HABITAT RESTORATION PROJECT TO BENEFIT ANGLERS AND IMPROVE WATER QUALITY
COLUMBUS, OH – A section of Mac-O-Chee Creek and its floodplain at Logan County’s Piatt Castles will be returned to its natural state, which will benefit the fish, wildlife, and water quality of this Mad River tributary, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.
“This floodplain restoration is a cooperative effort between the Division of Wildlife and the Piatt Castles in Logan County,” said John Navarro, Stream Conservation Program Administrator for the Division of Wildlife. “The majority of the funding for the project is being provided from the Division of Wildlife’s Wildlife Diversity & Endangered Species Fund.” He added that these funds are derived from the sale of Cardinal license plates and check-off donations on the Ohio Income Tax Form 1040. Funding is also being provided by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program.
The project will restore a 1,500 foot section of the Mac-O-Chee Creek, which was straightened in the early 1900s, to a natural, winding state. The floodplain, also on the Piatt Castles property, will be restored as well. A floodplain is nature’s filter when streams reach flood stage, breaking down pollutants and trapping sediments, and helping to prevent damaging flood events.
“There are many benefits to restoring a creek to its natural state,” said Ken Cunningham, Fish Management Supervisor for the Division of Wildlife’s central Ohio district. "Straightened streams often lack features like pools and riffles that provide important fish habitat. This creek will now be able to support greater populations of many fish like the brown trout, a popular target of Ohio anglers, and the endangered tonguetied minnow. Vegetation will be planted along the shore that will create a natural environment, allow pollutants to be filtered by the plants, keep water temperatures low, maintain healthy levels of dissolved oxygen, and create fish and wildlife habitat. Fishermen will have the opportunity to experience the improved habitat first hand as the entire restored area will be open for fishing.”
This project will take place at the Piatt Mac-A-Cheek Castle property and will not affect other landowners in the area. The newly restored creek will be a focal point of a planned environmental center for land study at Mac-A-Cheek Castle.
“Our goal is to enable learners of all ages to explore the history and science of the area around the Castle. We plan to use workshops, tours, and programs sponsored by our nonprofit organization, the Mac-A-Cheek Foundation for the Humanities, to help accomplish this," said Margaret Piatt, Executive Director for Piatt Castles. “The restored creek will have tremendous educational value in demonstrating what the area was like in the 1800’s, and will provide opportunities to learn about the historic and present day importance of streams to people, fish and wildlife. We also intend to provide nature trails that will allow people to get an intimate view of fish and wildlife in the restored area.”
The project will be completed by Oxbow River and Stream Restoration Inc. of Delaware, one of a handful of companies in the United States that specializes in stream and floodplain restoration. Construction will begin as soon as fall of 2007 and be completed within a few months. The effects of this project will also be closely monitored by researchers at The Ohio State University.
To make a donation to the Wildlife Diversity & Endangered Species Fund, check line 28 on Form 1040 of your 2006 Ohio Income Tax return.