The Hocking College School of Natural Resources partnered with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service to bring wetlands back to the area. According to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, since the 18th century, 90 percent of Ohio's wetland resources have been destroyed or degraded through draining, filling or other modifications.

The Heavy Equipment Management, GeoEnvironmental Science and Wildlife Resources Management classes worked together to complete the first phase of the riparian wetland project located in the floodplain on Nelsonville campus. A riparian wetland is the land bordering a river or stream, with the wetland influenced by river overflow. Phase I of the project included the installation of a water control structure to regulate the amount of water that will fill the basin from the river.

Students from the land surveying class completed a topographic map of the floodplain, which provided elevations across the wetland areas. The GeoEnvironmental class conducted a study of the soils to determine whether or not they will hold water sufficient enough for creating a wetland.

Lynn Holtzman, Wildlife Management instructor, has worked for more than two years to restore the riparian wetland. He selected, engineered and designed the wetland restoration plan with assistance from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The service provided funds and materials, as well as on-site supervision in order to complete Phase I. They contributed a total of $5,000 for the project, which covered the cost of the materials for construction of the wetland.  

"Hopefully this project is just the beginning of future wetland conservation projects on the Hocking College campus that will benefit students, the local community and wildlife alike. After all, that is what a Hocking education is all about, a hands-on approach with community service at its heart," Holtzman said.

The goal of the project is to provide an outdoor lab where students can study the development and ecology of wetlands, and to provide stopover habitat for migratory waterfowl and shorebirds. The project was made possible through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Partner in Flight program, which focuses on creating habitats for migratory birds. Phase II will involve redirecting the storm water runoff into the restored wetland. This project will also involve students from the Heavy Equipment and Wildlife Management Classes and is expected to be completed by summer 2015.

Riparian wetlands are the most common wetland types found in Southeastern Ohio. These wetlands are important because they can provide a natural way to decontaminate runoff water before it enters the surface flow into rivers and streams.