The University of Toledo will celebrate today the completion of a restoration effort for the 3,700 feet of the Ottawa River that runs through Main Campus.

The dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at noon today (Friday, Sept. 20) near the river on the new access path next to the bridge by the East Parking Ramp on the northeast corner of Main Campus.

Large rocks, logs and other natural materials were added to the Ottawa River during the summer to mimic natural water flow and get a ripple effect in the water, which will add to the diversity of the aquatic habitat.

The final in-stream improvements are in addition to clearing the riverbanks, removing non-native invasive plants and other efforts that have been under way since 2009 by the President’s Commission on the River.

The event today is part of Celebrate Our River week that includes video and poster displays of the restoration work, a photography contest and participation in the community-wide effort Clean Your Streams on Saturday, Sept. 21 when volunteers clean up debris found along the river.

For more information, contact Dr. Patrick Lawrence, UT professor and chair of the Department of Geography and Planning, who is chair of the President’s Commission on the River, at 419.530.7919 or patrick.lawrence@utoledo.edu.

Media Coverage
WNWO (Oct. 3, 2013)