2026 Great Lakes Coastal Symposium

Ohio is investing significantly in improving water quality, especially in the Western Lake Erie Basin, through the H2Ohio Initiative. Black Swamp Conservancy has partnered with Ohio Department of Natural Resources to restore wetlands and streams across the upper reaches of the basin using this initiative. The Nature Conservancy has leveraged H2Ohio funds with grants from GLRI, NOAA and private donors to implement large-scale coastal wetland restoration in the Sandusky Bay. We’ll visit two H2Ohio-funded restoration sites: one a converted ag field in the “headwaters” of the Sandusky River, and the other a set of innovative nature-based barrier wetland projects on the coast of Sandusky Bay. Attendees will see two different restoration styles first-hand, discuss engineering & design, water quality monitoring, and partnerships. *The topography is generally flat, but participants will navigate approximately 3.25 miles total on uneven ground on rough-mown trails and possible mud.