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| Discover Old Woman Creek Watershed |
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| QUICK FACTS |
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| Land Use Changes in OWC Watershed from 1937-1993 |
| Cropland:
-6.8% Orchard/Vineyard: -2.5% Pasture: -14.5% Forest: +16.5% Rate of change seems to have slowed Primack, 2003. Unpublished impervious surface analysis |
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| Old
Woman Creek |
Old Woman Creek is one of 27 National Estuarine Research Reserves (NERR) in the U.S. and the only Reserve site in the Great Lakes. |
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The NERR system promotes stewardship of our nation’s estuaries through research and education. |
| The Ohio Division of Wildlife manages and administers the Old Woman Creek Reserve in collaboration with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). | |
| The Old Woman Creek Reserve is located about three miles east of Huron on U.S. Route 6. | |
| The 573-acre area is home to the DeWine Center for Coastal Wetland Studies, containing facilities for research and education. The Reserve has over two miles of trails that wind through various habitats. |
| To learn more about Old Woman Creek Estuary and Watershed check out the Site Profile. |
Old Woman Creek Our Local Gem |
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| By Alison Delombard | |
| Prospects of seeing muskrats, troutlilies, witchgrass, and slimy salamanders are high at Old Woman Creek and Reserve, on the east side of Huron. These creatures mingle with scads of other mammals, plants, reptiles, and amphibians, not to mention the nearly 300 species of birds and over 40 species of fish at the Reserve. Aside from its wide array of habitats and species, Old Woman Creek also has quite a history. | |
| Legend has it that Wintasta, a Native American woman, fell in love with a French trader, Flamaron, who was one of the first settlers in the area. Wintasta was already married though, and her husband, Ogontz, became quite vengeful. On a fateful hunting trip, Ogontz confronted Flamaron in rage—however, Flamaron’s rifle was faster than the indian’s bow, and Ogontz was killed. | |
| After
learning of Ogontz’s death, his brothers vowed revenge and tied
Flamaron to a tree. As they were about to shoot the trader, Wintasta
ran to her lover’s side, pleading for mercy. As the arrow flew
from the bow, Wintasta jumped in front of her lover. The arrow pierced
both of their hearts. The night after they were buried, Wintasta’s
mother, Minehonto, was so full of grief that she threw herself into
the creek and drowned. From that day forward, the Creek was called
Minehonto Creek. As more European settlers came to the area, they
heard the story but couldn’t pronounce Minehonto’s name,
and the stream’s name was changed to “Old Woman Creek.” Many years later, in 1980, Old Woman Creek and Reserve was named the United States' seventh National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR). In fact, it is not just the only NERR in Ohio, but it is also the only one of the Great Lakes. It is also protected as an Ohio state park. It is considered a “superior example of a freshwater estuary,” by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, but what really makes the Creek and Reserve superior are the bald eagles and American lotus beds. All this and more is open for the general public every day from dawn until dusk. |
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| The
Visitor Center is free of charge and open Wednesday through Sunday,
1:00 to 5:00 p.m. The Center’s features include a lookout for
viewing birds, an aquarium, and art depicting the Reserve's natural
attributes. Exhibits explicate the ecology, geology, and other aspects
of the area, and a classroom is the site of many public functions
and programs. The Visitor Center also provides activities like canoe/kayak
trips on the estuary, nature sketch classes, and other expeditions
exploring the wonders of our natural environment. Education and preservation is not the only features at Old Woman Creek Reserve! The Mike DeWine Center for Wetlands Studies Research Center employs state-of-the-art, specialized laboratories to monitor all the goings-on in the Reserve. Old Woman Creek and Reserve is currently under the scientific observation of researchers from various Ohio universities and colleges as well as from other states like Pennsylvania, Kentucky, and New Hampshire. Since its establishment in 1980, over 200 papers have been published from research within the watershed and estuary reserve. Each summer, students from all over come to study at Old Woman Creek and live in the dorms provided by the Research Center. |
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| If
independent learning is your style or you are just looking for peaceful
solitude, one can also freely explore the area on the 1.5 miles of
trails. A popular spot on the trail is the (wheelchair-accessible)
observation deck, and the elevated boardwalks that wind through forest
and fields are not to be missed. The Reserve provides beautiful vistas
of the estuary, marshlands, barrier beach, and Star Island. Whether you enjoy learning in the air-conditioned Visitor’s Center or through the more adventurous hiking and canoeing trips, Old Woman Creek and Reserve is truly a jewel of our community. It was recognized as an important part of Ohio natural history with an historical marker in 2003, and it is recognized every day by visitors as a great place to see little brown bats, cottontail rabbits, whitetail deer, or our national icon the majestic bald eagle. |
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