The Joyce Foundation grant was awarded to PCS to be used to implement three projects that improved the quality of the lower end of the Maumee River and Lake Erie, in terms of both water quality and ecosystem function. These projects - human health and ecological risk assessments for Duck and Otter creeks; preparing a pipeline of mitigation projects for Swan Creek and the Ottawa River; and decommissioning of the Highland Park Dam, not only had direct impact, but also represented and demonstrated solutions to the problems of urban and industrial areas within the western Great Lakes basin. These projects are summarized as follows:
Wetland and Riparian Inventory and Restoration Plans for Swan Creek & Ottawa River
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Ecological and Human Health Risk Assessment for Duck and Otter Creeks
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Highland Park Dam Decommissioning and Riparian Enhancement Project for Swan Creek
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This project identifed and prioritized 15 potential wetland and/or riparian mitigation sites in both the Swan Creek and Ottawa River watersheds. These lists will be used to capture mitigation or penalty funds that become available.
This project produced a human health and ecological risk assessments for Duck and Otter Creeks that could ultimately leverage significant funding from the Great Lakes Legacy Act. It also supported the Act by building the pipeline of actionable projects and demonstrating public demand for the funds available.
The Highland Park low-head dam prevented fish from spawning, traped sediments, degraded water quality, but could not be removed. This project succesfully demonstrated a new technology in dam mitigation that does not remove the dam, but decreases its impact by building structures into the streambed to restore natural water movement. This now allows spawning fish to swim passed the dam, allows for sediment movement and allows for water to flow more naturally. This project was very successful in demonstrating how new technologies can restore a once degraded system to a thriving, more natural environment.The Joyce Foundation funded these PCS projects in conjunction with a total investment of $5 million in Maumee River watershed. Thank you to The Joyce Foundation for your support.
