Improving Bandore Park Stream
The restoration project will restore the area to a more natural stream and floodplain to better handle high flows and larger volumes of rain by slowing down the water so it no longer causes so much erosion and cutting into the streambank. Reducing the erosion of the streambanks will allow for better water quality and improved aquatic habitat. A roadway project to improve Paisley Rd will be designed and implemented parallel to the stream restoration project to aid in the reduction of local street flooding in the area.
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Watch Project Overview
The project will help address eroding banks by creating a vegetated floodplain bench within the stream channel along the southern side, allowing flood water to drop sediments and nutrients onto the bench instead of flowing out to Lake Erie.
Restoration Details
Rock protection will be placed along the northern bank in needed areas. Features such as cross vanes, toewood, root wads, riffle habitat, live brush layering will be included to improve habitat within the stream. A constructed wetland will intercept urban runoff prior to reaching the stream, which helps filter contaminants and improve water quality.
About the Project
The City was awarded a Section 319 grant in 2021 for a stream restoration project in Hill Ditch as it flows through Bandore Park. In addition, the City’s involvement in the Maumee Area of Concern Advisory Committee also yielded additional grant funding to enhance aquatic habitat within the project area.
Summary of Grant Activities
The City via its contractors will construct a floodplain bench within Hill Ditch along a 1,000 linear foot segment and will regrade upland areas to restore 0.19 acres of floodplain wetland and plant 0.80 acres of native riparian buffer.
Design plans will be completed before the end of fall 2022. Construction is slated to begin in the spring of 2023.
Why Do We Care?
The Toledo area is currently experiencing a revitalization and it is becoming ever more important for us to take better care of our communal spaces and resources. Large amounts of sediment carried downstream from erosion of streambanks negatively impact aquatic habitat and water quality, both locally and Lake Erie, the source of drinking water for the larger NW Ohio and SE Michigan area. Projects like this reduce the amount of erosion and thus sediment in our waterways, which is sometimes linked to nutrient loading.
Great Lakes nearshore areas are a valuable ecological and economic resource: they provide drinking water for municipalities and critical habitat for numerous species of birds, fish and other aquatic life, contribute significantly to the economies of the Great Lakes states (an average of 41% in 2007) and support economic activities like marine transportation, tourism and recreation, living marine resources, marine construction, ship and boat building, (nearly 1.5 million jobs in 2009). These resources are under increasing pressure from a variety of stressors, one of which is the environmental and economic impact of poor water quality.
Project Partners
Partner organizations include Lucas Soil and Water Conservation District (LSWCD), Partners for Clean Streams (PCS), The Toledo-Lucas County Rain Garden Initiative (RGI),The Toledo- Lucas County Sustainability Commission (TLCSC), and The Toledo Metropolitan Council of Governments (TMACOG). Our partners will assist with public outreach and education planning and activities as well as coordinating visit to the site for educational activities.
