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  *Introduction*   |   Wetland Plants   |   Wetland Animals   |   Conservation

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Mentor Marsh is a 351 hectare wetland located in Northeast Ohio approximately 50 km east of Cleveland (Slater et al, 2003). The city of Fairport Harbor and the Grand River are located east of the marsh, the city of Mentor lies to the west, and Lake Erie lies to the north. The marsh varies from .25 to .50 miles wide and is approximately 4.5 miles long. There are two natural highlands within the marsh but in general there is little elevation change (Bernstein, 1981). The marsh is fed by a small watershed to the south that contains two main surface streams (Blackbrook and Marsh Creek).

Geographically speaking Mentor Marsh is unusual because wetlands are much more common in Northwest Ohio, but are rare in Northeast Ohio (Bernstein, 1981). Geologic studies indicate that the marsh was created when a westward flowing section of the Grand River was cut off and the River changed course to create a new easterly outlet to Lake Erie, the abandoned river bed surrounded by an upland forest then became Mentor Marsh (Aronson, 1974 Bernstein, 1977).

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Sources:

Aronson, J. 1974, Mentor Marsh by geological good fortune. Nature Guide NG-3-74. The Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Cleveland Ohio, 3pp.

Bernstein N.P and E.B. Mclean 1980, Nesting of red-winged blackbirds in cattails and common reed grass in Mentor Marsh. Ohio J. Sci. 80: 14-19

Bernstein, N.P. 1977, Unpubl. M.S. Thesis, John Carroll University, University Heights Ohio, 147pp.

Bernstein, Neil P. 1981, Vegetational History of Mentor Marsh. Ohio J. Sci 81(3) 105-108

Slater, Brian K., Davis, Craig B., Fineran, Stacey A., 2003, Phase One Development of a Comprehensive GIS for the Mentor Marsh and its Proximal Watershed. Lake Erie Protection Fund SG 120-99, Ohio State University Research Foundation RF 738027, School of Natural Resources, Ohio State University.