WKSU News: Federal grant helps a Northeast Ohio conservation effort

Monday, March 30, 2015 Federal grant helps a Northeast Ohio conservation effort Money is for easements and other efforts to maintain unique wetlands along the Grand River by WKSU's TIM RUDELL	Reporter Tim Rudell

Grand River low lands

Courtesy of Western Reserve Land Conservancy

Conservationists plan to spend a million dollars over the next two years to protect a thousand more acres of the Grand River Lowlands in Trumbull and Ashtabula Counties. WKSU’s Tim Rudell reports.

Listen: Conservationists spending a million dollars to protect a portion of the Grand River Lowlands

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Listen: Rodstrom says the Grand River is the most biologically diverse waterway that flows into Lake Erie

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Much of the swath of marsh, woods and wandering waters is “old” Ohio: pre-settlement, Ohio.
That’s why the non-profit Western Reserve Land Conservancy sought a $750,000 federal grant to assure its protection.

“Originally it was a big glacial lake," explains The Conservancy’s Brett Rodstrom. "And as the glaciers retreated it drained and left a series of wetland complexes so we that it’s very difficult to develop. But also it is very difficult to farm. And because of that wetness, it kind of protected itself. So, you have that kind of pristine corridor there along the Grand River.”

A diverse river
The ecology is another reason for the project, according to Rodstrum.

"People don’t realize that the Grand River is the most biologically diverse river that flows into Lake Erie in the United States or Canada. And a big part of that is because of the Grand River lowlands. And that’s what we’re trying to protect.”

He says the federal dollars and a quarter-of-a-million of the Conservancy’s, will buy “conservation easements” along the Grand. Those let land owners retain title to property while putting development control in a conservation trust.

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