Better fishing ahead at Riverside Park

Improvements to the Blanchard River and the dam at Findlay's Riverside Park, 231 McManness Ave., will be good for both the fish and the fishermen, according to project engineers. Verdantas, formerly Hull and Associates Inc., of Toledo, was hired by Blanchard River Watershed Partnership to develop recommendations on how to best address sediment buildup behind the dam, modify the dam to reduce future buildup and allow fish to pass through the river. The project will include dredging the river above the dam and removing about 40,000 cubic yards of sediment. The cleanup will improve recreational access to the river and a pool area within the old reservoir just upstream of the dam. The project is expected to be completed in 2026. According to the engineers, the dam at Riverside Park has isolated the species of mussels that can be found in the river. Eight of 12 species identified in the river are only found downstream of the dam. The mussels rely on "host fish" to distribute larvae throughout the river. The proposed fish bypass will allow the host fish to get upstream of the dam. Larvae from the mussels temporarily attach to the host fish and eventually drop off as they mature. Lauren Sandhu, coordinator for the Watershed Partnership, said the bypass is still being designed. It is expected to circle around the outer edge of the dam and be constructed along East Main Cross Street. Construction may impact the overlook area parking lot and a walking trail that runs parallel to the street. The fish bypass and efforts to reduce and remove sediment in the river should increase the diversity of aquatic species found in the river overall, including Ohio's sport fish. At one time, the area around the Riverside Dam and the old reservoir was an excellent fishing location, according to the Watershed Partnership. A fish population study conducted on the Blanchard River in October 2005 by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency found 51 fish species present in the river, including the Moxostoma valenciennes or "greater redhorse," which is listed as a threatened species in the state of Ohio. Sportfish included channel catfish, yellow bullhead, brown bullhead, rock bass, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, bluegill sunfish, green sunfish, longear sunfish, white crappie, black crappie and common carp. The sediment has impacted water levels and spawning habitat for several of the fish species. Sediment in the old reservoir area has reduced the average water depth to only 3 or 4 feet. Nutrients such as phosphorous and nitrogen can bind to sediment particles and be carried downstream. Eventually, these nutrients and sediment make their way to Lake Erie, and contribute to the algal blooms that occur each summer, some of which produce toxins that can harm both people and animals. Mussel surveys of the Blanchard River have found some rare mussel species, including the Alasmidonta marginata or "elktoe" mussel, and the Truncilla truncate or "deertoe" mussel. While those mussels are not listed as federal endangered species, they are considered a "species of interest" in Ohio, meaning the state is investigating their well-being. Mussels are some of the most endangered species worldwide. These long-lived, bottom-filter-feeders help remove pollutants from the river and improve water quality for other river inhabitants. Mussels can live to be 100 years old. All of Ohio's native mussels are protected. The state requires any disruption to their habitats to be avoided and minimized. If their habitat must be disturbed, then efforts must be made to survey and relocate the population, by law. The dam project is expected to cost about $3.1 million dollars. The BRWP is seeking a grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to pay for the work. NOAA is offering grants to projects that restore fish passages in the nation's waterways by removing barriers. The grant focuses on dam modification, fish passages and barrier and sediment removal. This is the partnership's second attempt to secure the grant. A grant application made in August was not funded. Sandu said NOAA was "overwhelmed" by the number of applications for grant funding. She said most of the first-round funding went to projects on the west coast of the United States. Second-round award notices are due in June. The Blanchard River Watershed Partnership is entirely grant-funded and works to address problems that affect the health of the Blanchard River Watershed and to educate the public about the river and its tributaries. The partnership represents the six counties of the Blanchard River Watershed and is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving water quality. For information about the Blanchard River or the partnership, visit www.BlanchardRiver.org