CIRCLEVILLE, OH — The Columbus Audubon will host a community information session and volunteer work day on Saturday, May 31, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at Calamus Swamp Preserve, located at 23800 OH-104, Circleville, OH 43113. Announced on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at 4:32 PM EDT, the event marks a significant step in a restoration project aimed at enhancing habitat for birds by combating invasive plant overgrowth.
Led by Mad Scientist Associates, LLC, in collaboration with project managers Coldwater Consulting, LLC, the initiative is supported by the Ohio EPA Section 319 grant program, which targets water pollution reduction and the restoration of impaired waters. The project focuses on removing invasive species such as narrow-leaved cattails and reed canary grass to restore open water areas, allowing native plants and wildlife to thrive. Efforts also include native plantings, a site assessment, a long-term management plan, post-project monitoring, and educational outreach.
Calamus Swamp, a 19-acre preserve, is a rare historical gem—a remnant kettle lake formed over 10,000 years ago when melting glacial ice left a depression west of present-day Circleville. One of the few remaining kettle lakes in Ohio, this fragile ecosystem is threatened by sediment, pollution, and invasive species, making Calamus the last of its kind in Central Ohio.
“We’re very lucky that we acquired this property and received this grant when we did,” said Columbus Audubon President Kori Sedmak. Acquired in 2000 with largely intact habitat, the preserve has faced challenges as surrounding land use altered its hydrology and introduced sediment and fertilizers. Sedmak noted, “This grant not only allows us to address the invasive species crowding out native plants and reducing bird habitat, but it also helps us understand water movement and plan for long-term protection.”
The public is invited to join the restoration effort and learn more at the upcoming event.
