Pursuant to the Clean Water Act amendments of 1987, Congress authorized the establishment of state revolving loan funds, capitalized with federal and state contributions, to make below-market rate loans for eligible water quality projects. Traditional, publicly-owned municipal wastewater treatment systems are funded with these loans, but other categories of water quality projects are eligible, including public or private nonpoint source and estuary management projects. The Ohio Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF) was created pursuant to enabling legislation found at Ohio Revised Code §6111.036 to provide financial assistance for all of the categories of water quality projects envisioned by the federal legislation. The WPCLF is administered by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA), Division of Environmental and Financial Assistance (DEFA). The Water Resource Restoration Sponsor Program (WRRSP) was conceptualized by DEFA as an interest rate discount program to encourage traditional WPCLF projects to include stream habitat restoration as part of their scope.

The NCRCPD and its member districts completed three WRRSP projects: the Village of Lodi Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements, Medina County Ohio; the City of Marion Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements, Marion County, Ohio; and the City of Vermilion Wastewater Treatment Plant and Pump Station Improvements, Lorain County, Ohio.

Village of Lodi

The WRRSP project consisted of: the acquisition of land parcels, the preservation of high quality riparian habitat, the restoration and enhancement of wetland and riparian upland habitat, and the restoration and stabilization of 3400 linear feet of stream banks on the East Fork East Branch Black River. The restored wetlands, stream corridor and associated upland habitat were integrated into a new park, the East Fork Nature Preserve, permanently maintained by Medina County Park District as parklands providing environmental benefits to Lodi and the surrounding communities. This project was completed in 2002.

City of Vermilion

The WRRSP project consisted of the acquisition of land parcels and the preservation, restoration and enhancement of the riparian zone on this reach of the Vermilion River. Additionally, portions of the riparian zone were planted with native bottomland hardwood species to provide a more extensive buffer to the Vermilion River. The restored/enhanced riparian corridor and associated upland habitat will be integrated into the park system and will be permanently maintained by Lorain County Metropolitan Park District as parklands providing environmental benefits to Vermilion and the surrounding communities. This project was completed in 2001.

City of Marion

The WRRSP project consisted of the acquisition and preservation of a ±1400 acre parcel of land in Erie County, Ohio, known as Edison Woods Preserve. The Preserve contains 550 acres of category 3 wetlands, the headwaters to Cranberry Creek and a tributary to Old Woman Creek, 450 acres of high quality, mature forest. Four-hundred acres in agricultural use were restored to native vegetative cover. Edison Woods harbors rare plants and provides excellent habitat for wildlife such as raptors, song birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles and invertebrates. A Berea sandstone escarpment marking the edge of the Appalachian plateau is reputed to afford views of the Lake Erie Islands and Perry’s Monument. This project was completed in 2002.