Pickerel Creek Riparian Restoration

The Pickerel Creek Riparian Wetland Restoration and Enhancement Project restores and enhances ecosystem services around Sandusky Bay, located at the southwest end of Lake Erie, between Toledo and Cleveland. Substantially completed in October 2023, Wendel provided ecological and construction administration services in a Design-Build format (based on initial designs provided by WF Baird & Associates) to remove invasive phragmites and other obstructive vegetation to redirect water flow across an approximately 35 acre wetland area, and reuse the excavated material to create small wetland hummocks and marsh benches.

This in turn established more open water environments via a series of connected channels and pools, providing additional and renewed natural habitats for the resting, spawning, and nurturing of local fish species. At least 60 large trees were reused to create woody features, such as tree stands, root wads, log jams, and standing snags, which established additional habitat and protected resting areas for migrating and coastal bird species and the endangered Blanding Turtle, which lives in the area. Invasive species control and vegetation biodiversity are promoted through heavy seeding of cover crop seed, various submergent aquatic vegetation, emergent vegetation, upland shrubs, and new trees throughout the wetlands. Inherent with improved access for native plants and animals is improved access to recreational human activities, such as kayaking, canoeing, and fishing in the area.