As one of the most species-rich sites on the Great Lakes shoreline and Ohio's third largest Lake Erie coastal marsh, Mentor Marsh was one of the first National Park Service-designated National Natural Landmarks in 1965. The marsh was also named Ohio’s first State Nature Preserve in 1971 and is a National Audubon Society Important Birding Area. This 801-acre wetland is now in its 11th season of restoration after suffering drastically due to dumping from salt-mine tailings in 1966.  

By 1973, most of the swamp, forest, trees, and marsh plants had died, and the 4-mile-long wetland basin was overtaken by reed grass (Phragmites australis)—a 15’ to 24’ tall nonnative invasive plant from Eurasia. With Ohio's largest Phragmites monoculture nearly gone, the pursuit is on to find and eradicate the last Phragmites plants standing.  Native habitat restoration from the start has been focused on restoring native plant structures that in turn attract imperiled wetland species. This is becoming a reality as several species of endangered bitterns and rails have been recently documented.  We'll discuss this and other ongoing projects including using audio recorders, trail cameras, and thermal drones in the marsh. 

Speaker bio: David joined the Cleveland Museum of Natural History in 2003 working for the Natural Areas Division, where he specializes in rare plant and animal surveys, community ecology, and habitat restoration. The Natural Areas Program aims to protect the region's rarest species and habitats, and since 2008, he’s helped acquire nearly 2,000 acres of critical habitat. Today the Museum currently protects 66 scientific Natural Areas spread across 12,750 acres. Each Natural Area contains unique natural communities, such as old growth forests, marshes, bogs, swamps, and fens.  Many are globally rare, and together protect 310 different kinds of endangered, threatened, or rare plant and animal species, representing the remarkable biological diversity that was once widespread throughout the region.