Olentangy River Wetland Research Park

The Olentangy River Wetland Research Park (ORWRP) is located next to Ohio State University and was created in 1992. Water from the Olentangy River is pumped in and out of the park to simulate a naturally occurring wetland. The two kidney shaped wetlands, known as Wetland 1 and Wetland 2, were created to research and better understand the benefits of wetlands. When Wetland 2 was built, known wetland species were strategically placed in the area to mimic a natural wetland. Where as Wetland 1 was created and the left alone, almost 22 years later the two wetlands are nearly identical and share many of the same characteristics. 

All the photos below are of Wetland 1 and were taken by myself on September 11, 2013. Unfortunately I was not able to visit Wetland 2, but the differences between the two are minute and not able to be observed with the naked eye. 

Wetland 1

Since the input and output of water into the park must simulate a naturally occurring wetland to ensure accurate data, this dam is built to regulate water flow.

Above view of the dam.

This is the drain that pumps water from the river into the park. This pump is able to  more or less water depending on the time of year and amount of water currently in the wetland. 

Once water is pumped from the river, piping releases the water into the wetland.

Here is a better view of the same spout releasing water.

Now the water begins it's journey through the wetland.

Although wetlands appear to be stagnant, water is actually very slowly moving and being purified in the process. The plants in this 50-acre park suck up and absorb 40-50% of nutrients, toxins and pollution in the water before it is released back into the Olentangy River. 

At the end of the wetland water is poured into this drain, leaving cleaner that it the came.

A better view of the drain.

The park also conducts micro-wetland research to understand how different plants, water type and other variable can effect a wetland. Each black oval shape you see is a bucket that goes a couple feet into the ground. In these buckets are the micro-wetlands that are being research. The same experiment is being conducted in multiple micro-wetlands to see if the consistency of the data.

These two towers contain the water for the micro-wetlands. The teal one of the left contains regular drinking water that the city consumes. The white tower contains water from the Olentangy River, the same water that is used to maintain the wetlands in the park. Different water will be used in different experiments depending on if the water is the control variable.

 This tower is located between Wetland 1 and Wetland 2. This  very essential piece of equipment to the wetlands. Atop of this tower contains instruments that gather and record emissions of the wetlands. These emissions determine how well the wetland is functioning and if it is absorbing and diffusing toxins and other chemicals.

Another view of tower.

At base of tower.

For more information on this park, visit:

http://senr.osu.edu/research/schiermeier-olentangy-river-wetland-research-park