This photo shows some of the people that made the 2001 Luther Marsh/ Monticello Project possible. They were also part of the Monticello Project dedication on June 13, 2001 at the site. For the full story, see below. 
Left to right:Steve Gray(Assistant Chief, Ohio Divison of Wildlife) Steve Barry (Wetland Project Leader ODOW) Pat Ruble(Executive Administrator ODOW) Mike Budzik (Chief, ODOW) Howard Collier(Ohio Wildlife Council)and Tony SanGregory, DU State Chairman for Ohio.

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Much interest and attention is being directed now toward protecting our drinking water supplies and many of us are discovering it’s not a simple issue. Organizations like Ducks Unlimited have known for decades and tried to explain that our ground water, watersheds and wetlands are interconnected and dependent on each other. Although this country is rich in water supplies, they are under-appreciated and often abused or mistreated. 

On June 13, Ducks Unlimited celebrated the completion of their Monticello Project that restored 230 acres of wetland to the Luther Wildlife Management area. Although tiny by comparison to Luther’s 17,000 acres, the new project regained important waterfowl breeding areas that were lost due to the construction of agricultural drainage ditches many years ago. 

The project was a joint venture made possible by a generous contribution from the State of Ohio. The Ohio Wetlands Habitat Stamp law directs the Ohio Division of Wildlife to provide 40% of all stamp proceeds to a wetlands conservation organization for use in identified projects in Canada that benefit waterfowl that migrate through Ohio. The Ontario MNR, Grand River Conservation Authority, and DU Canada were also involved in the Monticello initiative. What benefits waterfowl also benefits people as DU has been telling us since a Canadian branch was formed in 1938.

The Luther WMA itself is an internationally important wetland that was dammed in 1952 creating a lake of 4500 acres as well as 12500 acres of swamps, small wetlands, fields, meadows and second growth forest.

The Monticello dedication was attended by quite an impressive number of stakeholders and partners in the project, including Ministry of Natural Resources District Manager Craig Selby,

Ohio DNR Division of Wildlife Chief Mike Budzik, State Chairman for Ohio DU Tony SanGregory, Director of Regional Operations DU Canada Jamie Fortune, Grand River Conservation Authority CAO Paul Emerson, MPP David Tilson, MPP Tony Barret, Grand River Authority staff members, MNR staff and DU staff from both Ontario and Ohio.

Several of these officials made notable comments regarding the value of wetlands that have considerable relevance to everyone. Tony SanGregory’s speech included the following comment: “Saving our wetlands and wild places stands for many things. Some might say that this is done just to benefit hunters. I think all of us here today know better. The benefits go to much more than that, and some of the formerly uneducated in that respect are slowly beginning to realize it. Wetlands are beneficial to all of society. They are natural buffers to flooding. They filter and contain contaminants and pollutants. They recharge the underground aquifer. And along with that and more, saving our natural wetland resources represents saving a heritage and a culture.”

From the MNR Guelph Office, District Manager Craig Selby quoted the goal for Luther Marsh as outlined in the master plan “… The goal of the Luther Marsh Wildlife Management Area is to protect, maintain and enhance a natural area rich in wildlife and related habitat, to be used and appreciated by the people of Southern Ontario, particularly the residents of the Grand River Watershed….”
It might be remembered by some of us who grew up in the Guelph-Fergus area that Belwood Lake, created by the Fergus Shand Dam, used to almost dry up during summer months. The Luther dam completed in 1952 that created Luther Lake and Marsh has helped to correct this problem and is a contributor to the healthy flow of the Grand River running through Fergus, Elora and the Elora Gorge Park.

In my personal viewpoint, preserving the integrity of our wetlands is of paramount importance to the health of our watersheds. Educated land use planning can protect wetlands, watersheds and our waterways. Healthy watersheds ensure we have a healthy environment for living things as well as safe domestic water supplies from both surface and ground water sources.

An environmental high-five to Ohio DNR Wildlife chief Mike Budzik, DU State Chair Tony SanGregory and all the Ohio DU people who travelled all the way up here to see the project with their own eyes and to attend the Monticello dedication ceremony June 13. As Tony SanGregory said in his speech: “ We look forward to doing more great things together…”