This document discusses building considerations for climate change into wetland restoration projects along Lake Erie. It provides regional climate change predictions including increased temperatures and precipitation. It also discusses historic and current land cover changes, as well as lake dynamics involving daily, seasonal and long-term water level fluctuations. The need for resilient restoration strategies is highlighted given habitat loss and unpredictable water supply due to climate change. Case studies are presented involving infrastructure improvements, reforestation, reconnection and restoration projects that aim to provide benefits like water filtration, flood control and diverse plant species while increasing resiliency.

1. Tara Baranowski TNC OHIO
Lake Erie Coast and Islands Project Manager
Building Climate Change into Wetland Restoration:
A Case Study of Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge

2. Regional Climate Change Predictions
• Increased temperature
• Increased evapotranspiration
• Steady or increased precipitation
• Changes in seasonal patterns
• Increased probability of extreme
precipitation and storm events.
Photo: continuouswave.com Photo: continuouswave.com

3. Historic vs. Current Land Cover
>90%
Wetland Loss

4. Lake Erie Dynamics
Daily Water Level Changes

5. Lake Erie Dynamics
Seasonal Water Level Changes

6. Lake Erie Dynamics
Long-term Water Level Changes
A lot of Variability!

7. Habitat LossHabitat Loss
Unpredictable
Water
Supply
Unpredictable
Water
Supply
Climate
Change
Climate
Change
Need for
Resilient Land
Restoration
Strategies
Need for
Resilient Land
Restoration
Strategies

8. Climate Resilient Restorations
Resilient Wetlands Provide:
Water Filtration: help to filter sediment, nutrients
and improve water quality
Flood Control: coastal wetlands moderate water quantity
absorb and store water from storm events and prevent o
minimize flooding
Diverse, Native, Climate-Adaptable Species: Native
plant species are essential to ecological function. These
species are often specialized to local conditions and
serve specific niches

9. Western Lake Erie Coastal Restoration
Photo: photographersdirect.com

10. Restoration in a changing environment
The Nature Conservancy, Ducks
Unlimited and Ottawa National Wildlife
Refuge – Partnership Case Studies
• Infrastructure Improvements
• Reforestation
• Reconnection
• Wetland Restoration

11. Infrastructure Improvements
• Water level considerations for new structures
• Adding additional water sources (drainage ditches)
• Building in passive management options to accept
storm/seiche surges (free water)

12. Infrastructure Improvements
Improvements Provide:
• Increased Water Availability
• Increased Passive Management
• Improved Water Holding
• Reduced Nutrient Load Entering Lake Erie

13. Reforestation
National Wildlife Federation Assessment
• Sensitivity to Temperature and Precipitation
• Projected Exposure to Temperature and Precipitation
Changes
• Adaptive Capacity of Species
USFS Climate Change Atlas < Climate Wizard < ODNR Tree Index < Literature Reviews

14. Reforestation Case Study: Helle Tract

15. Reforestation
Reforestation Provides:
• Natural Land Cover for Wildlife
• Natural Buffer for surrounding landscape
• Nutrient Uptake
• Sediment Deposition
Photo: bsc.org

16. Reconnection Case Study: Crane Creek

17. Reconnection Case Study: Crane Creek

18. Reconnection Case Study: Crane Creek

19. Reconnection
Reconnection Provides:
• Continuous Habitat
• Variable Water Levels for various guilds
• Fish nursery
• Nutrient Exchange
• Sediment Capture Photo: usgs.gov

20. Restoration Case Study: Blausey Tract
• 171 Acres
• Maumee
AOC
• River
• County
Ditch
• Ag Matrix

21. Restoration Case Study: Blausey Tract

22. Restoration Case Study: Blausey Tract

23. Restoration Case Study: Blausey Tract

24. Restoration Case Study: Blausey Tract

25. Restoration
Restoration Provides:
• Natural Land Cover for Wildlife and People
• Natural Buffer
• Nutrient Uptake
• Sediment Deposition
• Flood Abatement
Restoration of ecosystem function

26. In a nutshell…
Building Climate Change into Western Lake Erie
Coastal Marsh Restoration Means Considering:
• Water Level Fluctuations
• Water Availability
• Native Species Composition
• Control of Invasive Species
• System Resiliency

27. In another nutshell…
Building Climate Change into Western Lake
Erie Coastal Marsh Restoration also means:
• Better Water Availability
• Increased Passive Management
• Increased Nutrient Management
• Flood Attenuation
• More Natural Cover on the Landscape

28. Tara Baranowski – TNC Ohio
tbaranowski@tnc.org
Thank you
Photo: flitzyphoebie.blogspot.com