When I first arrived at CUVA the most important aspect of my project was very obvious, to map all existing wetlands within the Ohio and Erie Canal (OEC). I have now successfully done that. When it came time to crunch the numbers the results of my work were awe inspiring! In total, I documented 43 wetlands along a 11.7 mile long stretch of the OEC. These wetlands occupied 86% of the canal. Within those wetlands I identified 15 unique habitat types, which occurred 169 times within the canal. Additionally, I documented 16 streams which contribute to the hydrology of the wetlands in the canal and discovered 28 culverts along the canal, most of which have a negative impact on the ecology in the canal system. Finally, I identified 190 species of plants that grow in the wetlands of the OEC, three of which were state listed plants.

When I wasn’t out wandering around the OEC mapping wetlands and searching for cool plants I got to participate in some awesome projects the Resource Management department has going on at CUVA. This included helping deploy native muscle silos, which are concrete structures placed in water that house Fatmucket Clams (Lampsilis siliquoidea), for an experimental growth and survivorship study on the muscles of the Cuyahoga River. I also was given the opportunity to help in electro-shock fishing surveys, headwater stream surveys, eDNA collection, and a brief scouting trip around the park with my mentor, Ryan Trimbath, to look for potential spots for future ex situ rare plant introductions. But perhaps the most exciting multi-day project was conducting aquatic plant surveys by kayak along the Cuyahoga River with one of the region’s top aquatic plant experts, Mark Warman. This was an incredible learning experience for me as I rarely get exposure to native aquatic plants in Ohio. The tutelage and expertise of Mark Warman on aquatic plant ecology and identification was an experience I won’t forget.

Finally, getting to show off my work in the canals this summer to others was a lot of fun for me and was a very rewarding way to end my time with the park. I was able to help organize a tour by bicycle along the OEC, in which I curated several stops along the canal in interesting spots at which I shared the results and findings of my project. Being able to do it with two different groups of people made it even better, my coworkers from the National Parks Service and affiliated partner organizations, and a second tour for the general public. This was a summer I will soon not forget as it was one full of adventure, research, professional development, and networking.

As I continue with my surveys of the Ohio and Erie Canal, the need for rethinking management strategies is becoming more apparent to maintain the many various wetland habitats that have taken hold within the canal embankments. Given the long and fairly linear nature of the canal, one would think that hydrologically it would function more so as a river. However, because of the varied terrain, gradual elevation increases and decreases, man-made dams, and the highly varied depth of the canal prism (the area between the embankments), this is actually not the case. Often there are long stretches of the canal that are inundated with water year-round. These areas tend to have higher, more steep embankments on either side and a narrower prism width. Areas of the canal with this structure usually form marsh-like ecosystems, which contain many plant species that can only grow in these super saturated environments. Additionally, they are hot spots for wildlife such as turtles, frogs, and a litany of wetland-loving bird species.

In other parts of the canal, where the embankments are not as tall and the canal prism base is more uneven and wide, shrubby sedge meadows, Elm-Ash bottomland forest, and Sycamore floodplain forest communities take hold.

Unfortunately, the unique habitats found between the canal embankments do not exist without being at risk. Unnatural changes to their hydrology almost always degrade these areas. This often occurs in areas where culverts are installed to redirect water flow. As one walks along the Ohio and Erie Canal it is easily deduced that a culvert is the cause, as invasive plant species such as Reed Canary Grass (Phalaris arundinacea), Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora), and Privet (Ligustrum vulage) begin to take hold.

There are always exceptions to this, however. In a particularly hydrologically dynamic section of the Canal where there is a man-made earth bridge for easy access to a path intersection, I discovered a population of the state threatened Sharp-Scaled Manna Grass (Glyceria acutiflora). This rather picky grass species prefers shaded mucky ground that experiences periodic draw downs in the water level. A large culvert installed under the earth bridge merely feet away from the population provides the perfect conditions for this species to flourish. Unlike the majority of the culverts that have been installed in the Canal, which drain water out and directly into the nearby Cuyahoga River, this one actually assists with water movement within the Canal prism. Its placement, running north to south along the Canal, as opposed to most other culverts which run perpendicular to the Canal (east to west), allows the free movement of water within the Canal. A carefully considered plan for culvert placement and storm water management that takes into account surrounding ecosystems, including wetlands, would benefit the whole of the Ohio and Erie Canal.  

I am Chris Poling, a Master’s student in Environmental Biology and Conservation at Kent State University. My passion is botany and native plant conservation. During my recent graduate and undergraduate studies I have been a part of several northeast Ohio botanical survey projects, ranging from long term vegetation surveys to rare plant inventories. I also work during the academic year at Kent State’s exemplary Tom S. and Miwako K. Cooperrider Herbarium which is one of Ohio’s largest herbariums. My background in botany makes me particularly well suited for my project at the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, which I’m extremely excited to share with you! 

The Ohio and Erie Canal, dating back to the 1840’s was, at one point, one of northeast Ohio’s most important means of transportation of raw goods and materials. However, by the 1930’s the majority of the canal was abandoned and left to revert to a more natural state as more modern means of transportation emerged in the region, relying on other infrastructure such as highways and railroads. Twenty-two miles of the canal were eventually incorporated into the Cuyahoga Valley National Park in the mid-1970’s. By this point the majority of the canal was fully revegetated and only the canal embankments were recognizable, in addition to large concrete structures called locks, which regulated water levels within the canal. 

During my time at CUVA, I will be performing wetland delineations and mapping habitat types within a 10-mile stretch of the canal. These surveys are heavily dependent on plant identification, as the vegetation communities that have formed in the canal, after close to a century of being left unmaintained, are unique. Being able to distinguish between upland plant species and hydrophytic plant species is critical to proper wetland delineation. Specifically, the aim of my project is to generate maps for CUVA, using GPS and ArcGIS software, delineating where wetlands are present within the canal. In addition, I will also be mapping the various wetland habitat types that have formed in the canal over the past 90 years. Upon completion of this work, I will be providing the Natural Resources Department at CUVA with recommendations on how to best manage these wetlands in the future, to maximize their vitality. Finally, I will be developing a dichotomous key to aid others in identification of the various unique wetland habitat types that have formed in the canal. This work will then be incorporated into a larger cultural landscape report on the canal. 

The landscape around me can be quite dynamic at times as I survey the canal. I am struck with the nuanced beauty of the natural areas within the landscape as well as the urban to natural area integration found along the Ohio and Erie Canal. At times I find myself exploring ruins of the almost 200-year-old canal, as it seemingly meandered its way into the surrounding forested hills, only to eventually disappear completely. The next day I then find myself wading through hip-deep marshland within the canal while a 175’ viaduct bridge soars over my head with hundreds of cars passing over me. It’s truly exciting to get to work in such a dynamic park and I look forward to sharing with you further discoveries and accomplishments I make as I continue to explore this wild, yet tamed cultural landscape.