The Stream + Wetlands Foundation (S+W) was established in 1992 and is based in Lancaster, Ohio. Over the past 30+ years, S+W has protected, enhanced, and restored more than 4,000 acres of wetlands, riparian corridors, upland buffer habitat, and over 30 miles of stream channels, as well as planted millions of native trees and shrubs. S+W approached The Dawes Arboretum with an opportunity to collaborate on a wetland restoration project on its property.

Founded in 1929, The Arboretum protects over 2,000 acres of conserved land and has been dedicated to enriching lives through the conservation of trees, nature, and history for nearly a century. The Dawes Arboretum was eager to serve as the long-term steward for the restored wetland habitat. The wetland restoration project received funding through SER's Standards-based Restoration in Action program in collaboration with Microsoft’s Datacenter Community Affairs team.

Restoring Wetland Hydrology and Native Plant Communities

Among a matrix of habitats, The Dawes Arboretum is home to the Rolling Hills Meadow, a formerly degraded agricultural field that was planted with native prairie species in 2020. While this was a positive step towards ecological restoration of the wetland prairie, the site continues to be negatively impacted by a subsurface tile drain, a relic of its conversion to agricultural use. The drainage system has contributed to soil erosion and continues to disrupt the site’s natural hydrology, preventing water from collecting within the convergent slopes in the lowland valley.

To address the site's degradation and restore its ecological integrity, S+W will collaborate with The Dawes Arboretum to implement a comprehensive restoration plan that includes:

• Disabling the drain tile
• Creating small wetland pools
• Removing invasive vegetation
• Re-establishing native plant species

The project will create a shallow emergent marsh plant community that transitions to a fringe of scrub-shrub wetland. S+W will use a custom blend of native perennial and annual species, provided by The Arboretum, to enhance the habitat. With a variety of hydrologic preferences, species planted will include aquatics, sedges, rushes, grasses, forbes, woody trees and flowering shrubs naturally found in this region of Ohio.

The restoration will increase biological richness of both flora and fauna in need of conservation. To support local genotype diversity, S+W will prioritize planting sustainably harvested native plant material and seeds sourced directly from The Arboretum's accredited seed bank and native plant nursery. Examples of showy, colorful species to be featured in the landscape include:

• Hibiscus moscheutos (swamp rose mallow)
• Cephalanthus occidentalis (buttonbush)
• Lobelia cardinalis (cardinal flower)
• Asclepias incarnata (swamp milkweed)
• Quercus palustris (pin oak)
• Pontederia cordata (pickerelweed)

In order from left to right: Hibiscus moscheutos (swamp rose mallow), Cephalanthus occidentalis (buttonbush), Lobelia cardinalis (cardinal flower), Asclepias incarnata (swamp milkweed), Quercus palustris (pin oak), Pontederia cordata (pickerelweed).

Conservation at S+W and The Dawes Arboretum

S+W has a long history of partnering with local conservation organizations on restoration projects. Every project completed by S+W is donated to a qualified long-term steward, such as a local or county park district or the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), that will continue to protect and manage the restored aquatic resources. These properties are often opened to the public for passive recreation and enjoyment. The Arboretum is a natural fit for this project as it builds upon their long-standing commitment to conservation. Reflected in the original deed of trust, The Arboretum has decades of research dedicated to habitat restoration, invasive plant control, and plant conservation science .

The Arboretum actively works to control the spread of invasive species and protect the biodiversity of native flora and fauna. Due to the past revegetation efforts in 2020, the restored prairie surrounding the future wetland is now home to state threatened species, such as Eryngium yuccifolium (rattlesnake master), Helianthus mollis (ashy sunflower), and a variety of Liatris sp. (blazing stars).

In order from left to right: Eryngium yuccifolium (rattlesnake master), Helianthus mollis (ashy sunflower), and a variety of Liatris sp. (blazing stars).

Each year, successful ecological restoration projects are evaluated through adaptive management approaches and biological monitoring. To increase the health and sustainability of this restoration project, S+W biologists and dedicated Arboretum staff will partner with the Ohio Invasive Plants Council to research and implement best management practices for invasive plant removal and share the outcomes with the community.

Beyond this project, S+W and The Arboretum teams are deeply invested in plant conservation science focused on protecting rare Ohio plants and their habitats, including state- and federally-listed species. Collaboration and knowledge-sharing is a critical component of this unique work. The team is active in numerous conservation networks, including SER, Ecological Restoration Alliance, the Organization of Biological Field Stations, and the American Public Gardens Association. Both organizations also maintain a strong partnership with state natural resource agencies such as the Division of Natural Areas and Preserves at the ODNR.

To further their conservation goals, The Dawes Arboretum has significantly expanded their capacity to propagate and grow native plants, bolstering genetic diversity while preserving local populations. They exchange sustainably collected seeds of wild-origin plants with other botanical research institutions globally through the Index Seminum program. Finally, The Arboretum contributes to a broader understanding of plant diversity by sharing plant collection data with organizations like the North America-China Plant Exploration Consortium (NACPEC), Botanic Garden Conservation International’s database (PlantSearch), Index Herbariorum, and the ARS North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station.

Community Engagement in Restoration Efforts

Recognizing the importance of community engagement, S+W will collaborate with The Dawes Arboretum to organize volunteer events for restoration activities, including seeding, planting, and installing aquatic plants. These events will be open to both Microsoft employees and members of the public, fostering a sense of stewardship and promoting awareness about the importance of wetland restoration.

The Arboretum offers a variety of volunteer opportunities for individuals and groups to contribute to the health and preservation of its diverse habitats. Volunteers can participate in tasks such as land restoration, wildlife monitoring, nursery care, garden maintenance, and invasive plant removal among a myriad of other opportunities. The Arboretum hosts monthly Community Volunteer Days from February to October, providing a chance for hands-on learning and support of The Arboretum's landscapes and habitats. These events emphasize education and collaboration, allowing community members to work alongside staff and gain a deeper understanding of conservation practices.

S+W’s mission includes the commitment to “fund scientific research and study of stream and wetland ecosystems, related upland buffers and habitat for endangered species in the United States.” To support this mission, S+W has donated over $1 million to university-level research projects and scholarships for students pursuing environmental careers. S+W also fosters community outreach and education by developing programs and materials about the environmental benefits of wetlands and importance of stream and wetland creation, restoration, and protection. For this specific project, S+W is going beyond the allocated grant funds to support the volunteer event days. They will also donate permanent educational signage that will be installed near the project and accessible to the many Arboretum visitors.

What makes this project standards-based ecological restoration?

This project aligns with the principles outlined in SER standards by:

1. Incorporating Diverse Knowledge and Capacity: Both S+W and The Dawes Arboretum employ local technical experts, scientists, and engineers with extensive knowledge of Ohio's natural habitats. S+W will also seek input from Talon Silverhorn, a member of the Eastern Shawnee tribe and cultural programs manager at the ODNR, to incorporate Indigenous perspectives.
2. Promoting Inclusivity and Participation: S+W will actively work to involve underserved groups in the project by collaborating with The Dawes Arboretum to communicate volunteer opportunities to those communities. Microsoft datacenter employees will also have the opportunity to participate in volunteer events.
3. Identifying and Mitigating Causes of Degradation: The project aims to restore the area through several key steps. First, it will disable the subsurface tile drain, a remnant from when the land was used for agriculture. This action will address past degradation and allow for the creation of wetland pools. The project will also focus on removing invasive species and re-establishing native plant communities. The Arboretum will monitor the area's progress as the soil structure recovers, using initial soil surveys conducted before restoration as a baseline for comparison.
4. Enhancing Biodiversity: By restoring wetland hydrology and native plant communities, the project will significantly increase vegetative and wildlife species richness. The Arboretum will continue performing targeted biological inventories over time to measure restoration success and ecosystem recovery.
5. Achieving Net Gain for Environmental Benefits and Social Equity: S+W is committed to maximizing the grant's impact by financing the labor and material expenses for design, permitting, and monitoring. The Dawes Arboretum is planning to integrate the restored wetland into its existing trail system and install educational signage, enhancing the community's access to and understanding of the restored ecosystem.

By implementing SER standards, the Rolling Hills Meadow Wetland Restoration project embodies a comprehensive, collaborative approach to ecological restoration, promising significant benefits for the ecosystem and the community.

Microsoft is proud to collaborate with Society and Ecological Restoration to deliver standards-based ecological restoration with Stream + Wetlands Foundation and The Dawes Arboretum. Learn more here.