Wetland Restoration - Silver Lake

Project Overview

Wetland monitoring well

The Silver Lake Wetlands are unique and complex. An ancient glacial kettle lake surrounded by hills of gravel soil deposits has existed since shortly after the Wisconsinan Glacier retreated roughly 15,000 years ago.

One of Ohio's best examples of a freshwater fen is located on the northwestern side of the lake. Despite drainage attempts over the last century, the lake and fen maintain their integrity.

To aid in the understanding and preservation of the existing wetlands and fens and the restoration of the degraded marshes and wet meadows, an automated hydrologic monitoring system was installed at Silver Lake.

System Description

Rain gauge system

At various locations throughout the wetlands, NexSens radio telemetry data loggers; YSI 600 LS multi-parameter sondes with temperature, conductivity, and water level sensors; and RM Young tipping bucket rain gauges were installed.

From each location, data is collected and transmitted via license-free, spread-spectrum radio to a nearby farm, where a NexSens radio-to-phone data logger is installed. On a periodic schedule, a computer calls to the remote project site, collects the data, and posts it to a WQData.com Web datacenter.

Researchers at Miami County Parks, the University of Dayton, Wright State University, and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency have access to this data via the Internet, aiding in the research, understanding, and preservation of the wetlands.