BGSU wetland study points to ways to reduce Lake Erie nutrient runoff

A Bowling Green State University study suggests that changing how water moves through restored wetlands could improve their ability to capture nutrients before they reach Lake Erie.

Ohio Sea Grant's Sunday report describes research led by Ganming Liu using three-dimensional models and on-site monitoring at two northwest Ohio restoration sites: Forder Bridge in Paulding County and Oakwoods Nature Preserve in Findlay.

The models suggest benefits from connecting wetland pools, routing nutrient-rich water into underused pools and keeping water in wetlands longer. The report also calls for continued water-quality monitoring and pumping schedules that account for changing nutrient levels.

The work concerns the western Lake Erie basin. It does not report measured water-quality gains in Sandusky Bay, and the release gives no percentage reduction or timetable for putting the recommendations into practice.

Questions about the project may be directed to Liu at gliu@bgsu.edu.