Lorain County and partners spend millions to restore 59 acres of wetlands

With funding from public and private partners including Beckett Thermal Solutions of North Ridgeville, the Lorain County commissioners and county agencies have spent $4.5 million on a project to restore 59 acres of land known as the Gerber property to a wetlands and nature habitat. In a news release Thursday, the county said its agreement with Beckett is "the final piece of funding for a groundbreaking nature-based infrastructure project that will drive sustainable growth and significantly improve the region's stormwater management capabilities." Owned by the Lorain County Stormwater Management District since 2021, the Gerber property is a 60-acre site on state Route 83 in Eaton Township. It will become a stormwater retention area, holding water to restore and expand wetlands and improve local water quality. A total of 59.18 acres will become the largest nature-based infrastructure project ever done by the county Stormwater Management District. The site includes existing floodplains, and the Fortune Ditch runs through it. Beckett provided $1 million in funding toward the project. Another $1 million came from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources through its H2Ohio Statewide Wetland Grant Program, while another $1 million came from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation's Sustain Our Great Lakes program. There also was $827,000 in local funds from an American Rescue Plan Act grant to the Storm Water Management District. Through the county Port Authority, Lorain County bought the property from the Gerber family for just under $296,000. A memorandum of understanding, or MOU, was officially signed March 14 with Beckett. That same day, the board awarded a $3.8 million contract for the work to Marks Construction of Valley City in Medina County, with the total project estimated to cost $4.5 million. Marks' job was to create 3,200 linear feet of functional stream channel that will restore 23 acres of wetlands and 10 acres of upland habitat and help remove invasive species. A design team made up of KE McCartney & Associates and Davey Resources Group were paid $315,000 to do the conceptual design, environmental permitting and construction oversight work. Once completed, the project will capture and manage 24.4 million gallons of stormwater; treat 3.85 million gallons of stormwater annually; capture 3,300 pounds of sediment, metals and nutrients each year; and restore nearly 59 acres of habitat in a rapidly suburbanizing watershed, county officials said. The site will also make a "significant" impact on North Ridgeville, Eaton and Columbia townships and Cuyahoga County, officials said. "This is an exciting step forward for Lorain County," Lorain County Stormwater District Coordinator Don Romancak said in a news release. "By investing in nature-based infrastructure, we are not only addressing stormwater concerns but also protecting and enhancing our natural resources for future generations and setting the stage for continued growth." "We are thrilled to see this important project move forward, thanks to the tremendous collaboration between our local, state, and federal partners," Commissioner Jeff Riddell, a Republican, said in the news release. "This project represents a major step toward improving the region's environmental sustainability and stormwater management, and we look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have on our communities. Well-managed stormwater and infrastructure in general is the foundation for quality development, and a positive economic environment." "We are proud to be part of this groundbreaking initiative to improve water quality, restore habitat, and address the challenges of stormwater management in Lorain County," Beckett Thermal Solutions Chief Operating Officer Ken Harp said in the news release. "This project underscores the power of public-private partnerships in driving sustainable solutions. We are committed to supporting collaborative projects that provide multiple benefits to our community and future generations." The county also listed North Ridgeville, Eaton Township, the Black River Audubon Society, Black River Area of Concern Advisory Committee and Lorain County Soil and Water Conservation District as partners in the project.