The Williamsburg Off-Channel Wetland

The Williamsburg Off-Channel Wetland utilizes an existing 3-acre reservoir located in the Village of Williamsburg. The reservoir was formerly connected to a low-head dam on the EFLMR; the dam was removed, and the reservoir was drained in 2018. The former reservoir is adjacent to the East Fork of the Little Miami River.
Wetlands are vital to healthy watersheds and are often referred to as the kidneys of the landscape. Soil erosion and nutrient runoff threaten streams and lakes across Ohio, including the East Fork Little Miami River (EFLMR) and William H. Harsha Lake. Excess sediment and nutrients have contributed to problems with Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs), which have been increasing with frequency in recent years at Harsha Lake. Wetlands (both naturally occurring and constructed) are efficient natural systems that absorb and filter excess sediment and nutrient runoff during storm events.