East Fork State Park dedicated a new, six-acre wetlands in a ceremony Oct. 21.
The wetlands project was a partnership between the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife, the state and local chapters of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and East Fork State Park.
“The project was approved by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1998 but shelved due to lack of funding,” said Todd Haines, Division of Wildlife manager for Southwestern Ohio. “The NWTF, through fundraising efforts, donated $9,000 and the Division of Wildlife donated $1,000 to the construction of the wetland habitat which is important for a variety of species including the wild turkey, waterfowl, songbirds, deer, heron, turtles, frogs, and salamanders.”
The wetlands project, which took nine months to complete, is adjacent to the campground access road on the north side of East Fork State Park. It was developed from a farm field that was too wet for farming.
“To create the wetland we needed to remove some of the vegetation and construct a levee which included a water level control structure,” said Dave Kohler, wildlife management supervisor for southwest Ohio. “This was necessary to enhance the biodiversity in the area. Time will now play an important role in establishing the plant and animal communities.”
In addition to protecting and preserving the diverse wildlife, the wetlands will also provide a thriving ground for existing and future plant species.
“Some of the plant species to inhabit the wetland include bullrush, cattail, duckweed, and an assortment of warm seasonal grasses,” Kohler said.
According to the ODNR, Ohio has lost over 90 percent of its wetlands since the early 1800’s and that more than 60 percent of Ohio’s endangered species rely on these wetland habitats for their survival.
Dave Williamson is President of the River Valley Longbeards, the Clermont County chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation.
“The wetlands are important for two reasons,” he said. “It is a habitat improvement which will benefit all wildlife and waterfowl in the area. It is also important because it gives all of those people who have so generously donated money and time a chance to see that their donations have made a difference.”
Developed in 1978, East Fork State Park is owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and is currently leased out to the Division of Parks and Recreation and the Division of Wildlife. The park, which is committed to the preservation of all wildlife, contains 4,870 acres of land and 2,160 acres of water. The 2,900 acres of the park’s wildlife area, of which the new wetlands are part of, is managed by the Division of Wildlife.