The third and final phase of restoration at the Toussaint State Wildlife Area wrapped up in late October. Restoration activities supported removal of the Loss of Fish and Wildlife Habitat Beneficial Use Impairment at the Maumee Area of Concern (AOC).
Owned and managed by the Ohio DNR, Toussaint was a former hunt club property consisting of five wetland units separated by a series of man-made levees. Partners including EPA, NOAA, and Ducks Unlimited restored the site by removing several defunct water control structures and all internal levees (bringing the site from five units down to two and lessening the management burden), reshaping and fortifying a perimeter levee, installing two new fish passage structures, and replacing a pumping station so that water levels can be appropriately managed once again.
In total, partners enhanced 125 acres of Great Lakes coastal wetlands in the AOC. Over $2.7M total in GLRI funds were contributed to this project, with $1.3M provided for the third and final phase through a regional partnership with NOAA and Ducks Unlimited. The restoration of wetland at the Toussaint State Wildlife Area contributes to the goal of delisting the Maumee AOC.