Ohio 2023 - Farmington Forested Wetlands Restoration

Planting Location: The Farmington Forested Wetland Restoration project will restore, high-quality wetland resources within the Upper Grand River watershed. The project is located in western Trumbull County on the border with Geauga County in Ohio.

Project Description/Objective:The project will convert an existing agricultural field into a functioning wetland. The restoration will also enhance the natural functioning of an existing stream through invasive treatment and additional tree plantings. Restoration of the former agricultural fields and ditched streams will improve water quality in the Upper Grand River watershed. The project will restore hydrology to open fields near western and northwestern property boundaries to create approximately 12.4 acres of new wetland habitat utilizing excavation terracing, introduction of small berms, and destruction of agricultural tiles. Following the restoration of hydrology, the project will facilitate natural revegetation of restored wetlands and treat invasive plants within the restored property area annually for 3 years post wetland creation. A total of 10,550 bare root trees will be planted in both the new and existing wetland on 47.5 acres. Restored forested communities (~22 acres) will be seeded with a native herbaceous seed mix and planted with a diverse assemblage of native trees and shrubs. The palustrine forested wetland complex will create lowland woods, scrub/shrub wetlands and seasonal pool wetlands. Hummocks and pools/wetland pockets will be field located. These restored wetlands communities will be seeded with a native wetlands seed mix and planted with a diverse assemblage of native trees and shrubs (~21.3 acres).

Ecological Benefits: The Farmington Forested Wetland Expansion project will restore high-quality wetland resources within the Upper Grand River watershed. The Grand River watershed is located in northeastern Ohio. It drains a total of 707 square miles and flows through all or part of five counties. The watershed is a mixture of forest, agricultural land uses such as cultivated crops and pasture and hay lands, and urban land uses. The Grand River Watershed Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Report was approved by U.S. EPA on April 10, 2013. TMDL reports identify and evaluate water quality problems in impaired water bodies and propose solutions to bring those waters into attainment with water quality standards. TMDLs were calculated for nutrients (total Kjeldahl nitrogen, total phosphorus and ammonia), total dissolved solids, habitat and E. coli bacteria .Recommendations for regulatory action resulting from this TMDL analysis include an effluent limit for total phosphorus for one facility and monitoring for total Kjeldahl nitrogen, ammonia and total phosphorus for several other small facilities. Nonpoint sources of direct habitat alterations should be addressed by bank and riparian restoration, stream restoration and investigation into dam modification or removal; for nutrients. It is also recommended that wetland restoration and/or conservation easements will improve water quality. Restoring new forested wetlands and enhancing existing wetlands by planting 10,550 trees will provide wildlife habitat, improve water quality in the Grand River watershed, and provide flood protection benefits.

Community Benefits: The adjacent community will benefit from improved water quality and stormwater reduction. Trees planted will also provide benefits including cleaning the air, storing carbon, and providing habitat for wildlife.

Types of Trees:White Oak Quercus alba, Black Oak Quercus velutina, Red Oak Quercus rubra, Bur Oak Quercus macrocarpa, Sugar Maple Acer saccharum, Black Walnut J. nigra, Tulip Poplar Liriodendron tulipfera, Eastern Cottonwood Populus deltoides, Black Cherry Prunus serotina, Shellbark hickory Carya laciniosa, Mockernut Hickory Carya tomentosa, Basswood Tilia americana, Sassafras Sassafras albidum, Eastern Redbud Cercis canadensis, Eastern White Pine Pinus strobus, Yellow Buckeye Aesculus flava, American Sweetgum Liquidambar styraciflua

Number of Trees Donated by Noble Oak: 3,709