Remediation and Restoration Projects for Maumee AOC

Completed Project Highlights

Restored stream after construction with surrounding vegetation. — The restoration project returns the area to a more natural stream and floodplain, helping slow high flows, reduce erosion, improve water quality, and enhance aquatic habitat. Photo credit: Ohio EPA

Hill Ditch Restoration Project (Bandore Park)

Bandore Park’s stream restoration project is now complete, improving water quality and native habitat in this 3.5-acre City of Toledo park. Supported by $130,000 in GLRI funding to the City of Toledo and about $1 million total project investment, the project widened and reshaped the stream, created a new wetland connection, and added riparian habitat to help reduce erosion and keep sediment and nutrients out of Lake Erie. Partners included the City of Toledo, Lucas Soil and Water Conservation District, Partners for Clean Streams, the Toledo-Lucas County Rain Garden Initiative, the Toledo-Lucas County Sustainability Commission, the Toledo Metropolitan Council of Governments, and H2Ohio.

The Clark Island and Delaware/Horseshoe Islands projects enhanced shoreline habitat, reduced erosion, and protected recreational infrastructure.

Clark and Delaware/Horseshoe Islands Restoration

The U.S. EPA and Ohio’s H2Ohio program supported a major restoration project on the Maumee River islands in Toledo, led by the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority in partnership with the City of Toledo. The $13.5 million project restored Delaware/Horseshoe Island and Clark Island using natural sediment capture to rebuild habitat, reduce erosion, and improve water quality in the Maumee River and Lake Erie. Construction is complete, and the project includes wetland restoration, invasive species management, and other habitat improvements.

Howard Marsh Metropark Aerial. — Howard Marsh wetland restoration was completed in 2022, creating 1,000 acres of diverse marsh habitat on the shores of Lake Erie in the Maumee AOC. Photo credit: Toledo Metroparks

Restoration Project Highlight: Howard Marsh

Howard Marsh Metropark is a 987-acre property owned by Metroparks Toledo near the Lake Erie Shore in Lucas County. Formerly a coastal marsh, the area was drained and converted into agricultural land more than 75 years ago. Beginning in 2018, Phase 1 converted 732 acres of property back to wetland habitat and reestablished a hydrological connection between the wetland and Lake Erie, improving fish passage. Howard Marsh also filters runoff before it reaches Lake Erie and provides spawning habitat for fish and stopover habitat for birds. The over $8 million Phase 1 project was completed through a regional partnership involving Ducks Unlimited, Metroparks Toledo, the Ohio Division of Wildlife, and Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) funding through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Phase 2 restoration restored and connected the remaining 255 acres of the property and was completed in spring 2022. Restoration at this site targeted the Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat BUI.

Otter Creek Legacy Act Cleanup

Workers completed habitat improvements, including the installation of Bendway wier and locked brush piles, and planted willows.
The Otter Creek Legacy Act Cleanup was completed at the end of August 2021 with the installation of habitat improvements. To complete the cleanup, over 50,400 cubic yards of contaminated sediment were dredged from the creek and its confluence, and a one-foot sand cover was placed in the creek after dredging.
Otter Creek is a small creek that flows southwest to northeast through the cities of Toledo and Oregon, Ohio, before emptying into South Maumee Bay as part of the Maumee AOC. The lower 1.7 miles of the creek is a heavily industrialized area containing an active railroad yard, oil refineries, and closed landfills. Municipal and industrial storm water outfalls continue to flow into the creek. Initial sediment testing found elevated levels of PAHs and diesel range organics (DROs) in this area. In July 2020, EPA and three industrial partners signed a 10 million Great Lakes Legacy Act Project Agreement amendment for sediment remediation. The industrial partners contributed an estimated 4.7 million toward the project’s total estimated cost of $12 million.
Otter Creek GLLA project StoryMap (US ACE)
(March 2021) Fact Sheet: Otter Creek Sediment Cleanup Complete (pdf) (1.74 MB)

Remediation and Restoration Project Table

Project Title	Project Description	Date Completed	Targeted BUI(s)
GLLA- Swan Creek	Approximately 4 miles of lower Swan Creek sediment are contaminated, which negatively affects fish and benthic communities.	2030 (est.)	Fish Tumors or Other Deformities Degradation of Benthos
Sediment Remediation – Lower Maumee River (LMR) WWTP Area	Approximately 167,000 CY of material contaminated primarily with PCBs will be remediated.	2029 (est.)	Degradation of Benthos Degradation of Fish & Wildlife Populations Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat
Sediment Remediation – Ottawa River Area 4x/4y	Approximately 3,000 CY of PCB contaminated material remains from the 2010 clean-up and will be remediated.	2028 (est.)	Degradation of Benthos Degradation of Fish & Wildlife Populations Fish Tumors or Other Deformities Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat
Crane Creek Lacustuary Wetland Restoration	Restoration of up to 300 acres of lacustrine wetland habitat.	2027 (est.)	Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat Degradation of Benthos Degradation of Fish & Wildlife Populations
Sediment Remediation – Lower Maumee River (LMR) Sway Bridge Area	Approximately 121,000 CY of material contaminated primarily with PAHs will be remediated.	2027 (est.)	Degradation of Benthos Degradation of Fish & Wildlife Populations Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat
Connected Wetland and Fish Passage at Camp Sabroske	Restore 25 acres of wetland habitat, creating a diversity of wetland types, nursery habitat for fish, and increasing connectivity between Toussaint and adjacent wetland.	2027 (est.)	Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat Degradation of Benthos Degradation of Fish & Wildlife Populations
Delaware Creek Park Restoration: Phase II	Erosion control at a stormwater outfall, including installation of a vegetated concrete block mat to protect the area while allowing infiltration and vegetation growth.	2026 (est.)	Degradation of Fish & Wildlife Populations  Populations Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat
Schiller Stream and Riparian Improvements	Stabilize 1,800 feet of eroding streambank, enhance 2.8 acres of wetland, and restore 0.65 acre of riparian buffer.	2026 (est.)	Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat Degradation of Benthos Degradation Fish & Wildlife Populations
UTMC Swan Creek Restoration	Stabilize 1,700 feet of eroding streambank, install locked logs, bendway weirs, and hydraulic cover stones, and 50 feet of riffle habitat.	2026 (est.)	Degradation of Benthos Degradation Fish & Wildlife Populations
Detwiler Park Stream Restoration	Created instream habitat, improved ponds/conversion to wetland, removed accumulated sediments in stream and ponds, and restored or reconnected waterbodies to the floodplain in a 1-mile stretch of the stream.	2026	Degradation Fish & Wildlife Populations Populations Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat
Dry Creek Restoration (Walbridge)	Created benches along 1,480 feet of Dry Creek, expanded the stream channel, and created wetland complexes in the associated floodplain.	2026	Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat Degradation of Benthos
Collins Park Improvements on Duck Creek	Regraded/created streambank benches in stream reaches between culverts and created a wetland channel in the 2.5-acre area at the upstream end of Duck Creek.	2026	Degradation of Fish & Wildlife Populations Degradation of Benthos Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat
Berlin Avenue Floodplain and Stream Improvements	Restored and preserved 2,200 linear feet of Otter Creek floodway and captured storm water runoff and associated sediment.	2025	Degradation of Fish & Wildlife Populations Degradation of Benthos Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat
Oxbow Channel Addition & Wetland Enhancement/Reconnection in the Lacustuary of Turtle Creek	Enhanced 17 acres of wetland habitat, created 1,730 feet of backwater habitat, and created a diversity of wetland types and nursery habitat for fish.	2025	Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat Degradation of Benthos Degradation Fish & Wildlife Populations
Packer Creek Stream Restoration	Regraded/vegetated 13,000 feet of incised streambank, improved sinuosity for 9,900 feet of channel, and installed 13,000 feet of riparian buffer.	2025	Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat
Taylor Rd. and Yarrow St. Floodplain and Stream Improvements	Restored vernal pool/riparian wetland habitat, improved instream cover, enhanced 900 linear feet of riparian buffer, and captured stormwater runoff.	2025	Degradation Fish & Wildlife Populations  Degradation of Benthos Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat
Headwaters Tenmile Creek Stream & Riparian Restoration	Stabilized 1,200 feet of eroding streambank and enhanced and restored 2.5 acres of riparian buffer.	2025	Degradation Fish & Wildlife Populations  Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat
Maumee State Forest Expansion	Restored 140 acres by planting trees to create oak-dominated woodlands and oak savannahs and established wet prairies or wet sedge meadows.	2025	Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat
Restoration of the Ottawa River within Jermain Park	Created 2.7 acres of wetland, stabilized 2,300 feet of eroding streambank, created 50 feet of riffle habitat, and enhanced 1.5 acres of riparian buffer.	2025	Degradation Fish & Wildlife Populations  Degradation of Benthos Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat
Dry Creek Instream and Riparian Restoration (WM)	Created benches along ~600 linear feet of Dry Creek, added flow length/sinuosity, added cobble/substrate, and planted native vegetation in riparian areas.	2025	Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat Degradation of Benthos Degradation Fish & Wildlife Populations
Maumee State Forest Blue Creek Stream Restoration	Regraded/vegetated 2,500 feet of incised streambank, restored 1.3 acres of wetland, and restored 2.9 acres of riparian buffer.	2024	Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat
Stream Restoration at Oregon Recreational Complex	Regraded/vegetated 5,300 feet of incised streambank, improved sinuosity along 1,600 feet of channel, restored ~3.5 acres of floodplain habitat, and installed 2.5 acres of riparian buffer.	2024	Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat Degradation of Benthos
Turtle Creek North Nissen Road Restoration	Regraded/stabilized 1,100 feet of incised streambank, improved stream sinuosity and installed in-stream cover, created 50 feet of riffle habitat, and created 0.75-acre of floodplain wetland.	2024	Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat Degradation of Benthos Degradation Fish & Wildlife Populations
Cedar Point NWR Pool 2	Restored water management capability to 135 acres of coastal habitat and enhanced 1,595 acres of coastal wetlands.	2023	Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat
Navarre Unit of Ottawa NWR	Approximately 600 acres of degraded coastal wetlands were enhanced through upgraded wetland management.	2023	Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat
Howard Marsh Phase 2	In 2018, Phase 1 converted 732-acres of the property back into wetland. Phase 2 restored 240-acres of upland forest (20-acre) and coastal marsh (220-acre) and connected the remaining 255 acres of the property.	2022	Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat
Kitty Todd Expansion	Converted over 280 acres of row-crop agriculture and 11 acres of residential land cover to Oak Openings habitat and enhanced 17.5 acres of degraded Oak Openings habitat.	2022	Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat
Magee Marsh State Wildlife Area (MMWA)	Improved management of 2,700 acres of coastal wetland, improved passage of native fish, reduced the threat of non-native invasive plants and animals, and improved cost-effectiveness and sustainability.	2022	Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat
Maumee Bay State Park Coastal Wetland	Created 43- acres of wetland and constructed a small dike with a water control/fish passage at the mouth of the wetland to re-establish an aquatic connection with the lake and provide water level management to control non-native vegetation.	2022	Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat
Oak Savannah Expansion at Secor Metropark	Restored 39.3 acres to native Oak openings prairie and savanna habitat.	2022	Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat
Toussaint East and West	Restored 118.58 acres of land along the south side of the Toussaint River and adjacent to the Blausey Unit of Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge to wetlands and upland.	2022	Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat
Fox Property Restoration Project	Restored 30 acres with native wildlife habitats by planting 3.7 acres native short grass, 15 acres native short grass sedge meadow interspersed with scattered trees, and 11 acres of forest.	2021	Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat
GLLA – Lower Maumee River, Sway Bridge and WWTP sites	Conducted data gap sampling to further characterize the sediments to determine next steps for a potential remedial action.	2021	Degradation Fish & Wildlife Populations  Fish Tumors or Other Deformities Degradation of Benthos Restrictions on Dredging Activities Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat
Otter Creek	The 1.7-mile section of Otter Creek had contaminated sediment removed and a one-foot sand cover placed to provide a clean substrate for benthic organisms as communities reestablished.	2021	Degradation Fish & Wildlife Populations  Fish Tumors or Other Deformities Degradation of Benthos Degradation of Aesthetics Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat
Penn 7 Wetland Restoration	Restored 15.2 acres. Installed a new water control structure, restored fish habitat, and increased fish nursery habitat.	2021	Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat
Restoring Coastal Wetlands at Toussaint State Wildlife Area	Restored 5400 linear feet of the exterior river berm. 2500 linear feet of internal berms were removed to create additional wetland habitat.	2021	Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat
Irwin Upland Prairie Site 5	Implemented cleanup on 20 acres of land to remove all previously dumped nonhazardous waste material left behind after a previous 2016 cleanup.	2018	Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat
Irwin Wet Prairie	Restored 40 acres to former wet prairie habitat. Habitat enhancement activities over 6 acres included removal of glossy buckthorn.	2018	Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat
GLLA- Ottawa River	Addressed 251,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment and dredged 5.6 miles of the river. Treated and discharged 509,000,000 gallons of water to the river.	2010	Restrictions on Fish & Wildlife Consumption Degradation of Fish & Wildlife Populations Fish Tumors or Other Deformities Degradation of Benthos Loss of Fish & Wildlife Habitat