Friends of Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge
  • HOME
  • YOUR REFUGE
    • Plan Your Visit
    • Ottawa NWR Complex
    • Refuge Challenges
    • Recent Sightings
    • Visitor Center
    • Kids Corner
    • Wildlife Drive
    • Endangered Wildlife
    • Endangered Plants
    • Research >
      • Bald Eagle Updates
      • West Sister Island Rookery
      • Blanding's Turtles
    • Gallery >
      • Most Memorable Moments
      • Photos by Friends
    • Wildlife Observation & Birding Tips
    • Timing of Bird Migration
    • Spring Birding Spots
    • Fishing and Hunting Information
    • Refuge Staff
    • EV Charging Station
    • Barn Quilt Trail
    • Know Your Signs
    • National Wildlife Refuge System
  • Who we are
    • Our Story
    • Friends History
    • Network of Friends
    • Strategic Goals
    • Financials
    • Board of Directors
    • Friends Staff
    • Community Partners
  • WHAT WE DO
    • Events >
      • Spring Migration
      • Chili Cookoff
      • Photography Contest
    • Friends Programs >
      • Land Acquisition and Restoration
      • Internship Program
      • Environmental Education Grants
      • Nature Programs
    • Friends Projects >
      • Shuttle
      • Bird Friendly Facility Project
      • Fox Nature Preserve
      • Nehls Memorial Nature Preserve
      • Portage River Water Trail
      • Marinewood Restoration
      • West Harbor Project
      • Wildlife Drive Improvements
      • Visitor Center Fishing Access
    • Recent Accomplishments
    • Carrying on a Legacy
  • HOW TO HELP
    • Donate
    • License Plate
    • Become a Member
    • Employer Match
    • Wheels for Wetlands
    • Legacy Gifts
    • Federal Duck Stamp Program
    • Volunteer >
      • Volunteer Portal
    • Corporate Sponsors
    • Conservation at Home
    • Say No to Balloon Releases
  • Shop

Addressing Deferred Maintenance

As you may know, water in the refuge marshes is managed through a series of dikes, culverts, and pumps with the ultimate goal of being able to manage water to provide habitat for Ottawa’s flora and fauna. 

Flashback to 2019...
This water management was extremely challenging in 2019. Lake Erie continued the trend of an increasing lake level, and set new record highs for the five-month period from May through August. A new all-time record high
for Lake Erie of 574.62’ was set in June, 2.6’ above the long-term average lake level for the month of June. Biology and maintenance staff spent considerable time pumping water for flood mitigation in an effort to protect critical infrastructure.
​
Failing water control structures and pumps had greatly impacted wetland management on the Ottawa NWR complex. Many of the original water control structures were installed in a short period of time in the 1970s and ‘80s, and were reaching the end of their serviceable life. As you can see in the chart below, in 2019 five pumping stations were in critical condition, greatly impeding the refuge’s ability to manage water for suitable wildlife habitat.
2019 Wetland Management Status at Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge
This management status map depicts a ranking of wetland units from good to failed based upon water control structure condition and our capacity to achieve wildlife management objectives.
This management status map depicts a ranking of wetland units from good to failed based upon water control structure condition and our capacity to achieve wildlife management objectives.
Picture

​In 2019, Friends of Ottawa NWR submitted a statement regarding the refuge’s deferred maintenance issues to the Public Lands Alliance (PLA). The statement was used as one of five examples of the national funding issue in testimony presented to Congress by the PLA. Thanks to the many voices of partners across the country, the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) was signed into law August 4, 2020. Through GAOA, the Department of the Interior is investing in much-needed maintenance for critical facilities and infrastructure in our national parks, forests, wildlife refuges, recreation areas and Tribal schools.

Restoration and Enhancement Projects

Over the past two years, significant work has been accomplished in replacing and maintaining infrastructure through the following means:

H2Ohio
Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge is a project partner for the state of Ohio’s H2Ohio initiative, which aims to improve water quality throughout Ohio. Refuge projects are focused on improving water quality and fish access through improved connections between coastal wetlands and Lake Erie and its tributaries. Funding was awarded to Ottawa Soil and Water Conservation District in 2020, and in cooperation with the Ohio Division of Wildlife wetland restoration on five units was completed in 2021. They include installing a new water control structure that will filter water from Crane Creek, one structure that allows fish passage and water filtration from Veler ditch and Crane Creek, and installing three structures on the Darby Unit that will create fish passage and water quality benefits from LaCarpe Creek and the private lands that drain through the refuge. (Locations of these projects, excluding the Darby Unit, are marked with the H2Ohio logo on the map below).

Addressing Deferred Maintenance
Deferred maintenance projects were a priority for the refuge in 2020-2021. With funding from GAOA, the refuge added three new four-year term maintenance positions in the summer of 2021 to help address the deferred maintenance backlog across the National Wildlife Refuge System. These new employees split their time between Ottawa Refuge and other national wildlife refuges to tackle projects that are long overdue for attention. Together refuge staff replaced the MS3, MS4, and MS5 water control structures, two water control structures at Woodies Roost, and fixed the MS7 and Trail Head Parking Lot pump structure. Additionally, funding through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative provided the opportunity to hire a wetland restoration heavy equipment operator (a two-year term position). The new equipment operator will restore and enhance wetlands and other critical fish and wildlife habitats across the refuge. The four new positions will provide an increase in the Service’s capacity to complete mission critical projects in the coming years.  These four new employees include Brandon Giesler, Keith Atkinson, Keith Findlay, and Kenneth Millerschone (pictured top to bottom).  (Locations of projects addressed by the Ottawa Refuge maintenance crew are indicated by Blue Goose symbols below.)

With those 7 structures being replaced/repaired, the refuge now has full management capabilities on over 915 acres.
2021 Wetland Management Status at Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge
Picture
Water Management
While Lake Erie water levels declined slightly from the record highs of the last two years, overall high lake levels continued to cause some erosion problems. A significant amount of time was devoted to drawdowns for restoration projects and installation or replacement of water control structures identified in the previous section.
 
With 11 units in drawdown for a total of 1640 acres, Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge had excellent spring migration use of drawdown areas by shorebirds and waterfowl. Annual plant production was outstanding—especially for nodding smartweed which reached 8 feet plus in height in some areas. The units also had very good use by waterfowl in fall migration.
 
What’s Beneath the Surface?
 
The photos below show the installation and completion of the replacement water control structure on MS 5. It’s interesting to see what is happening beneath the surface! The original structure had failed causing the loss of all water management capability for the 250 acre unit. Funded by H2Ohio, the new structure provides improved fish access, water quality benefits, carp exclusion, and is all aluminum for corrosion resistance.
Photo: Contractors install the new structure to improve water management for fish & wildlife habitat.
Photo: Contractors install the new structure to improve water management for fish & wildlife habitat.
Photo: L-R USFWS Regional Director Charlie Wooley, Ron Huffman, ODNR Director Mary Mertz & Jason Lewis try out the updated water control structure in the MS 5 Unit of Ottawa Refuge
​Above: L-R USFWS Regional Director Charlie Wooley, Ron Huffman, ODNR Director Mary Mertz & Jason Lewis try out the updated water control structure in the MS 5 Unit of Ottawa Refuge.

Picture
Here's what the water control structure looks like from above. This is what you may see when you are out on the Wildlife Drive.
​
More to Come in 2022

GLRI Projects
· The Navarre Marsh restoration will restore 790 acres in cooperation with Ducks Unlimited, H2Ohio, Ohio DOW, and Energy Harbor. It will reconnect Pools 2 and 3 to the Toussaint River and Lake Erie hydrology by a fish passage structure, which will provide fish access to the marshes, and water quality benefits by wetland filtration.

· Ottawa NWR coastal project will restore and enhance 600+ acres of habitat throughout the complex through planting and installation of water control structures. Work will include the following areas: Pool 9, HU 6, MS 6, Darby, Two Rivers, and Turkey Run.
 

Invasive Species

​In 2018, the refuge received a Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) grant to treat invasive plant species on federal, state, and private lands and hire an invasive species position. In 2019, a three person invasive species strike team was hired consisting of Holly Walp, Owen Segaard, and Morgan Donaldson. This incredible team far exceeded the grant target of 850 acres treated. They addressed a number of species and locations that the refuge normally does not have the capacity to treat. In addition, remaining grant money will fund a position for follow up treatments in 2021.
Species Treated
  • Poison Hemlock
  • Star of Bethlehem
  • Autumn Olive
  • Bush Honeysuckles
  • Thistles
  • Teasels
  • Yellow Flag Iris
  • European Frog Bit
  • Flowering Rush
  • Purple Loosestrife
  • Tree-of-heaven
  • Japanese Stiltgrass
  • Spotted Knapweed
  • Phragmites
  • Common Buckthorn
Picture
Picture
Holly Walp demonstrates one of the most fun means of invasive species control - fire!
Picture
Picture
Friends of Ottawa NWR
14000 W. State Route 2
Oak Harbor, OH 43449 

  
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

419-898-0014 x13
friendsofottawanwr@gmail.com

 EIN: 34-1904821   
Visitor Center open Wednesday-Sunday 10am-4pm.
  • HOME
  • YOUR REFUGE
    • Plan Your Visit
    • Ottawa NWR Complex
    • Refuge Challenges
    • Recent Sightings
    • Visitor Center
    • Kids Corner
    • Wildlife Drive
    • Endangered Wildlife
    • Endangered Plants
    • Research >
      • Bald Eagle Updates
      • West Sister Island Rookery
      • Blanding's Turtles
    • Gallery >
      • Most Memorable Moments
      • Photos by Friends
    • Wildlife Observation & Birding Tips
    • Timing of Bird Migration
    • Spring Birding Spots
    • Fishing and Hunting Information
    • Refuge Staff
    • EV Charging Station
    • Barn Quilt Trail
    • Know Your Signs
    • National Wildlife Refuge System
  • Who we are
    • Our Story
    • Friends History
    • Network of Friends
    • Strategic Goals
    • Financials
    • Board of Directors
    • Friends Staff
    • Community Partners
  • WHAT WE DO
    • Events >
      • Spring Migration
      • Chili Cookoff
      • Photography Contest
    • Friends Programs >
      • Land Acquisition and Restoration
      • Internship Program
      • Environmental Education Grants
      • Nature Programs
    • Friends Projects >
      • Shuttle
      • Bird Friendly Facility Project
      • Fox Nature Preserve
      • Nehls Memorial Nature Preserve
      • Portage River Water Trail
      • Marinewood Restoration
      • West Harbor Project
      • Wildlife Drive Improvements
      • Visitor Center Fishing Access
    • Recent Accomplishments
    • Carrying on a Legacy
  • HOW TO HELP
    • Donate
    • License Plate
    • Become a Member
    • Employer Match
    • Wheels for Wetlands
    • Legacy Gifts
    • Federal Duck Stamp Program
    • Volunteer >
      • Volunteer Portal
    • Corporate Sponsors
    • Conservation at Home
    • Say No to Balloon Releases
  • Shop