Engineering
- Crowley's Vegetation Control