Serving Lucas, Ottawa, Sandusky and Wood Counties
The Village of Walbridge, in partnership with the Wood County Engineer’s Office, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA) and local conservation partners, invites community members to an official ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sept. 2 at 1 p.m. for the new Walbridge Dry Creek Preserve, which is located on Walbridge Road about a quarter mile east of East Broadway.
"This project is a tremendous win for our community and our local environment," Walbridge mayor Ed Kolanko said. "By transforming this property, we are improving stream health, enhancing aquatic habitat and providing our residents with a beautiful natural preserve to enjoy for generations to come."
Located on a 34-acre village-owned parcel along Dry Creek, the new nine-acre preserve represents a major stream restoration and ecological enhancement project within the Maumee Area of Concern (AOC). Funded through a federal Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) grant from U.S EPA to the Wood County Engineer’s Office, the project targeted a 0.28-mile stretch of Dry Creek that previously suffered from degraded habitat and heavy siltation.
Key features and environmental enhancements of the Walbridge Dry Creek Preserve include:
Stream & aquatic habitat restoration: Widening and re-sloping stream banks, installing root wads and locked logs to stabilize banks and adding natural in-stream structures to promote fish diversity.
Wetland & floodplain benching: Constructing floodplain benches and vernal pools to reconnect the stream to its natural floodplain, providing critical breeding grounds for wildlife and improving natural water storage.
Native vegetation buffers: Planting native flora and buffer strips to filter runoff, improve water quality flowing toward Lake Erie and restore regional biodiversity.
Community access: Establishing dedicated public access, a parking area and walking paths so residents can enjoy nature viewing and recreational space.
The engineering and design for the project was led by The Mannik & Smith Group, with construction completed by G6Infrastructure LLC. Oversight and grant management was provided by the Wood County Engineer’s Office for the federal funding assistance that required no local taxpayer match.
Following brief remarks and formal ribbon-cutting at 1 p.m., attendees will be invited to tour the preserve and learn more about the ecological practices implemented across the site.
Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) provides targeted federal funding to restore and protect the Great Lakes ecosystem, including targeted stream and habitat restoration projects throughout the Maumee Area of Concern to improve water quality and aquatic habitat across Northwest Ohio.
