You might be asking yourself, what is a wetland? A wetland is a place in which the land is covered by salt or fresh water either seasonally or permanently. Our Dutch Fork Wetlands here at The Dawes Arboretum were a collaboration project with the Ohio Department of Transportation in order to restore wetlands that were removed during road construction. With 90% of original Ohio wetlands gone due to human impaction, this has led to habitat degradation, nutrient & chemical pollution runoff, intrusion of riparian areas, draining and more .
The Dutch Fork Wetlands offer a diverse ecosystem that are home to six pools, a meadow, an observation deck and a shelter house, as well as a variety of plants, insects, birds and mammals. This spot has become popular for bird watching and exploring unique plant species while walking on the trails
Today, these wetlands and the native plants are managed by The Arboretum. We are helping everyday to ensure the wetland continues to recover, providing critical aquatic habitat and refuge for species that depend on them.