Wetlands

Many marshes and swamps along Lake Erie are remnants of ancient Lake Maumee, one of several predecessors to Lake Erie as we know it today. Carved by different advances of the glaciers, the lakes advanced and receded with the tide of ice movement. As the last glacier to advance (the Wisconsin) made its final retreat, it left behind a massive area of flatland dominated by clay soil in northwest Ohio. It became the legendary Great Black Swamp that stretched from the shoreline to Fort Wayne.

The term "wetlands" describes areas covered by water at least part of the time. Water pools when the land is either too flat or too rocky to allow water to soak into the ground. Wetlands include many different habitats, such as woodland swamps, treeless marshes, wet meadows, mudflats, ponds, bogs, fens and estuaries. These are dynamic places, and this constant change is important for supporting a greater diversity of plants and animals. In fact, acre for acre, wetlands support more species of plants and animals than any other habitats, and almost half of all threatened and endangered species rely directly or indirectly on wetlands habitats for survival. Nearly 140 bird species nest within the lake's wetlands, and more than 350 species can be spotted.

Coastal wetlands once dominated the flat area bordering Lake Erie known as the Lake Plains. This land was flattened by the weight of the glacier and the water that filled former variations of Lake Erie. At one time, nearly every Lake Erie tributary had some degree of riverine marsh at its edge. Inland wetlands occur along the floodplains of our rivers, upon non-draining bedrock, and surrounding inland lakes formed by the glaciers. For example, Bradley Woods Reservation sits upon 360 million-year-old- Berea sandstone preventing drainage.

Wetlands are rich in natural resources. Native Americans often settled near these areas where wild rice, cattails and fish were plentiful. French explorers set up trading posts near marshes, trapping and trading with Native Americans. Lake Erie marshes and swamps provided beaver, muskrat, mink, bobcat and raccoon. Market hunting became popular in the coastal marshes in the 19th century. Restaurants throughout the Eastern United States received pickled ducks, shipped in barrels from the marshes of Lake Erie.

Settlers perched on the edge of the Great Black Swamp probably didn’t think much of the scenery, and indeed, the Great Black Swamp prevented development in Northwest Ohio for many years. But wetlands are important for many different reasons. In addition to the biodiversity these lands support, the plants provide shelter and food for fish species making these areas prime spots for spawning and raising their young. More than 46 fish species have been caught in Ohio’s wetlands, and another 18 found in the open waters of Lake Erie use bordering wetlands at some point in their lives. Fish aren’t the only species to benefit from wetlands. These areas are important refuges for migrating birds and butterflies. The plants provide food, protection from predators, and shelter for these weary travelers to rest and refuel.

Wetlands are also important for humans, especially for those of us who value clean drinking water. An amazing system of natural filtration occurs in wetlands areas. Wetlands actually filter out pesticides and industrial chemicals, either by trapping them into the soil or plants, or by a chemical reaction in some plants that convert toxins to nontoxic elements before releasing the water into Lake Erie. This results in a cleaner Great Lake, as well as cleaner water sinking into our wells.

Early pioneers tried to settle the vast marshlands in northwest Ohio by filling them with soil for farming. After a few years, they grew discouraged by the constant flooding of their crops. Indeed, wetlands actually prevent floods. The soggy soil acts as a sponge, absorbing excess water during high-water periods and releasing the water slowly into the lake and its rivers.

Wetlands are important to the future health of Lake Erie. They’re worth protecting. Conservation efforts are underway by many different agencies and local organizations to restore and protect these important areas. More than 25,000 acres of wetlands are protected by federal, state and county agencies, conservation groups, and by private shooting clubs. Ducks Unlimited (DU) is a major conservation agency that partners with many organizations to preserve land. Areas such as the Caley Reservation and Sandy Ridge Reservation are examples of what nature can do given a chance. These areas include mitigation projects, restoration efforts paid for by land developers in exchange for alterations to our natural landscape elsewhere.

Wetland sites you might want to explore include the estuary and research center at Old Woman Creek National Estuarine Research Reserve, the hemlock swamp at Cathedral Woods, the swamp woods at Edison Preserve, the fen at Blue Heron Reserve, the lakeshore woodlands at Magee Marsh Wildlife Area and the Great Black Swamp remnant at Pearson Metropark.