Lake Erie Wetland Revitalized

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District and City of Port Clinton celebrated the completion of a five-year coastal restoration project along Lake Erie’s shoreline.

The $1.9 million Great Lakes Fishery and Ecosystem Restoration Program Port Clinton Coastal Restoration Project has expanded costal wetland — a rarity along Ohio’s Lake Erie shoreline — by 1.4 acres, removed invasive plant species, and created a more diverse habitat for wildlife to thrive in and people to enjoy.

Over the course of five years, the project set out to establish a functioning coastal wetland by taking 4.6 acres of struggling wetland and growing it to 6 acres of diverse, revitalized habitat.

With construction complete, the project now begins a monitoring period to evaluate success based on diversity of vegetation and the overall quality of the expanded wetland. Early results have already shown a transition from the phragmites monoculture to a diverse plant community and the return of more native wildlife species to the habitat.

The site offers an opportunity to enjoy the rare wetland and improves on the birding experience. Learn more at lrd.usace.army.mil.