125 East Erie St.
	Painesville OH 44077
	Phone: (440)350-2730 Fax: (440)350-2601
	soil@lakecountyohio.org

Restoration Projects

YMCA Wetland

In 1991, the NRCS and the YMCA Outdoor Family Center created a wetland area near the front of the property.  It has been used by the outdoor education staff for many programs since then.  By 2003, the area had been taken over by Phragmites and non-native cattails, diminishing the usefulness and aesthetics of the feature.  The Five Star Restoration Partnership selected the Perry Outdoor YMCA for a grant in 2005, and a plan was enacted to increase the quality of the wetland, both for wildlife and for the center's outdoor program.

The project divided the wetland into three different cells, with different depths to provide diversity of habitat.  Non-native species were removed (a process which is ongoing) and many native plants, shrubs and trees were planted.  The education staff participated in a workshop that featured wetland-related activities and methods.

Numerous volunteers helped restore the wetland area, and more volunteers are needed to remove non-native species as they appear.  If you are interested in learning more about the project, or have a group willing to volunteer, please contact the Lake SWCD office.

Photos of the wetland and restoration volunteers:

Wetland area prior to restoration	View from observation deck prior to restoration	Upper cell after restoration	The YMCA Outdoor Center is open to any member of any of the Lake County YMCA's as part of your membership privileges.
YMCA staff plant tree seedlings	SWCD staff and youth volunteers help with native plants	NRCS staff even contribute some effort	SWCD and YMCA staff plant native perrenials
Hawken students, the Lake Kleenerz, try out gardening in hip waders	Lake Kleenerz gather uprooted non-native cattails	SWCD staff and Lake Kleenerz check the edges for Phragmites	Another load of cattails removed
A small group makes progress against the surviving cattails	Ideally, fox sedge and other natives that were planted will take over and prevent the invasives from returning	A surprise native plant, yellow water buttercup, takes advantage of the now-sunny surface of the water, even though it wasn't planted during the restoration.	For more detailed information about the restoration project, ask the YMCA education staff, or Matt at the Lake SWCD office

Jordan Creek

July 2006 saw some of the heaviest rainfall on record for parts of Lake County.  As a result of the flooding, many streams underwent dramatic changes from the power of the moving water.  One family witnessed the effects first-hand at their home along Jordan Creek.   Overnight, the creek had destroyed their bridge, dumped feet of sediment in the yard, and was no longer the scenic stream it had been.  Now Jordan Creek was much wider with many areas of eroding and unstable banks.  The family, who is very proud of their section of Jordan Creek and of the work that they had put into the landscaping, were faced with the daunting task of rebuilding the creek and their yard. 

           Instead of trying to control Jordan Creek with concrete and rip rap, an attempt was made to recreate a more natural appearance and function to the area.  Measurements were taken along Jordan Creek near the project area, in an area that had remained stable during the flood.  This information was used to recreate a stable channel where the flooding had damaged the stream.  A new channel and adjacent floodplain were excavated to mimic a stable natural channel.  Riffles, areas of fast moving water, were also designed and installed to help control the slope of the creek and restore habitat features that were lost during the flood.  By making an effort to maintain the natural function of the stream, this project should allow Jordan Creek to continue to support an aquatic ecosystem, and absorb floodwaters without impacting the landowners or upstream or downstream neighbors.  Maple Ridge Garden Center and Crecraft Excavating, both of Concord Township, were hired as the contractors to complete the project.