Killbuck Watershed Land Trust awarded state wetland grant
Large Oxbow is part of the Killbuck Swamp Preserve that the members of the Killbuck Watershed Land Trust have developed. The group recently received a grant that will help preserve Crane Swamp.
While many may consider the Killbuck Swamp Preserve area a wasteland, it serves an important role in Wayne and Holmes counties, not just in its abundant wildlife, but also in a couple of key environmental roles.
That is why local nonprofit Killbuck Watershed Land Trust has invested so much time and effort into making sure the land remains viable for wildlife, and recently, the KWLT was selected to receive $1.17 million in grant funding for wetland restoration at Crane Swamp in Killbuck. The grant was awarded under the highly competitive H2Ohio Statewide Wetland Grant Program.
“There are a lot of different environments involved with the Killbuck Swamp Preserve, and we think the Killbuck area preserve is on the wilder side, with a lot of woodlands, fields and marsh, but the wilder areas are along the Killbuck Creek, where there are a lot of wetlands,” said Randy Carmel, KWLT president and resident naturalist. “The thing people don’t realize is that these are wonderful spots to set aside and utilize for environmental purposes.”
Carmel said first and foremost, the wetlands serve as a natural habitat for all kinds of creatures, and the swamp provides outdoor enthusiasts plenty of opportunity to explore wildlife.
However, it extends far beyond that.
“The presence of those swamps and wetlands help clean up the waterway,” Carmel said. “Water will sit there for long periods, and in doing so, the water sits there and gives the good bacteria and nutrients time to break down the bad bacteria, and the living organisms there help cleanse the water.”
He said it is great for flood control because it slows the flow. In addition, below these wetlands rest the finest aquifers in the area, creating groundwater recharge.
“Investing in this is a huge benefit for our community, and the swamp serves a critical role,” Carmel said.
Launched in 2019 by Gov. Mike DeWine, the H2Ohio Program provides funding for high-quality natural infrastructure projects focused on nutrient reduction and water-quality improvement across the state of Ohio. Natural wetland creation has been shown to be a low-cost alternative for enhancing water quality.
“Our water is such an incredibly valuable resource, and building and restoring wetlands brings us closer to having cleaner water throughout the state,” DeWine said in a previous release.
Crane Swamp is part of the larger Killbuck Swamp Preserve, a protected 443 acres of swamp, marsh and woodland just outside of downtown Killbuck. The land trust — also known as KWLT — began acquiring the land in partnership with Arc of Appalachia in 2021.
Restoration of Crane Swamp will include construction of several wetland pools to drown out the invasive reed canary grass. Additionally, culverts will be placed along the former railroad bed to allow floodwater to spread across the entire flood plain, enhancing riparian wetlands. And where possible, drainage ditches will be modified and tiling disrupted to reduce flooding and erosion downstream by allowing water to be stored and slowly released.
“The combination of these enhancements will reduce sediment, nutrient and bacterial load in Killbuck Creek, improving its water quality,” Carmel said. “That leads to improved wildlife populations, particularly those dependent on shallow water and seasonally flooded wetlands.”
Along with improving water quality and wildlife populations, the restoration work will bring the added benefit of enhancing outdoor recreation possibilities. Plans are in the works to construct trails with observation areas at Crane Swamp, as well as a creek access point at Turtle Pond for kayakers and canoers to explore Killbuck Swamp Preserve. The restoration project will occur over the next two years, with the wetland preserve opening to the public in late 2025.
Founded in 2001 in response to rapid residential and commercial development, the Killbuck Watershed Land Trust is a private, nonprofit conservation organization for local landowners wanting to protect and preserve their land, whether that land is agricultural, woodlots, wetlands, or land with unique historical or ecological features.
The group is dedicated to ensuring a thriving environment for future generations through conservation, education and advocacy.
Over the years KWLT has procured and preserved more than 10,000 acres of farmland, forests, wetlands and open spaces in Ashland, Coshocton, Holmes, Richland, Tuscarawas and Wayne counties.
In next week’s The Bargain Hunter, we will delve into the KWLT’s blueprint and stages of preserving Crane Swamp including the timetable and various ways it will enhance the swampland.