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Fostoria plans reservoir-to-wetlands conversion; front of Reservoir 1 to remain fishing pond
Summary
City officials described a project using H2Ohio and Great Lakes River Initiative funds to remove a dam, convert most of Reservoir 1 to wetlands while retaining a roughly two-acre fishing pond, and noted total funding has grown from about $2 million to roughly $3 million.
The City of Fostoria outlined plans to convert portions of its Reservoir 1 into wetlands while preserving a frontage fishing pond, officials said.
The Director of Public Service and Safety said the city received funding from H2Ohio and involvement from the Great Lakes River Initiative to remove an old dam between Reservoirs 4 and 1. He described the compromise as keeping the front section of Reservoir 1 as a fishing pond of "roughly I think it's just over 2 acres or so" while converting the remainder into wetlands.
"I think it's up around 3,000,000 now with the 2 different funding sources," the director said when discussing the project budget, adding that the work fits within the city's existing EPA consent-decree obligations and will address some flooding issues while providing recreation and wetlands habitat.
The director named Jamieson Bodamer, assistant wastewater treatment plant superintendent, and Todd Jenkins, contract engineer from Peterman, as staff and consultant leads on the effort and said Reservoir 4 planting is largely complete. He also alerted the community that crews would likely begin drawing water out of Reservoir 1 "probably yet this week," advising residents to be aware of the work.
In related infrastructure work, the director reported the city received $5,500 from the Wood County Park District for bridge work at Portage Park and said staff will pursue an FAA grant next year to move underground airport tanks to above-ground storage.
Next steps: the city expects to proceed with dam removal, wetlands plantings and project permitting with partner agencies (ODNR and grant programs); officials said they will continue design and scheduling and submit grant applications for FAA and other competitive funding.
Quoted material in this article comes directly from council meeting remarks by the Director of Public Service and Safety.
