Restoring Wetlands a Science and Art

Restoring a landscape disturbed by agricultural or residential development to its naturally occurring form requires knowledge of hydrology, biology, entomology and geology. Along with the science, the process also requires art and hope - the art of sculpting with a bulldozer and the hope implied in anticipating results.

Restorers must manage dozens of variables to create conditions that will allow the landscape to return to its pre-development state. To comply with federal regulations, the restoration must compensate for the loss of specific habitats due to development. In cases where wetlands are involved, the challenges are especially daunting.

One such wetlands disturbance was caused by the construction of Woodgate Farms in Olmsted Township, Ohio, by Forest City Land Group. In order to comply with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers requirements for offsetting development impact on wetlands, Forest City contracted Davey Resource Group, a division of The Davey Tree Expert Company, to develop a mitigation plan.

Read the whole article in Land and Water magazine.