Maumee River Riparian Zone Restoration, Allen County

The Maumee River Riparian Zone Restoration is a reforestation effort on 75 acres of farm land with a goal of restoring riparian bottomland habitat from being contaminated by hazardous substance releases from the Fort Wayne Reduction Site. The project reforested bottomland/riparian habitat with native and naturally-occurring tree and shrub species that are tolerant of wet conditions. After six growing seasons, the area averaged 83 percent total stem survival and had an average of nine different species present. The property was conveyed to a local parks department that has made improvements in public access and has planted additional tree seedlings on the property.