Lake Erie Public Access Sites - Erie County
Pipe Creek State Wildlife Area, Lake Erie Public Access Site in Erie County, OH
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Location:
F Street and
River Avenue
Sandusky, OH

Latitude:
N 41° 26.94’

Longitude:
W 082° 40.03’

Waterbody:
East Sandusky Bay

Access
Site Type:
Outdoor
Wildlife

Environments:
Manmade Shore
Wetland

Monitoring:
-

Research:
-

Grants:
-

Watershed:
Pipe Creek
Firelands Coastal Tributaries Watershed Program		 The Pipe Creek State Wildlife Area is a manmade marsh originally known as the Big Island Wetlands. Located behind the city of Sandusky’s Big Island water treatment facility, it was built to mitigate the loss of adjacent wetlands by private developers. Control and management of Pipe Creek was assumed by the ODNR Division of Wildlife in 1991.

The majority of the 97-acre site is a diked marsh divided into four, shallow-water management areas and surrounded on three sides by East Sandusky Bay. The marsh areas, varying from one to three feet deep, are managed for wetland wildlife.

Pipe Creek includes a small wooded area leading to the flat-topped dikes. The dikes are good wildlife viewing areas as they are 8-10 feet above water level. Fishing in the bay is allowed along the outer dikes.

The only hunting allowed at Pipe Creek is waterfowl, by special permit from an annual drawing. Trapping is not permitted during the waterfowl season but is allowed during the remainder of the legal furbearer season.

There is a colony of common tern at Pipe Creek. The common tern is an Ohio endangered species that is protected from disturbance during spring and summer nesting. Signage prohibiting entry in nesting areas will be posted.

Pipe Creek is located on F Street which is accessible from both First and River streets. The parking lot, at the corner of River and F streets, also serves the Big Island Preserve and Landing.		 Location Map:
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Amenities and Services:
Dirt Trail Fishing Hunting Wildlife Viewing Parking

Learn more:

ODNR Division of Wildlife
ohiodnr.com/wildlife
ohiodnr.com/tabid/20028/default.aspx

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Do more:

Lake Erie Birding Trail – Sandusky Bay Loop   Ohio Travel Planner   Ohio Events Calendar online  Share your experience traveling Ohio   Lake Erie Shores and Islands Visitors Bureau for Erie and Ottawa counties  Sandusky Main Street Association

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Logo: Ohio Coastal Management Program

Office of Coastal Management
105 West Shoreline Drive
Sandusky, OH 44870
419-626-7980
1-888-OhioCMP
Fax: 419-626-7983
coastal@dnr.state.oh.us

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