Bottomland Hardwood Forest

 © Amy Youngs_flickrcreativecommons
© Amy Youngs_flickrcreativecommons

The bottomland hardwood forest is a wetland area that is dominated by trees and other woody vegetation, making it a swamp. This wetland area is a mitigation wetland that was restored in partnership with Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) due to a project that was impacting a natural wetland area elsewhere. This mitigation wetland, created through a permit as part of the Clean Water Act, provides a large area with multiple habitat types. The multiple habitat types provide a home for a variety of wildlife as well as buffer areas that help protect the Olentangy River from nutrient runoffs creating an overall healthier ecosystem.